Athletics Club takes place during the summer term, with track and field practice usually on a Monday and Wednesday after school from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.
Pupils have the opportunity to participate in a range of track and field events such as- long jump, high jump, triple jump, shot put, javelin, discus, hurdles and long and short distance running.
Cross Country fitness is done during Games afternoons.
The Royal School participate in 4 major events in Cross Country and Athletics throughout the year.
The season starts with the District Cross Country Championships of which the top three teams and top 15 individuals qualify for the Ulster Cross Country at Mallusk, if successful at Ulster level they will progress to compete in the All Irelands.
Each season over 40 girls and boys compete in the District Championships and usually around 15 (a mix of individuals and teams) qualify for the Ulster Championships 2 weeks later in Belfast. Our top performer over the years has been Joseph Haynes, coached mostly in his local club Armagh AC, who regularly competes at Irish level.
In Athletics The Royal School Armagh are always well represented and successful at the District Championships, with the top 3 in each event qualifying for the Ulster finals day at Antrim Forum and having the opportunity to qualify for the All Irelands.
We normally have around 60 athletes competing at District level in a wide range of events, with an average of 30 qualifying for the Ulster Championships.
Over recent years we have had quite a few athletes qualify for Irish level, most notably Joseph Haynes (who trains with Armagh AC) winner of the Intermediate 1500m steeplechase in 2019 and selected for the U17 Interprovincials where he finished 2nd. Others have placed in the top 10 in Ireland in a range of events from the high jump, triple jump, steeplechase, walks, hammer, 400m and long jump.
In 2016 we had 3 athletes selected for the U17 Ulster Interprovincial Team, Kyle Magwood (who trained with Banbridge AC and is still competing in England while at university) in the Long Jump and sprints and William Pinkerton and Laura Hampton in the long distance walking events, which was a new experience for the school. Eliza O’Gorman in 2015 and Pippa Best in 2014 were also selected for the U17 Interprovincial team in the 1500m steeplechase, again another new event for the school to participate in.
The Year 8 boys and girls athletics teams compete in the Year 8 District Championships on their own in June, with the girls regularly reaching Ulster finals. There have been a couple of winners at Ulster level including Alison Kells in the high jump and Bethany McParland in the long jump.
The season culminates with the Annual House Championships for Years 8-11 boys and girls at the school track in June, the last House competition on the school calendar.
