Benchball bonanza for East Sutherland pupils!

A group of seven young girls in pale blue tops and sportswear. They are in a sports hall and are holding up a winners shield.
News and blogs
16th Oct 2025
Last update 26th Feb 2026

Golspie High School was the location for the recent East Sutherland Schools Sports Association (ESSSA) Benchball tournament.

With 13 teams and almost 100 children taking part – it was a bumper of a Benchball session for P4 and P5 pupils – with six girls teams, five boys teams and two mixed teams.  Each category played in a round robin competition with games lasting five minutes.

The Benchball tournament is always a fun outing for the pupils - they are always so excited to be representing their school

Elissa Stevenson

High Life Highland Active Schools Co-ordinator

The event was a massive success and enjoyed by everyone involved including sports leaders, PE staff and parent volunteers, who helped the tournament run smoothly.

Elissa Stevenson, High Life Highland Active Schools Co-ordinator, commented: “The Benchball tournament is always a fun outing for the pupils as it’s the only event in the programme this is just for the P4 and P5 children. They are always so excited to be representing their school and always give it their all.

“All the schools had arranged training sessions for their pupils to practice leading up to the tournament and we are very grateful to the volunteers and staff for leading these sessions during school time or at lunchtime and after school clubs. This contributes directly to getting more children, more active, more often.  It’s also great to see the different schools mixing and cheering on each other, this creates a social environment for the cluster.

“A very big thank you to our sports leaders on the day Nathan, Maisie and Elsie and to PE Teacher Mrs Sutherland and to Jennifer Port and Gayle MacRae for all their help making this event such a success.”

Trophies were awarded to the schools coming first in the Small Schools, Big Schools and Mixed categories, as well as each pupil receiving a medal for first and second place. Highland Council member, Councillor Jim McGillvrary was there to present the trophies.

A group of seven boys in blue sports tops and dark shorts. They are in a sports hall and are holding a winners shield.
Dornoch Primary School

 

The results:

Small Schools – Girls

  • 1st Bonar Bridge Primary School
  • 2nd Helmsdale Primary School

Small Schools – Boys

  • 1st Helmsdale Primary School
  • 2nd Lairg Primary School

Big Schools – Girls

  • 1st Dornoch Primary Schools
  • 2nd Golspie Primary School

Big Schools – Boys

  • 1st Dornoch Primary School
  • 2nd Brora Primary School

Mixed Teams

  • 1st Bonar Bridge Primary School
  • 2nd Rogart Primary School

     

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