Youth Games 2008
25/07/2008 - By Sam Parker
NORTH YORKSHIRE YOUTH GAMES 2008
Sunday 1st June 2008 saw Ampleforth College in Ryedale host the 9th Annual North Yorkshire Youth Games. Approximately 1200 young people from across North Yorkshire competed.NORTH YORKSHIRE YOUTH GAMES 2008
Sunday 1st June 2008 saw Ampleforth College in Ryedale host the 9th Annual North Yorkshire Youth Games. Approximately 1200 young people from across North Yorkshire competed in one of the most important fixtures in the county’s sporting calendar.
Young able bodied and disabled sportsmen and women represented all Local Authority areas within the county, across 10 different sports including Gymnastics, Sportshall Athletics, Netball and Cheerleading.
The journey to the games began six months ago for some of the participants when competitions were opened to children across the county of North Yorkshire. Thousands of young people aged between 8 and 16 competed in interschool competitions and festivals to find the best representative teams for their District!
Local dignitaries came from all over York and North Yorkshire to cheer on their teams who were competing in a variety of different sports. There were a number of sponsors also in attendance. Ian Watkinson from Hard Gear commented, “From what we saw, even the rain failed to dampen people's spirit for the Youth Games, demonstrating the high standard to which the event was run.”
Sue Smith, who has earned 66 caps for the England Ladies Football Team, attended the games to encourage the next generation of female footballers. Sue signed for Leeds United in 2002 from Tranmere Rovers. She has twice won the Nationwide International Player of the Year award – in 1999 and 2001. Sue was a real hit on the day and gave the girls the opportunity to talk her about her football career and learn about the dedication needed to make it as an England International.
David Watson, Executive Director of North Yorkshire Sport said, “The Youth Games represents an important step towards developing more talented athletes in the region through a competitive but safe environment which can ultimately lead to regional and national representative honours with the help of National Governing Bodies for sport.
Every young person involved in the Games, from those who attend district festivals and Competitions to the event itself will be signposted to local clubs and groups to enable them to continue in their chosen sport which will hopefully lead to lifelong participation.”
North Yorkshire Sport would like to thank all those involved in running and supporting this years North Yorkshire Youth Games from paid professionals to volunteers including the students from York St. John University and Scarborough, your support it would not have been possible.
The winners on the day were:
Sport Sponsor Age Group Winning District
Cheerleading Touch Yorkshire Under 15 Girls York All Stars
Tag Rugby Union Lodestone Patient Care Under 14 Girls Ryedale
Tag Ability Lodestone Patient Care Under 15 Mixed Hambleton
Sports Ability Skipton Building Society Under 15 Mixed York
Sports Hall Athletics Ampleforth College Under 11 Mixed Selby
Hockey Interserve Project Services Ltd Under 11 Mixed Hambleton
Hockey Interserve Project Services Ltd Under 13 Girls York
Hockey Interserve Project Services Ltd Under 13 Boys Scarborough
Netball North Yorkshire Sport Under 11 Mixed York
Netball North Yorkshire Sport Under 13 Girls Harrogate
Gymnastics ASDA Under 9 Mixed Hambleton
Gymnastics ASDA Under 11 Mixed Harrogate
Gymnastics ASDA Under 15 Mixed Scarborough
Kwik Cricket Yorkshire County Cricket Club Under 11 Girls Harrogate
Please visit the North Yorkshire Sport website, www.northyorkshiresport.co.uk for Youth Games pictures and further information.
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