Sutton storms to best ever finish in London Youth Games 2008
In an outstanding performance Sutton’s young athletes claimed fourth spot in the London Youth Games this weekend – their best ever finish.
Gold medals in tennis, girls’ gymnastics, and the boys’ swimming, disability swimming and judo, propelled the borough to its first top-five finish in 30 years of competition.
Over 300 youngsters aged 11-17 who live or go to school in Sutton took part in 36 sports across five weekends of competition. The borough’s team was organised and managed by the Council’s Sports Development Team.
The finale began on Thursday 3 July with the London Mini Games at the National Sports Centre in Crystal Place. Eighty of the borough’s primary school children aged 9-11 years competed in fun, mixed sports competitions in football, swimming, indoor athletics, tag rugby, hockey and basketball.
On Saturday and Sunday 5 & 6 July it was the turn of the seniors to bring home a huge selection of medals and honours both in team and individual events.
Martial Arts really came to the forefront this year with the Boys Karate Team for the first time ever getting onto the podium with the bronze team medal. The Boys Athletics Squad too were also back in the medals with another great bronze team win, as were the Girls Disability Football squad who also won the bronze team medal.
Other notable team performances were from the Archery and Badminton teams who just missed out on medals in 4th place and also the Girls Football team who gave a cracking performance to finish in 6th place
There were lots of fantastic individual performances too, with athletes from all sorts of sports taking home gold, silver or bronze, including:- Archery, Boys & Girls Judo, Boys Karate, Girls & Boys Disability Swimming, Girls and Boys Disability Athletics, Girls Floor & Vault Gymnastics and Boys Swimming.
All of Sutton’s young athletes either live in Sutton or go to a Sutton school. Many train regularly throughout the year at various sports clubs and compete regularly. For some athletes, however, the London Youth Games is an excellent introduction and pathway into local sports clubs and their first taste of sports competition.
Download here full results for Sutton and all 33 London Boroughs.
Photos can be viewed on the following link: www.bigfoot-media.co.uk/LYG/Photo and ordered on this form: www.bigfoot-media.co.uk/LYG/OrderForm.doc
Sutton’s young athletes will be celebrating their success with the Mayor of Sutton later on in the year at a special Reception as part of a joint event, together with the Sutton Sports Awards, to be held at the Secombe Theatre, Sutton on 22 October.
London Youth Games 2009
If you or your children are interested in taking part in the London Youth Games next year, look out for more details on this website later on in the year.
Participants need to be aged between 11-17year olds and either live in Sutton or attend a school. Trials and training start from February each year with competitions for various sports taking place from the end May to the beginning of July. Application forms will be available from February 2009.
To register your interest e-mail Sutton Sports Development Team on:
beverley.rand@sutton.gov.uk or telephone: 020 8770 4667.
