YOUTH GAMES: MORE than 600 young competitors from across the region enjoyed a day of sport at yesterday's BTexact Technologies Suffolk Youth Games.The county's seven regions all entered teams in the competition, which was based at Ipswich's Northgate Sports Centre, with Ipswich retaining the title they won at last year's event.

YOUTH GAMES: MORE than 600 young competitors from across the region enjoyed a day of sport at yesterday's BTexact Technologies Suffolk Youth Games.

The county's seven regions all entered teams in the competition, which was based at Ipswich's Northgate Sports Centre, with Ipswich retaining the title they won at last year's event.

St Edmundsbury also had the same result as last year, finishing the games in second place, with Babergh third.

However, the emphasis for the games was on fun and enjoyment rather than competitiveness, which was highlighted by the presentation of the Fair Play Award to Waveney.

Competitors took part in 10 sports – athletics, boys' and girls' basketball, girls' football, boys' and girls' hockey, netball, rugby, swimming and tennis.

Crown Pools was used as the venue for the swimming competition which provided the closest result of the day – St Edmundsbury pipping Ipswich by a single point.

There were some fine individual performances in the athletics event. Ryan Saker won the boys' 100 metres in a time of 13.0 seconds, and the girls' high jump was won by Wendy Meadows-Smith of St Edmundsbury who jumped 1.47 metres.

The games also offered a chance for athletes with disabilities to compete. Ryan Cransie put in a good performance in the Turbo Javelin, throwing a distance of 11.41 metres.

On hand to support the event was British Paralympic Gold Medalist Lloyd Upsdell, who broke world records in the 100 and 200 metres at last year's games in Sydney.

Upsdell was pleased with what he saw throughout the day: "It's been a great day. I've been round all the sports and everyone seems as if they're having a great time."

The games are part of the Sport England initiative to involve more children in sport, and ultimately to achieve more success for English sport through higher standards.

Jeff Neslen, Director of Sport England in the Eastern Region, explained the aims behind the Suffolk Youth Games.

"It's all part of a national scheme, not about performance and excellence, but about taking part.

"It's a long-term programme, funded by the National Lottery, to get more people involved in sport and about improving club structures and coaching," he added.

The games were sponsored by BTexact Technologies, and the company's Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Davies, feels that the event is important for the future of British sport.

"With any talent it is about finding it as young as possible so you can help to develop it, and the more children that get involved in events like this the more chance of finding that talent."

"It's been a super day, a credit to all the people who have helped organise it and it's good to see so many enthusiastic children."

Results

Overall standings: 1 Ipswich, 2 St Edmundsbury, 3 Babergh, 4 Forest Heath, 5 Mid Suffolk, 6 Waveney, 7 Suffolk Coastal.

Individual sports – Athletics: St Edmundsbury, Forest Heath, Ipswich. Boys' basketball: Forest Heath, St Edmundsbury, Mid Suffolk. Girls' basketball: Forest Heath, St Edmundsbury, Mid Suffolk. Girls' football: Waveney, Babergh, Ipswich. Boys' hockey: Babergh, St Edmundsbury, Forest Heath. Girls' hockey: Mid Suffolk, Waveney, Babergh. Netball: Ipswich, Babergh, St Edmundsbury. Girls' Rugby: Mid Suffolk, Ipswich, Babergh. Swimming: St Edmundsbury, Ipswich, Suffolk Coastal. Tennis: Ipswich, Suffolk Coastal, Babergh.