REDBRIDGE’S sports stars of the future produced a succession of stunning performances to finish runners-up in the London Youth Games.
Over 27,000 youngsters between the ages of seven and 17 from London’s 33 boroughs flocked to Crystal Palace National Sports Centre last weekend to compete for the right to be crowned the capital’s champion.
The borough won a total of five events from the 30 sports on offer, while they placed second or third in eight other competitions.
The efforts of the boys and girls competing over the weekend almost earned them winners’ medals, but eventual victors Havering finished just 17 points ahead of them with a grand total of 169.
One of the sports in which Redbridge excelled was team badminton, as the 13-strong team beat off competition from Harrow and Merton to take the title.
Team manager Jenni Crisp was elated with the performance. “The team played fantastically well and deserved the gold medal. I’m delighted we could help the borough finish second overall.”
The team included Rob Sheehan, Emma Skingsley, Venesha Valakumar, Kavidha Clare, Lauren Davidson, Sam McKure, Victoria Wilson, Natalie Crisp, Kamrun Robinson, Keira Robinson, Samuel Murray, Raymond Tang and Victor Chiew. Redbridge’s netball team also triumphed on the day, with team manager Cathy Pluck praising the versatility of her side. “I think we did very well,” she said. “We started off with nine different girls and gelled really well as the day went on.”
The team also enjoyed victory in the girls’ cricket, male karate and female squash.
There were second place finishes in the boys’ cricket, female karate, male volleyball and female hockey.
After a hugely successful weekend, the championships came down to the final event, the indoor rowing. Redbridge, like their performances in so many other sports, were excellent, as they finished second. However, Havering took third and gained the necessary points to win the Games.
Waltham Forest were also in action over the weekend, as they finished a respectable 15th overall.
They came second in the female judo and female football, while they were third in the male karate and male and female volleyball competitions.
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