Wokingham

In July 2005 it was announced that the 2012 Olympics would be held in the UK. And one year on, young sportsmen and women from across the Wokingham district have scored a round of successes at their own Olympic-style event – the Berkshire Youth Games in Bradfield.

The Berkshire Youth Games were held at Bradfield College on Sunday July 2, where the opening ceremony in the Greek amphitheatre included guest appearances from England Netballer Karen Aspinall and a local break-dance team who have recently become national champions. Representatives from the six local authorities involved, as well as officials of the tournament, gave an Olympic-style oath to play fair throughout the games.

Over 3,000 children aged between eight and 16 from six local authorities across the county, including 250 children from the Wokingham district, competed in two-year age groups at sports including indoor athletics, basketball, hockey, netball, tag rugby, football and ‘Kwick’ cricket.

Teams from Wokingham district schools scored many successes at the games. Year seven and eight pupils from The Holt School won the girls’ tag rugby, while girls from year seven at The Piggott School won the girls’ basketball. Year seven boys from The Forest School took second place in the boys’ basketball, and a mixed team from St Dominic Savio Catholic Primary School came second in the ‘high five netball’ competition for years four and five. Many other Wokingham district teams were highly placed in the games, and all participants had opportunities to take part in exciting new activities – rowing and orienteering were among the sporting challenges offered at the event to encourage young people to try new things.

The Wokingham district heats for the games took place in April with over 230 pupils from across the district taking part in netball and tag rugby matches. Teams were selected through Wokingham District Council’s sports development team and The Bulmershe Schools Sports Partnership, who also organised the Wokingham district heats in partnership with Berkshire Sport and Wokingham District Sports Council.

Wokingham District Council’s sports development manager Beverley Thompson and Nicola Hopper, partnership development manager at the Bulmershe School Sport Partnership, worked with schools and sports clubs to select the squad and arrange coaching sessions.

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, Wokingham champion for youth and leisure, said: “More than 700 young people took part in these games and I was delighted to see so many enjoy themselves so much! The Berkshire Youth Games has been very well supported in its first year and Wokingham district’s young athletes have shown excellent sportsmanship and skills. The tremendous facilities at Bradfield College and all the dedicated officials, as well as all the young athletes, have come together to make it a resounding success. Well done to all of them!”

Nicola Hopper, partnership development manager at The Bulmershe School Sport Partnership, said: “The Berkshire Youth Games are an opportunity for young people to participate in their chosen sport and represent their district rather than their school, which can really build their confidence and will hopefully encourage them to take part in sport for life.”

Wokingham District Council