East Devon youngsters shine at Youth Games
East Devon youngsters embraced the true Olympic message when they took part in the Devon Rotary Youth Games earlier this month.
The team joined more than 1,300 young people from across Devon at Simmons Park, Okehampton for the South West’s biggest annual youth sports event.
Team GB shooter Georgina Geikie and England Rugby World Cup winner Marlie Packer were special guests at the event, presenting medals and meeting hundreds of the participants.
The East Devon team took part in six of the 21 sports and won a clutch of medals.
Scooter and BMX teams won gold and there was a Triathlon gold for Elanor Brandon. There were silver medals for skateboarder Bob Hedges, the U18’s Netball team and the Mixed High 5’s team.
Cllr Paul Diviani, Leader of East Devon District Council, congratulated the team.
He said: “These events are so important to inspire young people and help them discover new talents that they never thought they had. Taking up new sports not only encourages them to keep fit and healthy, but we hope will motivate them to continue enjoying these activities throughout their adult life too.”
Aaron Clark, an East Devon District Council Community Development Worker, who took the team to the event said: “The Devon Youth Games presented an opportunity for our young people of East Devon to get involved in mass participation sports.
"Taking young people from all sporting abilities and backgrounds, it was a greatly successful day of interaction and teamwork, including several young people from our SWITCH club groups in Axminster.
“Thanks to my colleagues Mark Gerry, for organising the trials and transport to the event and Jenna Brookman for managing the triathlon team on the day. We were very proud of all who took part and we hope to have set a precedent for future events.”
Devon Youth Games Chairman John Coates said: “The Devon Rotary Youth Games might not quite be the Rio Olympics, which will take place in a few weeks’ time. But multi-sport events like ours that enable young people to enjoy sport in such a vibrant, fun and friendly environment can be just as powerful an inspiration.”
Devon – born Georgina, a double Commonwealth medallist, added: “It was a real privilege to attend the Games. Events like the Devon Youth Games are the first stepping stone for thousands of people, it is where the journey begins. I hope they all fully absorbed the whole experience and stay within sport. I know from personal experience how rewarding sport can be in so many ways.”
