Sporting success at 10th West Yorkshire Youth Games
The tenth annual West Yorkshire Youth Games saw 650 children representing the region’s five local authorities competing in one of the most exciting fixtures in the county’s sporting calendar.
The Games got off to a flying start with a spectacular opening ceremony introduced by gymnastic Sporting Champion Craig Heap at Leeds Metropolitan University’s Carnegie campus. All the children paraded round the track and took part in a coordinated warm-up led by Errol Barrows – Senior Physical Development Officer from Kirklees.
What followed was a full day of sporting competition, across 9 sporting disciplines.
- Bradford took the top two places in the yr 4 Tennis and once again took home the Gymnastics Disability honours.
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Calderdale showed well in both Kurling and u11 Netball while setting a shining example in the field in Fair Play.
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Kirklees brought took home the ashes in Cricket and fought to the last game to clinch yr 5 Tennis.
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Leeds scooped winners trophies in u11 Netball, the Gateway team took the gold for yr 7/8 Gymnastics and Leeds A dominated the badminton court.
- Wakefield led the leader board with a total of five golds including Rugby League, Boccia, New Age Kurling. In Gymnastics, Sharlston took the top slots in both yr 3/4 and 5/6 competitions and were joined on the podium by a trio of runner-up results.
The Fair Play category in the sports showed all the teams were playing the game with the right attitude and both competitors and spectators enjoyed the opportunity to enjoy a great day's sport.
| Event | 1 st | 2nd | Fair Play |
| Rugby League | Wakefield | Bradford | |
| Boccia | Wakefield 1 | Kirklees | |
| New Age Kurling | Wakefield 1 | Calderdale 2 | Leeds |
| Netball U11's | Leeds | Calderdale | |
| Tennis Yr 4 | All Saints - Bradford | Aslands - Bradford | All Saints - Calderdale |
| Tennis Yr 5 | Kirklees | Leeds independent | |
| Cricket | Mt Pleasant - Kirklees | Roberttown - Kirklees | |
| Gymnastics Disability | Bradford 2 | Wakefield 2 | |
| Gymnastics yr 7/8 | Gateway - Leeds | Ossett - Wakefield | Kirklees |
| Gymnastics yr 5/6 | Sharlston - Wakefield | Grove Lea – Wakefield | |
| Gymnastics yr3/4 | Sharlston - Wakefield | Blackgates - Leeds | |
| Badminton yr 7-8-9 | Leeds A |
| Calderdale |
| Badminton yr 10-11 | Leeds A |
| Calderdale |
The journey to the games began six months ago in schools across Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, when the competition was open to all children in West Yorkshire aged between six and 16.
Amongst the guests of honour were the Mayor of Calderdale Cllr Conrad Winterburn and the Deputy Lord Mayor Designate of Bradford Cllr Hawarun Hussain. Nigel Harrison, Director of West Yorkshire Sport said: “Once again The Youth games has proved hugely popular and the opening ceremony really helped everyone get into the spirit of the games. The level of competition this year was as high as ever and the standard of play was outstanding. West Yorkshire boasts some great up and coming young sportspeople and, who knows how far these children will take their talents”
Nigel continued: “This event has been a great opportunity for youngsters to taste the exciting atmosphere of a large competition, and for some this will have been their first chance to represent their District. The ethos of the Games is to make sport and competition fun and accessible to as many people as possible and this year's event has undoubtedly done that. I look forward cheering many of them on to greater successes in the future.”
The children were also cheered on and encouraged by gymnast Craig Heap, who attended the weekend’s events courtesy of Sport England’s Sporting Champions scheme. Craig was pleased to lend his support to an event which promotes and encourages grass roots sport and spent a lot of time with the young gymnasts offering advice and encouragement and sharing his experiences and successes with the competitors and their families.
Pictures and video to follow.....