Redrow Suffolk Youth Games 2009

Around 800 young people representing Suffolk’s sporting future converged on Bury St Edmunds on Sunday 12th July for the tenth staging of the Redrow Homes Suffolk Youth Games. The competition in all seven sports was fierce at times, with strong teams from Waveney, St Edmundsbury, Mid Suffolk & Forest Heath in particular ensuring it remained a closely fought title. Unstoppable Waveney once again came home as victors for their 5th successive win. Host team St Edmundsbury repeated last year’s result by taking the runners up trophy, with Mid Suffolk also putting in an impressive performance to retain their third place position. Smallest district Forest Heath came home a very creditable fourth with what must have been their most impressive team to date. The Fair Play trophy was awarded to Babergh, whose players demonstrated high standards of sportsmanlike behaviour throughout the day.

Abbeycroft Leisure hosted the 10th Suffolk Youth Games, and the event was used to celebrate the opening of St Edmundsbury’s impressive, newly refurbished athletics track. At the opening ceremony The Worshipful Mayor of St Edmundsbury – Cllr Mrs Patricia Warby invited the St Edmundsbury team to cut the tape at the finish line. All seven district teams marched around the track during the ceremony and this year they were joined by nearly 100 Judo players and 30 Squash players who were taking part in demonstration competitions.

Principal sponsor Redrow Homes, was represented by George Cronin, Managing Director of Redrow Homes Eastern Division, and his wife Lin. This was the 6th successive year that Redrow Homes has sponsored the event – a real tribute to its determination to help support community sport in Suffolk.

Participants were presented with a sports bag & drinks bottle by Explore at Suffolk County Council – who also supported the event by subsidising the transport costs for all the competitors. New sponsors Superdrug, provided 2500 bottles of drinking water for the competitors to keep them hydrated during their competitions. Demonstration activities were provided by Optua, Suffolk FA, Ipswich Town Community Trust, West Suffolk Wheelers, Tchoukball, Suffolk Coastal District Council (skate park & face painting) and Anglia Community Leisure (Dance Mats).

All the people who contributed to the success of the day must be congratulated. Sponsors Redrow Homes, Abbeycroft Leisure, Explore, Superdrug & Suffolk County Council all made the day possible. The numerous volunteers provided superb support both in running the sports events and with the general organisation. Among these were a number of student volunteers from King Edward VI School where some of the sports events took place. Their commitment and enthusiasm added greatly to the occasion. Volunteer officials from a range of sports clubs ensured the sports events ran smoothly & once again the organisers are grateful to RAF Honington for providing tented accommodation and the local Army Cadet Force for their help in setting up & dismantling the event.

The Youth Games programme is designed to get more young people taking part regularly in club sport. In the weeks leading up to the Games, recruitment and coaching programmes were run by local clubs and coaches linking to nearby schools. Local management across the range of sports and with respect to logistical arrangements was provided by the respective local authority Sports Development Officers. This led to a team approach within each local community.