2005 Youth Games
Saturday 25th June 2005
This year's event was the largest in the history of the Games in the county, with 97 teams representing the seven districts in 10 different sports.
The Games began with an Opening Ceremony. All the district teams lined up and marched past the VIPs, dignitaries and the crowd assembled round the athletics track, with BBC Radio Northampton's Paul Gadsby commentating from the stage.
When all the teams had lined up in front of the stage, Paul interviewed Dan Richmond from Northampton Saints Rugby Club. Dan has been playing at the Saints since he was a teenager and spoke of how he was inspired to take up the sport by his PE teacher and seeing Australia's Michael Lynagh play when he was at school. Dan then officially declared the Games open and Northamptonshire County Council's Community Dance & Movement Teacher, Sue Bennett, took the mass warm up. Sue was joined on stage by Bernie from the Saints but Clarence from Northampton Town FC was hiding somewhere!
The teams then went to the various locations at Kettering Leisure Village, Bishop Stopford School and Kettering Cricket Club to compete in their sports.
We were luck enough this year to have the England Rugby Sweet Chariot Road show present with the Rugby World Cup on display. Also Goalden Events ran a table football championship and with canoe ergos and the Frying Dutchman provided hot and cold refreshments, there was certainly a lot for all to do.
Throughout the day, the weather was gloomy and it rained but this did not deter the participants and the standard of competition was very high with everyone putting the effort in to win a medal. As the buses departed at 5pm back to the districts and the clean up operation began, people were already talking about the 2006 Youth Games!
Athletics
1st Corby
2nd Kettering
3rd Northampton 2
4th Northampton 1
5th East Northants
6th South Northants
7th Daventry
8th Wellingborough
"I just wanted to say thank you to all those officials and helpers who ensured the smooth running of the Athletics events at this year's Games. Some twenty six persons were involved on a somewhat hectic day, when eight teams, consisting of fourteen young athletes, participated in nine events.
This was the last NYG athletics event that I will organise, and I hope that whoever takes on the Sport Co-ordinator position will get the support of officials and helpers from clubs within the County.
This year nineteen members from Kettering Town Harriers, four from Corby AC and two from NSport participated, but I would hope that, for future County Athletics events, all major Track and Field clubs would be more involved and spread the help more evenly.
Once again thank you again, and I would especially mention Jon Thompson for his contribution and support."
Ted Barton - Northamptonshire Athletics Association
Badminton
Girls Badminton
1st East Northants
2nd South Northants
3rd Corby
Boys Badminton
1st East Northants
2nd Northampton
3rd South Northants
4th Kettering
5th Corby
"Five boys and three girls teams participated in this year's Games which was held at Bishop Stopford School. The players enjoyed a full day of competitive badminton with teams demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship. Congratulations to all teams who took part and thank you to all team managers for their enthusiasm and commitment on the day."
Jane Caulton - Badminton Development Officer
Basketball
Girls Basketball
1st Northampton 12nd Daventry
3rd Northampton 2
4th Corby
5th KEWS (Kett/EN/Well/ SN)
Boys Basketball
1st Northampton 1
2nd South Northants
3rd East Northants
4th Kettering
5th Wellingborough
6th Corby
7th Daventry
8th Northampton 2
The basketball was, as usual, a close and competitive contest, with an excellent standard of play displayed by all. The music from the arena contributed to the atmosphere and it was Northampton who remained triumphant with both the boys and girls winning their competitions.
The Wheelchair Basketball Road show ran a taster session during the day as a demonstration sport. Wheelchair Basketball is growing in popularity around the county and we hope that it will be included in NYG 2006.
Basketball Officers Karen Goodrich and John Collins would like to thank all the officials and volunteers that helped out with this years games.
Boccia
1st Northampton
2nd Corby
3rd Wellingborough 2
4th East Northants
5th Wellingborough 3
6th Northampton 2
7th Wellingborough 1
As ever, the competition was tense, and the event had the highest number of teams entered since it was introduced to the Games. This Paralympic sport was played with great skill and accuracy, which made the final results very close. Congratulations to the Northampton team from Northgate School who were the eventual winners.
Girls Cricket
1st Wellingborough
2nd Kettering
3rd Corby
4th Wellingborough 2
5th South Northants
6th Northampton
7th Daventry
A close competition saw Wellingborough come out on top! Despite the weather threatening to cancel the cricket matches, Helen Pugh and her team managed the competition successfully and the girls competed in the largest cricket competition that we have had in recent years. Thanks to Kettering Cricket Club for the use of their pitches.
Girls Football
School Years 5 & 6
1st Northampton
2nd Corby
3rd South Northants
4th East Northants
5th Wellingborough
6th Daventry
School Year 7
1st Kettering
2nd Northampton
3rd South Northants
4th Wellingborough
5th East Northants
6th Corby
7th Daventry
"A great tournament this year in both age groups saw Northampton take the Year 5/6 title and Kettering take the year 7 title.
In the Year 5/6 age group, Boothville Primary School were undefeated and only dropped points to St. Patricks Primary School, who pushed them right to the end. St. Patricks gained second place from Preston Hedges with a greater goal difference but some excellent team work in each of these teams made the top of the table a real battle all day.
In the Year 7 tournament Bishop Stopford School, with home advantage won every game in their group and with an unassailable 18 points took the title for Kettering. The crucial game was Bishop's last match against Thomas Beckett School, who, with a win in the final game, could have seen both teams swap places.
The quality of play continues to improve year on year, with a lot of the girls playing school football now actively playing for local clubs. In future years it is hope that all girls will be linked to local playing opportunities outside of school time! Congratulations to all competitors for their effort and sportsmanship."
Matt Greenwood
Women & Girls Football Development Officer
Hockey
Girls Hockey
1st Wellingborough
2nd Kettering
3rd Daventry
4th South Northants
5th Corby
6th East Northants
Boys Hockey
1st Wellingborough
2nd Daventry
3rd South Northants
4th Corby
5th East Northants
6th Northampton 1
7th Northampton 2
8th Kettering
"The Youth Games was the first competitive hockey played on Kettering's newly refurbished artificial turf pitch. A good day of competition with a high standard of hockey played but it was penalties that determined the final result in the boys competition. Wellingborough boys faced two penalty shoot outs, overcoming eventual bronze medallists South Northants to make it to the final and then a 3-2 win over Daventry saw them take gold. In the girls competition, Wellingborough dominated again remaining unbeaten in their round robin tournament with Kettering girls taking silver.
Thanks to everyone that contributed to the day especially our young umpires, many of whom have played in the Games in the past and who gave up their time to help on the day."
Tim Martin - Northamptonshire Hockey
Netball
1st East Northants 1
2nd South Northants
3rd Northampton 1
4th Northampton 2
5th South Northants 2
6th Kettering
7th Daventry
8th Wellingborough
9th East Northants 2
10th Corby
11th Wellingborough 3
12th Wellingborough 2
"The largest number of teams entered the netball competition this year and the standard of court play and skills was excellent. East Northants 1 took gold for the second year running but was closely challenged by the South Northants team. The bronze medal place was contested between the two Northampton teams.
The tournament was enjoyed by all involved including the spectators who all got behind their teams. Thank you to all my colleagues at Alfa Netball who ran the tournament so smoothly and to all the young umpires and leaders who officiated on the day. "
Lynne Berry - Alfa Netball Club
Tag Rugby
1st South Northants
2nd Northampton 1
3rd Northampton 2
4th Daventry 2
5th Wellingborough
6th Corby
7th Daventry
8th Kettering 2
9th East Northants
10th East Northants 2
11th Kettering
"A very successful day for rugby. Not only were we fortunate to have the World Cup present but we had a record number of teams entered. The tournament went extremely well and everyone involved seemed to have a good time. South Northants ran out as winners, with Northampton 1 and 2 taking the bronze and silver respectively.
Thank you to everyone for all their support and help on the day."
David Fraser - EMRU
Zone Hockey
1st Wellingborough
2nd East Northants
3rd Northampton
4th Corby
"Zone hockey, a demonstration sport last year and now a full part of the programme, dominated the sports hall on the Saturday afternoon. With four teams competing, it was Friars School from Wellingborough who took gold with Manor School from East Northants in silver. Northampton Lions (NBC) took bronze with Tribes from Corby in 4th. It was an incredibly close competition with lots of goals scored at a fast and furious pace. With zone hockey increasing in popularity at special schools and clubs all over the county, we hope that next year's competition will be even bigger! Many thanks to everyone that contributed to the day it was brilliant fun!"
Lynne Jobling - Zone Hockey Community Coach
A BIG THANK YOU to:
All the staff & volunteers that helped in the build up to the Games and on the day, Alfa Netball, Apple Marquees, BBC Radio Northampton, Bishop Stopford School, Borough Council of Wellingborough, Cloverdale Catering, Corby Borough Council, Daventry District Council, East Midlands Rugby Union, East Northants Cultural.Community.Partnerships, England Rugby, Frying Dutchman Catering, Goalden Events, Kettering Arena, Kettering Borough Council, Kettering Cricket & Hockey Club, Kettering Harriers Athletics Club, Marlene Johnson, Northampton Borough Council, Northampton Lions HC, Northampton Saints Rugby, Northampton Town FC, Northamptonshire Athletic Association, Northamptonshire Badminton Association, Northamptonshire Federation of Disability Sport, Northamptonshire Hockey, Northamptonshire Basketball, Northamptonshire County Council Sports Development team, Northamptonshire County Cricket, Northamptonshire Football Association, NSport Team, Safety Marshals, Simon Langley, South Northants District Council, Stage Support Services