The team representing Lancaster in the International Youth Games, held in Rendsburg, Germany, from July 27 to August 1, have returned with a total of 62 medals (19 Gold, 15 Silver and 28 Bronze)
The Games saw more than 500 young people aged between 14 and 16 from eight different countries competing in 10 different sports. Lancaster’s team of 39 participants and 13 leaders competed in athletics, golf, judo, karate, swimming and table-tennis. As well as Lancaster representing England, the other teams came from Rendsburg and Rathenow (Germany), Kreis Racibortz (Poland), Almere (Netherlands), Haapsalu (Estonia), Aalborg (Denmark), Vierzon (France), and Kristianstad (Sweden).
The standard of competition was high and the Lancaster Team enjoyed success across the whole range of their sports, winning medals in all the sports that they participated in, with the majority recording PB’s (personal bests).
Lancaster were represented in the 2008 International Youth Games by: (Athletics) Kieran Miles, Callum Mason, Richard Newsham, Beau Smith, James Crinion, Chloe Collins, Eleanor Pike, Claire Muir, Larissa Webster, Natasha Butler; (Golf) Robert Smith, James Gillespie, Ryan Wood, Jack Seymour, David Grealy, Sophie Fletcher; (Judo) Earl Suligowski, Klee Oakeshott, Rachel Harrison, Lauren Stretch, Kayleigh Johnson; (Karate) James Downey, Alexander Calverley, Lucy Pattison, Alexandra Thomas, Bethany Thomas; (Swimming) Adam Bateson, Decland Ellwood, Matthew Hartley, William Timpany, Aneurin O’Neil, Katie Hesketh, Lauren Akister, Natalie Price, Sophie Rawlinson, Isobel Rawlinson; (Table-tennis) Jonathan Barnett, Jeremy Barker, Will Mossop.
The Lancaster Team was accompanied by a civic delegation, comprising the Mayor of Lancaster, Coun Keith Budden, the Mayoress Mrs Budden, Coun Susan Bray, who was chosen by ballot from volunteers, and Gill Noall, Head of Democratic Services.
As well as acknowledging the young people, Lancaster City Council would like to offer its thanks and appreciation to the overall leaders and the sports leaders: Stuart Glover, Penny Taylor, Colin Smith, Tom Smith, Mark Seymour, Andy Lloyd, Pam Johnson, Paul Turner, Charlotte Pattison, Sandra Bateson, Jane Farmey Rawlinson and Jack Henderson-Taylor.
Next year, the 2009 International Youth Games will again be hosted by Lancaster. David Owen, the city council’s Head of Cultural Services, would welcome contact from anyone who wishes to be involved as a “host” family. To find out how to become involved email dowen@lancaster.gov.uk