Merton youngsters were out in force at the at the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games finals over the weekend.
By Josh Richards
Merton youngsters were out in force at the at the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games finals over the weekend.
Merton were competing as part of an action-packed weekend at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre which saw all 33 London boroughs go head-to-head across 17 different sports.
Bromley were the stars of the show, taking victory in six sporting categories, turning third place overall last year into the 2010 title with Croydon second and Havering third.
But despite Bromley’s dominance long-jumper Kerri Davidson ensured the Merton team had plenty to shout about – claiming silver with a leap of 5.10metres – an agonising 1cm shy of winner Daryll Neita from Lewisham (5.11m).
While Davidson took the plaudits there were also top ten finishes for the badminton and the girls’ hockey team while Laura Wells finished an agonising fourth in the girls’ aquathlon.
The Merton squad followed in the footsteps of former London Youth Games attendees Rio Ferdinand, Christine Ohuruogu and Bradley Wiggins by catching the eye at the competition- Europe’s largest annual youth sports event.
And while they failed to trouble Bromley and co. at the head of the standings Borough Team Organiser Hannah Browne insisted the weekend had been a victory for the underdogs.
“We were the second smallest borough at the event so we were really pleased with how the team got on and the effort they all put in,” said Greene.
“It was a busy and a hectic weekend but thanks to the hard work that everyone put in it was a good weekend.”
Balfour Beatty is committed to helping raise the aspirations, motivation and attainment levels of young people in the communities in which it operates and has committed at least £1.7 million to help develop the London Youth Games until 2013.
