Regional Finals

So having won the Islington Primary Sportshall Competition, the school was invited to represent Islington at the London Youth Games. Whereas the finals for the other games events are held on one individual day, due to logistical arrangements of the Sportshall comp, the 33 finalists representing each London borough were divided into three groups of eight and one of nine, to compete over four days, from which the top three from each day went onto the final at Crystal Palace!

So onto the day itself, and things didn't go to plan to start off with, as our scheduled coach hadn't turned up to transport the children to The Copper Box Arena, where the competition was taking place. After a few frantic calls, a vehicle turned up and we were on our way. We managed to get to the venue just as the event was starting and were straight into action.

The girls were first up on the track and were up against some very good athletes from the other boroughs. The highest scoring event for us was the Paarluuf race which saw Millie and Thora finish fourth. Meanwhile the boys were contesting the field events, with some good results. Sid, Harry and Cameron combined to win the boys Soft Javelin, whilst we finished 2nd in the Vertical Jump (Han, Diago and Olawarju) and Standing Triple Jump (Stephane, Kayvon and Cameron).

The switch saw the boys take to track and the highlight of the day, as Han and Stephane blazed away to win the 2 + 2 relay and record the 2nd quickest time of the week, but also the whole of London, which would probably equate to over 600 schools. Over on the field the girls were holding their own and the trio of Henrietta, Layla and Ella ended up second in the Chest Push. So onto the results and being realistic we knew a chance to finish in the top three would be very hard, and so it proved as we finished fifth, from our region.

A month later the finals were held and once the results had all been collated, we were awarded a final place of joint 17th, which as I mentioned is from the whole of London. so seeing it our first time attending the regionals a very pleasing day, and well done to all our athletes. Having transport issues was not the ideal start but the children coped with it well, and also the opportunity to compete at an Olympic Venue would have more than made up for it.