More Fair Play for Torridge Games to Inspire Team

Around 100 Torridge youngsters will be off to Tavistock next month to compete in the annual Devon Games to Inspire event.

Running for over ten years, the Devon Games to Inspire is an annual celebration of sport and cultural activity.  It is the largest junior sporting event in Devon; attracting more than 2000 8 to 16 year olds from across the county of Devon and approximately 400 coaches.

The 2010 Games will be held on Saturday 10th July in Tavistock.  The games provide a great day out and promote the links between culture and sport in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

British modern pentathlete and local celebrity Heather Fell (Olympic Silver Medalist) will also be appearing at this year’s games to present trophies to the winning teams.

In the last two years, Torridge's Team at the Devon Games to Inspire has won the prestigious Fair Play Award. In addition, Torridge's Table Tennis and High-Five Netball squads both won gold in their respective sports last year. Team Torridge for 2010 will be competing in the Aquathlon (swim/run), athletics, badminton, cricket, dance, gym, table tennis, tennis, netball, tag rugby and mini soccer.

In addition to the sporting events, there will be dance showcases, a samba band, African drumming band and poetry slams with International Trail Rider Andrei Burton on hand to wow the crowds with his nail-biting stunts.

Torridge lead member for Youth and Play, Councillor Roger Johnson said, “I look forward to the event each year and seeing how well Team Torridge competes.  It was a wonderful event last year and such a boost for Torridge that so many local children take sport so seriously. To win the Fair Play Award two years in a row is a testament to the way our teams performed and the way in which they conducted themselves at both events – a credit to their families, schools and to Torridge".

The event is funded by a number of organisations including RELAYS (Regional Educational Legacy for Art and Youth Sport), Team Devon, the Devon Economic Partnership, Mansbridge and Balment, NPS Group, RM Builders and local authorities from across the county and has been organised this year by West Devon Borough Council.

For more information on the event visit www.activedevon.org/dgti.