Three schools from Redbridge to compete in London Youth Games

Redbridge youngsters were the big winners as three of their schools will represent the borough at the London Youth Games sportshall athletics finals at Crystal Palace later this month.

Year five and six pupils from Fairlop Primary excelled in the final qualifiers at the Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park to book their spot at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Tuesday, March 24.

Beal High School also performed impressively and will have representation thanks to good performances by their year seven boys.

Year eight boys and girls have also qualified from Beal High School for the competition set to take place in a few of weeks time.

Ursuline Academy will represent Redbridge as well with their year seven girls qualifying to compete for medals on the borough’s behalf.

Redbridge team manager Jan Jones is looking forward to taking Fairlop Primary to south London later this month for the big event and admitted they were nervous prior to the qualifiers.

“We’ve worked really hard for this, I must admit,” she said.

“I’m just so pleased for the kids to have this wonderful experience and to go to Crystal Palace as well.

“They were very nervous when they arrived, but they certainly produced what they’re capable of producing and I’m absolutely thrilled for them.”

Redbridge will be up against rival local boroughs Newham, Havering and Barking & Dagenham at Crystal Palace.

Other boroughs competing for glory in the athletics event will be Hounslow, Hillingdon, Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Wandsworth, Lambeth, Richmond, Sutton, Bromley, Kingston, Croydon, Greenwich, Waltham Forest, Hackney and Haringey.

Brent have won gold for the past three years and their team manager Mark Betts is targetting a fourth year of success.

“We’ve won it three years in a row now so we’re hoping for a fourth win over there,” he said.

“I usually analyse results from all the other zones, so I go there knowing how we’ll do.”

But Redbridge will hope to achieve another medal, after their girls and boys cricket teams won silver and bronze, respectively, at the indoor finals at Lord’s recently.

Athletics is one of 31 sports in the 2015 London Youth Games, which is Europe’s largest annual youth sports event and is driving the legacy for more participation in competitive sport and volunteering for young Londonders.

Boccia qualifiers and rugby, volleyball and dance finals were all set to take place this week, with basketball finals next week.