The Teignbridge trials for the Olympic-style Devon Youth Games are under way, and, if you're aged between eight and 15 years, you can be a part of it. This year the event will be held in Tiverton and organised by Mid-Devon District Council – Teignbridge Council hosted the games in 2005. The eagerly-awaited games will involve more than 1,000 young people from all over the county, and it promises to be one of the Devon's most exciting sporting extravaganzas of the year. Cllr David Weekes, Teignbridge executive spokesman for community services, said: 'The Devon Youth Games is a fantastic opportunity for local young athletes to test their skills in a competitive, exciting environment. 'A wide range of sports are organised and local trials are under way to establish who goes through to represent Teignbridge. 'Teignbridge Council is committed to providing children and young people with play and leisure opportunities, and the Devon Youth Games presents a wonderful opportunity to not only showcase local talent, but also to provide local young people with a useful learning experience.' Trials have been organised at a number of venues across Teignbridge in a range of sports, including aquathlon, athletics, netball, hockey, tag rugby, tennis and girls' cricket. This year's games also feature two extra events – street sports including skateboarding, BMX and in-Line skating and mixed badminton. Contact your local Teignbridge leisure centre for more details on the trials, which run until Thursday, June 22. Alternatively, if you're a potential player, volunteer, coach, official or club wishing to take part, and you require further information on the trials, contact Nikki Toms, Teignbridge Council's sports development officer, on 01626 215611 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected].
TRIAL DATES Mixed tennis – School Yrs 6, 7 and 8 – at Dawlish Leisure Centre, today, from 6.45pm - 8.30pm, and Friday, June 16, from 6.45pm - 8.30pm. Players must be unrated or not hold LTA rating higher than 9.2 as of March 20, 2006. Players who have represented the county from March 1, 2005, up to April 1, 2006, are not eligible. Mixed badminton – School Yrs 8 & 9 – at Coombeshead College Sports Hall, Newton Abbot, on Monday, June 12, from 3.45pm - 5pm. Players must not have competed, trained or been selected at county, regional or national level, or been selected for or participating in a county training squad. Girls hockey – School yrs 6, 7 and 8 – Dawlish Leisure Centre, on Tuesday, June 13, from 5pm - 6pm. Boys hockey – School Yrs 6, 7 and 8 – at Dawlish Leisure Centre, on Tuesday, June 13, from 6pm - 7pm. Players – girls and boys – must not have competed, trained or been selected for county, regional or national teams or attended or been selected for national, regional or county academy, satellite centre or talent camp in the current hockey season, September 1, 2005 - May 31, 2006. Girls' tag rugby – School Yrs 7, 8 and 9 – at South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton, on Wednesday, June 14, from 4.30pm - 6.30pm. Players must not have played rugby at county, regional or national level in the 12 months prior to March 31, 2006. Street Sports (skateboarding, BMX, In-line Skating) – School Yrs 8, 9 and 10 – Buckland skate park, Nr Penn Inn roundabout, Newton Abbot – on Wednesday, June 14, from 4.30pm - 6.30pm. Take your own equipment, and helmets, knee and elbow pads must be worn at all times. Girls cricket – School Yrs 8 and below – at South Dartmoor Community Sports College, Ashburton, on Tuesday, June 20, from 3.45pm - 5pm Players must not have competed at national standard in 12 months prior to March 31, 2006. County standard are players are eligible. Athletics – School Yrs 4, 5 and 6 – at Dawlish Leisure Centre on Thursday, June 22, from 4pm - 6pm. Athletes must not have competed at county, regional or national level or attended a centre of excellence in the 12 months prior to March 31, 2005 – this only applies to track and field or indoor events.