Surrey Youth Games: 10 Years of Achievement
Over the past decade, the Games have inspired a significant number of young people in sport. A number of former competitors have gone on to notable achievements in their chosen sports and were invited back to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event. We also interviewed past competitors, coaches and officials: a selection of these are reproduced below.
Hayley
Connor, who represented Surrey Heath in the 1997
Surrey Youth Games and is now in full-time training as a member of
the England U24 badminton squad, believes the Games influenced her
development as an athlete.
What have been the main benefits
to you personally of taking part in sport?
Friends - I have met many great
friends along the line not only in England but other
countries. Playing sport gives me more confidence and a
determined attitude. I've learnt to do nothing half-heartedly
- I do everything to improve my badminton.
What is your most memorable
achievement in sport so far?
Winning my first national title and
representing my country - there can never be a greater
moment.
What do you remember most about
competing in the Surrey Youth Games?
Being able to play sport with my
friends. As I competed in netball it was more fun as it's a
team sport.
If you could describe the Surrey
Youth Games in three words, what would they
be?
Fun, exciting and
competitive.
Do you feel that your
involvement in the event influenced your participation in
sport?
Yes, it made me realise how much fun
sport is and wanted to pursue it further.
What advice would you give to
young competitors taking part in the Surrey Youth
Games?
Enjoy it!! By relaxing and enjoying
the sport you are taking part in, you will produce better
things. Having fun with your friends is what the Games is all
about.
Liz Barlow represented Woking in the Surrey Youth Games
netball competition for five consecutive years and then went on to
volunteer as an umpire and a coach.
What have
been the main benefits to you personally of taking part in
sport?
Having
participated in the Games for eight years, it's given me a great
opportunity to meet others who have the same passion for netball as
I do. The opportunity of umpiring the Games helped me to gain
much needed experience and helped me to boost my confidence;
umpiring a group of fourteen highly competitive fifteen year olds
girls definitely put my skills to the
test!
What do you
enjoy most about taking part in sport?
It's a great
opportunity to meet some new people outside of my normal sphere of
influence. Netball in particular is a fantastic team game and
has let me develop some great friendships in a fun and relaxed
manner.
What is your
most memorable achievement in sport so
far?
Without a doubt,
helping to coach the Woking Borough Netball squad last year.
Working with the squad from trials, through training and seeing
them perform in the Games was a fantastic
experience.
What do you
remember most about competing in the Surrey Youth
Games?
It was great to
be able to say I'd been picked to represent my Borough in the Youth
Games. It's a fantastic sense of
achievement.
If you could
describe the Surrey Youth Games in three words, what would
they be?
A fantastic
opportunity.
Do you feel
that your involvement in the event influenced your participation in
sport?
Without a doubt
Surrey Youth Games has fuelled my passion for netball. The Games
gave me the opportunity to play at a more advanced level but even
more importantly, enabled me to get into umpiring and
coaching."
What advice
would you give to young people interested in getting involved in
coaching/officiating?
Don't let your fears get the better of
you. I was unbelievably nervous when I went for my first
training course for umpiring but I haven't looked back
since.
Sonya
Clarke represented Woking in the
Surrey Youth Games judo competition and has since gone on to become
a Cadet International and qualified recorder.
What have
been the main benefits to you personally of taking part in
sport?
Reaching my goals
and at times exceeding my own
expectations.
What is your
most memorable achievement in sport so
far?
My selection to
the world class programme and winning my line up thus gaining my
black belt (1st Dan) in judo.
What do you
remember most about competing in the Surrey Youth
Games?
Proudly wearing
the bright T shirts and winning the gold medal for
Woking.
If you could
describe the Surrey Youth Games in three words, what would
they be?
Entertaining,
exciting and enjoyable.
Do you feel
that your involvement in the event influenced your participation in
sport?
Yes, it increased
my desire to continue taking part in sport and has resulted in my
ability to go on to national and international level. The
Games provide and important transition between club and county
level.
What advice
would you give to young competitors taking part in the Surrey Youth
Games?
Aim to have fun!
Honor
Connor umpired at the inaugural Games and has been
involved in the Games as an official ever since. She was also
a big influence in helping to start the netball club launched in
2002 just after the Youth Games.
What have been the main benefits to
you personally of taking part in sport?
Enjoyment, keeping fit, friendships and
confidence.
How did you first become involved
in the Surrey Youth Games?
Through netball. Chris, the
netball organiser, phoned me and asked why my borough had not put
in any netball teams. So I got busy....
What is your most memorable
experience from the event?
Not only getting a netball team that
year but rallying around friends and people I know in different
sports and got other teams entered for Surrey
Heath.
What are the main reasons you have
continued to support the Games over the
years?
A most enjoyable day and it is great
to see children enjoying sport at this level.
What advice
would you give to young people interested in getting involved in
coaching/officiating?
Have a go - it's fun and very
rewarding.
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