WEST Devon?s girls hockey team struck gold at the county?s biggest youth sporting event of the year last weekend.
The girls, all in years 6, 7 and 8, won the gold medal in the hockey tournament at the Devon Youth Games, held in Barnstaple on Sunday.
Teams from ten districts in the county competed for the championship title, which went to West Devon after they beat Torquay in the final game. The path to the final was not without drama either ? the semi-final match was won after a penalty shoot-out, in which goalkeeper Anna Ross managed to save her team, despite the fact she had only spent a month in this position.
And in the boy?s hockey competition, Oliver Frost from Yelverton was named the player of the tournament. The boys were unlucky not to reach the semi-final ? they only had one goal scored against them, by Torquay, the eventual winners.
West Devon?s girls cricket team had a fantastic result, coming 4th overall ? a real credit as the team only got together two weeks ago.
Cllr Christine Grills, mayor of West Devon, travelled to North Devon to watch the games, which were run on Olympic lines with an opening and closing ceremony.
Cllr Grills said: ?I thought it was marvellous to see so many children participating in so many events ? and all thoroughly enjoying themselves.
?The people organising the events obviously put in a tremendous amount of work. It was a really great day and I congratulate all the children involved.?
Tammy Messenger, West Devon?s sports development officer, said she was ?absolutely thrilled? at the energy and enthusiasm shown by the youngsters in the seven sports which the borough competed in.
?The teams all behaved impeccably and were a credit to West Devon. It was great to see so many youngsters working together and enjoying their sport,? she said.
Tammy said the young people had worked hard training for the games and had shown real commitment and determination. She also paid tribute to the team coaches for their hard work on Sunday and in the run up to the games.
Team West Devon came eighth overall, out of ten districts in the county.
The results were as follows: Athletics ( years 4, 5 and 6), 7th; boys basketball (years 7, 8 and 9), 6th; girls basketball (years 7, 8 and 9), 6th; girls cricket (years 8 and below), 4th; boys hockey (years 6, 7 and 8), 5th; girls hockey (years 6, 7 and 8), 1st; netball years 7 and 8, 9th; netball years 9 and 10, 8th; tag rugby year 6 and below, 7th; girls tag rugby (years 7, 8 and 9), 4th; swim run years 5 and 6, 6th; swim run years 7 and 8, 9th; swim run years 9 and 10, 7th.