Wide range of sports on offer in 11th Specsavers Youth Games

The 11th edition of the biennial Games was launched yesterday and will once again encourage children in Years 5 and 6 to try a sport they do not usually take part in.

Entrants will receive free coaching in their chosen sport before representing their team on Games day, 14 June, which concludes with a closing ceremony at Footes Lane.

Organisers will link to the upcoming Island Games by naming the six teams after birds and aquatic mammals found in and around Orkney – orcas, curlews, otters, kittiwakes, dolphins and oystercatchers.

The Guernsey Sports Commission’s Nicky Will, who co-ordinates the event, is targeting 700 entries this year.

‘This is a great opportunity for young people to take part in a large-scale and exciting event,’ she said.

‘It will encourage them to establish new friendships, build their confidence and improve social and life skills, while getting free access to a new sport.

‘It just provides a fun way for children to try something that hopefully they will love and carry on playing, and maybe represent Guernsey in the Island Games one day.’

Sprint star Abi Galpin, a golden girl at Guernsey 2023, remains a deservingly popular example of an athlete who started at the Youth Games and reached great success.

Among the new sports added is archery, taking place at Port Soif under the lead of Steve Yates.

‘We are delighted to have archery on board for the first time,’ Will said.

‘I’m sure it will be very popular. It provides a different opportunity, maybe for children who do not want to play a sport with a big team or who just want to try something they have never tried before.’

One particularly innovative new option is lifesaving racing, a mix of swimming and stand-up paddleboarding, organised at La Vallette by Alan Jenner.

‘We have got the Sports Commission’s outdoor and adventure sports development officer, “AJ”, who’s passionate about making sure everyone’s safe in the water.

‘Running this fun stand-up paddleboarding opportunity is just another part of the way that we promote water safety.’

Now boys and girls alike can enjoy the sped-up netball variant of Fast5, thanks to sessions run at Beau Sejour by Sally Carns.

‘It’s a new one for me,' Will said.

‘Netball development officer Sally Carns is really keen to boost the opportunities in netball and it seems a fast and furious and different way of playing netball.’

She also welcomed the return of fencing, a sport that ‘the children probably have never come across before’.

Many old favourites remain, together with the returns of several relatively new options like padel, skateboarding and climbing.

Once again, the experience will be extended to pupils at St Anne’s School in Alderney, who can choose from five sports that they will be able to continue in the northern isle after the Games are over.

Specsavers co-founder Dame Mary Perkins hopes that the event will continue to inspire a new generation of athletes.

‘We are really proud to be able to continue our support of the Specsavers Youth Games, which we can’t believe is now in its 11th year,’ she said.

‘The atmosphere at the Games is always electric and the smiles on the children’s faces remind me what this event is all about – encouraging and nurturing sport among our young people in Guernsey, building their confidence, having fun and giving them a chance to make new friends.’

• The brochure is available here.