Over 110 children and volunteers from Torbay descended on the University of Exeter on Saturday 14 June to take part in the Devon Games to Inspire 2014.

Hailed as ‘The Best Games Ever’ for the Torbay Council team, the event, formerly the Devon Youth Games, has been running for more than ten years and are a celebration of sport and cultural activity.

Torbay councillor Robert Excell said: “This year’s Devon Games was once again a fantastic day, providing the opportunity for many of our younger residents to compete in sporting events.

“It is so important that we encourage children to be active from a young age — it is great for their health and general wellbeing and provides them with valuable lessons in life, from staying fit to working together as a team.

“Congratulations to all the Torbay competitors and thank you to all of the team managers and volunteers who put in countless hours to ensure all Torbay competitors were ready to face the challenges of the event.”

It is the largest junior sporting event in the county, attracting more than 2,000 children from across Devon between the ages of eight and 16.

Torbay competed against six other local authorities - Exeter/East Devon, Plymouth, Mid Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge and West Devon - in fifteen different sports.

England’s Hockey player – former Churston Grammar School Student, Giselle Ainsley, presented the ‘fair play’ trophy to West Devon and the overall winners’ trophy to Torbay’s neighbouring authority Teignbridge District Council.

Exceeding all expectations, Torbay medalled in every sport they competed in making the 2014 Devon Games to Inspire, the best ever for Torbay Council.

Torbay’s mega medal haul catapulted the Authority to second place in the Overall Trophy standings as well as finishing in second place for the Fair Play trophy.

Team Torbay Medals included:

• Boys Volleyball Gold
• Boccia A Team Gold
• Boccia B Team Bronze
• Gymnastics Silver
• Boys Badminton Silver
• Cricket Bronze
• Netball Silver
• Tennis Silver
• Senior Table Tennis Bronze
• Junior Table Tennis Silver

Torbay also triumphed in the Fair Play standings with the following Team Torbay Members bringing home gold Fair Play Medals:

• Chloe Chapman (Girls Volleyball) for Determination
• Boccia Team
• Sebastian Dollar (Gymnastics) for Determination
• Imogen Feeney (Gymnastics) for Team Work
• Ewan Jones (Boys Hockey)
• Jake Dommett (Boys Badminton)
• Felicity Simpson (Girls Badminton)
• Keziah Black (Girls Cricket)
• Olivia Mayer (Netball) for Respect
• Freya Ingham (Tennis)

Both Imogen Feeney (Best Floor Performance) and Ellis Knowles (Best Overall Boy) who represented Torbay in Gymnastics also received special recognition for their individual performances.