Serving up a treat

ANYONE for tennis? . . . players from Delph take on Scouthead, Austerlands & Springhead

Sun shines on Games finale

Saddleworth Village Olympics began in a downpour but ended in glorious sunshine at Churchill Playing Fields.

The final matches of netball and football were played under blue skies with warm weather putting the seal on the 24th sporting event.

Spokesman Ben Hilton said: “It was a fantastic finish, a great contrast to the opening weekend.”

Three weekends ago, the fields were awash after days of rain.

Despite the best efforts of ground staff, the senior athletics event had to be cancelled because of the condition of the track, which means there is no overall winning village this year.

Rounders also had to be moved to Saddleworth School.

Mr Hilton said some teams were slightly down on numbers this year.

He added: “The idea is to get youngsters into the Village Olympics to get them interested in local sports clubs.

“If our numbers are down but more youngsters are joining clubs then that’s a good thing.

“It’s our silver event next year, after which I am going to retire and so are a number of committee members so we want others to come along and take over.”

Each team from each village gets a “Spirit of the Olympics” award for one boy and girl who have shown most friendship, togetherness, and sportsmanship.

The overall fair play award —the Frank Sykes plaque — went to Diggle.

FINAL TROPHIES 2009

Junior athletics: Uppermill

Senior athletics: Cancelled due to bad weather

Junior swimming: Lydgate, Grasscroft, Friezland and Grotton

Senior swimming: Dobcross

Basketball 12-13: Scouthead, Austerlands and Springhead

Basketball 14-15: Scouthead, Austerlands and Springhead

Basketball 16-17: Scouthead, Austerlands and Springhead

Junior cricket 7,8 & 9: Uppermill

Junior cricket 10 & 11: Uppermill

Senior cricket 12-14: Greenfield

Junior rounders 7, 8 & 9: Lydgate, Grasscroft, Friezland and Grotton

Junior rounders 10 & 11: Uppermill

Senior rounders 12-14: Delph and Denshaw

Senior rounders 15-17: Lydgate, Grasscroft, Friezland and Grotton

Tennis: Lydgate, Grasscroft, Friezland and Grotton

Senior badminton 12-14: four-way tie between Delph & Denshaw; Dobcross; Lydgate, Grasscroft, Friezland & Grotton; and Uppermill

Senior badminton 15-17: Dobcross

Junior badminton 7, 8 & 9: Uppermill

Junior badminton 10 & 11: Dobcross

Rugby 7, 8 & 9: Lydgate, Grasscroft, Friezland and Grotton

Rugby 10 & 11: Greenfield

Junior netball 7, 8 & 9: Lydgate, Grasscroft, Friezland and Grotton

Junior netball 10 & 11: Uppermill

Senior netball 12-14: Delph and Denshaw

Senior netball 15-17: Lydgate, Grasscroft, Friezland and Grotton

Junior football 7, 8 & 9: Dobcross

Junior football 10 & 11: Dobcross

Senior football 12-14: Lydgate, Grasscroft, Friezland and Grotton

Senior football 15-17: Uppermill

Overall champions: Not awarded

Frank Sykes Fair Play: Diggle


SPIRIT OF THE OLYMPICS

Delph & Denshaw: Joshua Bowker and Tanya Ashworth

Diggle: Elliot Fielding and Katy Dronsfield

Dobcross: Alex Cockburn and Claudia Whitehead

Greenfield: Ira Wall and Katy Andrew

Lydgate, Grasscroft, Friezland & Grotton: Chris Heginbotham and Katy Wretham

Scouthead, Austerlands & Springhead: James and Charlotte Fowles

Uppermill: Ewan MacFarlane and Jess Kershaw