TRIUMPHANT young Ribble Valley athletes have returned from the Lancashire Youth Games with the prestigious gold medal for athletics.

Ribble Valley entered nine teams for the event, which was held at Stanley Park, Blackpool.

And the athletics team, run by Ribble Valley Borough Council's sports development department and the Ribble Valley Athletics Club, duly won the gold medal for athletics.

The council's sports development officer, Tom Bamber, said: "We took over 100 young people, as well as team managers and volunteers, to the Lancashire Youth Games, which was our biggest ever representation.

"Congratulations go to all our young sportsmen and women for their sterling efforts, but particularly to our athletics team for returning from the games with the coveted gold medal."

Ribble Valley Mayor Doreen Taylor added: "Young people get so much unwarranted criticism that it is fantastic that our youngsters have returned from the Lancashire Youth Games with this prestigious accolade.

"I look forward to their continued progress and, who knows, perhaps we will see some of them at the London Olympics!"

Ribble Valley Borough Council's sports development team hopes to field another bumper team of athletes at next year's Lancashire Youth Games TURN TO PAGE 16>> FROM PAGE XX Meanwhile, youngsters are being invited to get active' over the summer months thanks to a new sports scheme.

Ribble Valley Borough Council has launched its 2007 Kids Get Active booklet, which lists a host of sports, arts and crafts activities being run by the council and its partners during the summer holidays.

Courses in cricket, tennis, netball, athletics and football, as well as multi-sports sessions, will take place at venues throughout the borough.

There will also be sessions in unusual sports, such as circus skills, dodgeball and futsal, as well as athletics and netball camps.

The Platform Gallery in Clitheroe will host craft sessions in making kites, dream-catchers and photograph albums.

Last, but not least, Longridge will host self-defence sessions for girls, as well as song-writing and drama workshops, and a wide variety of sports activities.

The 16-page Kids Get Active booklet is available from the Ribble Valley Borough Council Offices in Church Walk, Clitheroe, Ribblesdale Pool in Edisford Road, Clitheroe, and Longridge Sports Centre in Preston Road, Longridge.

Further information is available from Ribble Valley Borough Council's sports development team on 01200 414484.