The 25th Medway Mini Youth Games Series began at Holcombe Hockey Club with a feast of action in not one, but two tournaments.

First up was the Champions Series featuring the strongest primary school teams, with sides playing a series of morning group matches to decide knockout placings for the afternoon’s fixtures.

St Andrews and St Mary’s Island proved the teams to beat, with both sides reaching the final which St Andrews won 3-0. Luton finished third out of 13 teams and Academy of Woodlands were fourth.

Sport is about far more than just winning, though, with enjoyment, participation and fair play important values the Games are based upon, so the Oliver Slack Fair Play Award is an honour to be proud of and this year’s winners were Swingate.

Two days later 44 teams arrived at Holcombe for the Cup and Plate competitions. Twenty sides were in Cup action, a semi-competitive event, and the remaining schools took part in the Plate, where the emphasis is on learning the game and, of course, having fun.

Bredhurst were the Cup winners, edging Cliffe Woods Colts, while Bligh Bears were third. St Andrews Sharks won the Oliver Slack Fair Play award.