We all went down to Eastbourne today for the Sussex Youth Games, or to give the full title ‘The BAA Gatwick Sussex Youth Games”. Credit where credit is due, when they are not making plans to build new runways on the edge of the town, BAA Gatwick are quite good neighbours. Apart from the youth games, they do quite a few other things to benefit the area.

Charlie was playing in the MLD cricket, and instead of putting him on the coach we went along too, and took him with us.

Although the sun was shining all the time we were there it was extraordinarily windy. I think I may have got a bit too much sun myself. I usually stay out of it, even on holiday, and if I am out of the shade I tend to wear a hat, which is why I am pale to the point of transparency, but tonight I am feeling the itchiness of having been overexposed. And I have panda eyes where I was wearing sunglasses.

I like the Sussex youth games. It seems to be a tournament for kids who don’t really do sport much, and as such it encourages them to keep at it. For many of them its the only time they will get to compete at such a large event. I know our boy was happy enough about getting a medal, even if it was only for taking part.

The games took place in two locations, but ‘our’ bit took place at the main site. We didn’t stay around for the closing ceremonies though. The PA system was appalling – worse than committee rooms A and B at the Town Hall even. By the time we left it was really getting to annoy us. It made railway station announcements seem intelligible by comparison!

There were a few other things about the organisation which were annoying as well. Chas had been issued with a white t-shirt for the games, but on Friday Jayne had to go to the school to pick up a pale yellow one with “North Central Sussex” on the back. When we turned up today Chas got given a bright red t-shirt with “Crawley” on the back. With all that confusion, the Crawley team were turned out with some kids still in yellow and most in red. Although the cricket was supposed to be 6-a-side, one team turned up with 12, so that they played two other teams at at once. I have no idea how they worked the scoring out for that. Also, there was no shortage of Police cadets to direct traffic, but on the fields used for rugby and cricket there were a group of older boys playing with one of those miniature motorbikes, and riding it back and forth, even right across the field. There were plenty of staff around with radio handsets, but none seemed to think of calling for someone to ask the Police to come round and have a few words.

But at the end of the day, the MLD kids enjoyed it and it really was in the spirit of enjoying the competition without caring about winning, because I doubt if anyone had an idea who won. Chas didn’t know whether his team won any of their matches, but he was still proud of his medal.

Fingers crossed that next year’s games will be in Crawley, showing off all our new leisure centres.