AN EXCELLENT team performance secured third place overall for Bexley's team in the London Heathrow Youth Games at the weekend.

"We are exceptionally pleased," said the borough's team organiser Julie Fuller. Bexley finished on 1,043 points, just 21 behind Redbridge and 35 ahead of local rivals Bromley. "It is a reflection of the dedication of the individual team managers," she added.

The action started on Saturday and Bexley got off to a flying start with a bronze medal in the U19 cycling event.

Despite a nail-biting sudden-death penalty shoot-out in the quarter-final, Bexley's male football team secured a silver medal and a second place followed for the borough's female gymnastics squad.

The male gymnasts went one better. Silver in both the six-piece and floor and vault was enough to claim the borough's first gold medal of the weekend.

The Bexley team was confident of a respectable position in the swimming events, with full able-bodied and disabled squads at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre's Olympic pool.

A fantastic team performance secured first for the female team and second for the male.

Bexley were on a roll again on Sunday as the judo squad picked up seven indidvidual medals - a tally which helped the male team to bronze overall.

It was then back to the pool as Bexley's diving team secured second place - the highest ever achieved by the borough.

There was an emotional end to the finals weekend as the Bexley showjumping team finished ahead of Enfield to take the gold medal after years of being pipped at the post. And a fine victory over Bromley in the third-fourth place play-off, gave Bexley the silver medal in the female hockey tournament.

Bexley's final position of third out of 33 London boroughs equalled it's previous best of 1991. Bexley Mayor, Councillor Chris Ball collected a plaque on behalf of the team.

q How they finished: 1st - Havering - 1141; 2nd - Redbridge - 1064; 3rd - Bexley - 1043; 4th - Croydon - 1037; 5th - Bromley - 1008.

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