A LARGE contingent from Hyndburn will be taking part in the fourth - and biggest - annual Lancashire Youth Games on Saturday at Salt Ayre in Lancaster.
150 athletes, 30 team managers and assistants and ten sports volunteers will make up Team Hyndburn, who have been sponsored by Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club, and are out to beat the five medals they won last year.
They will be part of more than 1500 children who are taking part in the Games with 14 boroughs competing for medals - and Team Hyndburn is one of the biggest sides.
Team Hyndburn will be represented in numerous sports - girls and boys cricket, rugby league for boys and girls, boccia, gymnastics, rugby union mixed (year 6), rugby union girls and rugby union MLD.
There are two girls football teams - for Under 12 and Under 14s, as well as basketball for boys and girls and athletics and swimming for able bodied and disabled athletes.
"It is a great boost to have one of the biggest teams," said Hyndburn Sports Development Officer Lee Boyer.
"It shows the excellent work that the clubs around the borough have put in and the links that have been produced with all the festivals and the Hyndburn Olympiad."
"It has raised the profile of the clubs and sports in Hyndburn and given people the chance to compete in sports they have never competed in before."
All those competing in the Youth Games have been taking part in the Hyndburn Olympiad over the last few months to earn their places in Team Hyndburn.
Most of the side are quite new to their chosen sports - such as the rugby league and the basketball - but the emphasis is on having fun and competing in a friendly environment and there should be a carnival atmosphere.
Admission to those who want to make the trip up to Lancaster to support the borough's next generation of sports stars is free and the action starts at 10am.
Warburtons are sponsoring the Youth Games - they already sponsor Hyndburn AC athlete Curtis Pearce, son of former Burnley goalkeeper Chris Pearce.
