A unique new sports tournament designed to keep young people occupied on halloween proved to be a massive winner.

Games Fest finalists

More than 100 youngsters flocked to ‘Games Fest’ – with 60 of them taking part in the games console tournament. They battled it out with each other in everything from car racing, football and ten pin bowling to guitar playing!

The Northallerton Safer Neighbourhoods Police Team and ‘4 Youth’ organised the two day event in an attempt to keep youngsters off the street in the school holidays - and especially around Halloween.

With support from Hambleton Community Safety Partnership, Broadacres Housing Association, Sunbeck Neighbourhood Watch Group, Maxwells Electrical Store, Chips Games Store and the Ben Hyde Memorial Trust the competition took place at Northallerton College on October 30 and 31.

‘This was the first time we had tried out an event like this in the Northallerton area,” said Sara Atkins, Area Youth Work Team Leader, Hambleton North. “We hoped that by providing something for 12 – 17 year olds to do between 1.30pm and 9.00pm we would reduce the level of anti-social behaviour.

...it was a major success - Broadacres received no reports of anti-social behaviour

Sara Atkins - Youth Work Team Leader

“And it was a major success - Broadacres received no reports of anti-social behaviour and North Yorkshire Police only had two reports of a minor nature over the two evenings. And at the end of the competition the children were shouting for more – so we are looking to repeat the exercise very soon.”

Each winner of the five competitions organised took £50 in Chips vouchers with runners up getting £25 and third place receiving £10. Youngsters were also able try their hand at riding an inflatable rodeo bull, try the splat ride or check out Connecting Youth Culture’s multimedia truck.