Hundreds of young sportsmen and women took part in the third annual Oxfordshire Youth Games yesterday.

About 850 children from around the county qualified for the event at Abingdon's Radley College after being selected through school competitions.

Olympic medal winner Mark Richardson and international ladies rugby player Maggie Alphonsi were at the event to inspire and encourage participants.

Ms Alphonsi opened the games and also kicked off the tag rugby tournament, and Mr Richardson, who won a 400m relay silver medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, presented the medals and trophies.

The pair also chatted to young people and signed autographs and T-shirts.

Youngsters took part in six events - athletics, badminton, football, hockey, tag rugby and high five netball.

Cricket was the only activity cancelled due to the weather, but it is hoped the matches will be played in the next few weeks.

Organiser Amie Hall said the sports event went really well.

She said: "The Oxfordshire Youth Games are for increasing participation in sport. All the kids hadn't been involved in any of the sports they are taking part in before.

"The Oxfordshire Sports Partnership is trying to increase sport participation. Our aim is to increase numbers by one per cent a year.

"We are trying to introduce sport to more young people and let them know there are things in sport they can achieve."

At the close of the event every participant was presented with a certificate. First and second teams were given medals and all winning teams got a trophy.

The event started off as the Thames Valley Youth Games, but was split up into county youth games in 2005.

It is organised by the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, made up of schools and council sports development teams. This year the games were sponsored by Waitrose, in Abingdon, Brita Water Filters, in Bicester, radio stations Oxford 107.9 and Jack FM.