HUNDREDS of young sportsmen and women put their talent and skills to the test at the weekend in the Partnership Youth Games 2005.

Students from across the region took part in a variety of sports, including athletics, curling, football, basketball, rugby, swimming, hockey and netball at three major contests in Hartlepool, Billingham and Stockton.

Tees Valley Sport, which organised the two-day event, said the games were a major success, when a lot of promising athletes and sports stars came to the fore.

Jean Lordon, partnership manager for Tees Valley Sport, said: "The Partnership Youth Games are now an integral part of the region's sporting calendar. With more sports and competitors than ever before, the 2005 games have been an overwhelming success and the youngsters who took part have had a fantastic weekend.

"The festival celebrates the involvement, talent and thrill of sport by young people across the Tees Valley."

She said a special thank-you had to go to all the people who had helped to make the games a success.

The games, held at Brierton Community Sports Centre in Hartlepool, Northfield Sports Centre, in Billingham, and Norton Sports Complex, in Stockton, were the culmination of a programme of training and competition held throughout the year.

The ethos of the games was not simply to develop winners, but also to involve more young people in a multi-sports competition.

Judith Rasmussen, regional director of Sport England North-East, said Sport England was really proud to support the Games, now in their seventh year.

"The games provided a fantastic opportunity for young athletes to showcase their talents and to experience the friendship and team spirit that comes from competition," she said.