Worthing won the BAA Gatwick Sussex Youth Games for the first time at Crawley.

Captains Matthew Crocker and Lauren Hilder-Darling collected the trophy on behalf of their district from Commonwealth Games high jumper Ben Challenger.

Challenger jetted down from Manchester after qualifying for the Commonwealth Games 24 hours earlier to make it a special day for 2,000 competitors.

Worthing team organiser Ian Johnston said: "We're delighted to win at last. It's quite an achievement "We had about 120 in our team and they screamed the place down when it was announced that we'd one.

"Matthew and Lauren were quick to get Ben's autograph as well as the trophy. I think he must have signed every competitors' T- shirt.

"He was fantastic with the kids. It was a great gesture to come straight to our event after what must have been a huge day for him in Manchester."

Worthing's triumph came at the fifth staging of the event for youngsters between eight and 15 Johnston said: "We've won the girls trophy before and last year finished fourth overall. But we have improved because of the hard work that has gone in to encouraging after-schools clubs and sports clubs in general."

Worthing entered ten of the 11 events and won a gold medal in table tennis.

Silver medals came in the boccia, girls football, netball and tennis and there were bronze medals in the girls' basketball and boys' mild learning disability football.

The gold medal was won by an experienced table team squad which included Ben Grover, Kevin Smart, Shane Mountfield, Sally Hughes and Hannah Rowson.

Manager Terry Dean said: "We had a strong team and some luck. Some teams were miffed we won because several of our players had two years or more experience. They felt the competition should have involved beginners. But we played within the rules and did very well."

Timothy Hayes was runner-up in the boccia.

Johnston said: "Timothy is only a Year Three schoolboy and a special needs pupil at West Park Middle. He showed so much spirit and really enjoyed the event. He epitomised so much of what made the games special."

Worthing's girls footballers lost on penalties in the final against Eastbourne.

Johnston said: "It was a little like the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup. The girls was so disappointed but it was a brilliant effort."

Worthing were sixth in the cricket, which was included for the first time and organised by Sussex County Cricket Club.

Johnston believes the £3,000 backing of brand New Homes UK helped their bid.

He said: "It made a huge difference because it helped pay for kit, transport, facility hire and trials."

Horsham were runners-up, just eight points behind Worthing's 168 points total and Eastbourne finished third on 148.

Paul Taylor, Horsham's community relations officer, was delighted with the performances of competitors new to their sport.

He said: "We won the hockey and managed second place in the girls rugby with two or three newcomers. That was a real bonus."

They added a third place in the netball. Goalkeeper Sam Johnston 14, played in a wheelchair as Horsham won a silver medal in the boys' mild learning disability football.

Taylor said: "He had a board to move on so he wouldn't get stuck in the grass and made some valuable saves.

Eastbourne were satisfied with their best-ever performance at the games.

Manager Roy Masters said: "It is the first time we have won the girls' football and third in the tennis was a good result.

"We won the fairplay trophy last year. This is a step up."

The events were staged at Crawley Leisure Centre and the Thomas Bennett Community College, Tilgate.

All 13 Sussex local authorities took part including: Adur, Arun, Brighton and Hove, Chichester, Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings, Horsham, Lewes, Mid Sussex, Rother, Wealden and Worthing. Teams were made up of youngsters of all abilities; some trying sports for the first time, others concentrating on fine-tuning.

Sports included athletics, hockey, rugby, tennis, netball, girls football, boys' moderate learning disability football, boccia, a game similar to bowls for people with disabilities, table tennis and cricket.

Challenger, a former English Schools' champion whose father Romeo drummed in the Seventies pop group Showaddywaddy, said: "I was so pleased to have been invited to the Games because they encourage youngsters to experience sport at an exhilarating, competitive and above all, fun event.

"The attitude and commitment on display was amazing. The young athletes should be proud of themselves.

"I think it s really important to get children participating in sport at an early age."

Challenger was assisted at the prize-giving by Steve Batchelor, the Olympic hockey champion, who brought his gold medal to show the children.