HILLINGDON had a team in the Better Club Games tournament at the Olympic Park Copper Box Arena.

The annual event for over-60s last ran in 2019 (before COVID).

This year, 19 teams took part from Better leisure partnerships across London, the South East, Lincolnshire and Rugby.

They competed at darts, dominoes, short tennis, short-mat bowls, swimming, badminton, table tennis, cycling, walking netball and walking football.

Epsom & Ewell took the overall title while Hillingdon, competing in only three of the 10 events, were a respectable 14th.

Competitors are drawn from Active Ageing Clubs at leisure centres run by GLL, the charitable social enterprise. ‘Better’ is its brand name.

It first ran the Better Club Games in 2006, when it realised there was no major multi-sports activity in the UK which brought older adults together in the spirit of fun competition.

Active ageing has since become a public health priority, with benefits to physical and mental health and helping to reduce social isolation.

Better Club Games Ambassador Vicki Michelle, of ‘Allo Allo’, EastEnders and Emmerdale fame, cheered on the participants.

Marika Jerome, team leader for Hillingdon, said: “The Club Games has been a fantastic opportunity to get people moving and back into sports.”