THE search is on for sporting stars of the future in a bid to find talented Craven youngsters to compete in the Millennium Youth Games.

A 10-week coaching programme open to anyone with enthusiasm will start across the district in the new year, aiming to prepare youngsters for a pilot series of heats in four sports later in 1999.

Although the emphasis will be on taking part next year, the most successful competitors will go on to a full district games of eight sports in 2000.

From there the most talented youths will go on to compete in a national finals to bring in the new millennium.

But, however many Craven youngsters get through to this illustrious stage, it is hoped that there will be a lasting legacy of improved sporting activity and facilities as a result of next year's efforts.

Craven District Council's sports development officer, Joanne Moss, is currently busy setting up links with head teachers and club coaches in order to thrash out the finer details of the complicated competition structures.

Some sports governing bodies want participants recruited at school level, while others simply want individuals to put themselves forward.

Joanne said: "All of my counterparts met from across North Yorkshire last week and looked at how we are going about next year's programme.

"Some sports governing bodies are saying we should be recruiting youngsters through schools and others say it should be via the clubs.

"For example the ASA, swimming's governing body, wants individuals to come forward, and not to use clubs or schools at all. While the Football Association wants its programme to run through schools.

"But, whatever happens, this is all about getting new people into sport and not necessarily about excellence.

"In 1999 there will be four sports running: basketball, netball, swimming and hockey. In North Yorkshire these events will be treated as a pilot, because nothing like this has been done in this area before.

"In other areas of the country there are annual Youth Games. But even they will have to re-think the way they run the competitions. We will be starting with a clean slate and that's an advantage in many ways.

"We will be running the heats from February onwards and anyone can come to attend the coaching programmes, which will run for around 10 weeks.

"Between now and then we will be getting in touch with headteachers and club leaders to get youngsters to come forward.

"The idea is for the games to continue year on year and become the Craven Youth Games, using the same structure set up for the 2000 games. New squads will be created which have never existed in Craven, like a basketball team.

"We want to create a feeding ground for new talent and create better links with big cities like Leeds and Bradford, to expand the range of facilities available to Craveners, like Olympic-sized swimming pools."

Anyone interested in putting themselves or their children forward for the Craven Youth Games next year should call Joanne Moss on 01756 700600.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.