Les Beaucamps’ Candice Crowson takes control of the ball with La Mare de Carteret’s Abi Milton in close attendance. La Mare went on to win the Year 10 match 28-12. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0645460)

SEPTEMBER is a great month for sport. For the summer sports it marks the culmination of another long, hard season.

At a local level, it was good to see that in athletics and triathlon all the hard effort and work was rewarded with a celebration of top-level events such as the Granite Man triathlon and the Blue Islands athletics cup.

Equally, cricket has shown new levels of quality with the Guernsey team excelling and leading by example. After these successful few sporting months, we now look ahead to a new season. At all levels and in most sports there is every reason for optimism. Particular highlights so far include the Guernsey Football Association U-21 Development League, which has hit the ground running.

After only three games, all the signs are that this bold new initiative is proving to be a winner, with intense competition allowing young players the opportunity to mature and flourish at an appropriate level.

Another reason to be cheerful is the imminent departure of the Guernsey contingent to the Commonwealth Youth Games. Twelve home-grown youngsters will be pitting their wits on a global stage in Pune, India.

The squad are rich in potential and demonstrates to their schoolmates that, through dedication and application, Guernsey’s young sportsmen and women can compete with the world’s best.

But the recent response by the UK Government and associated sports leaders to the Beijing Olympics should be the real cause for Guernsey optimism.