**The GATHERING Youth Fest '08**

Young people from across the borough recently celebrated all things positive by taking part in The Gathering Youth Festival at the Bridgend Recreation Centre on Saturday the 8 th of March.

The day was all about competitive fun starting with a BMX, Inline & Skate boarding competitions coordinated by Matthew Ashong from Bridgend Recreation Centre with the kind support from Bad Habits Skate Shop, Exist Clothing, HR Cycles and Independent Truck Company.

Mathew Ashong was quoted saying: ‘It was a really good turn out with over 300 young people. The bad weather and Rugby did not keep these hard core guys away. Everybody enjoyed themselves and this needs to happen again next year!'

Here are some of the extreme sport competitions results:

BMX 14 yrs and over category saw Pete Sawyer & Mark Larkin shared winners and the under 14 yrs category winner was Will Crompton.

Skate board 14 yrs and over category winner was Ethan Watkins with Jack Parish walking away with the 1 st prize for the under 14 yrs category.

The Inline Skating over all title was stone by Ieun Protheroe in 1 st place.

The Gathering Youth Festival took some stamina as the grueling extreme sports was followed by a drug awareness session conducted by the West Glamorgan Council on Drug & Alcohol Abuse attended by loads of young people where they got to explore the issues in a fun and interactive way.

Finally the night of live music and entertainment began with 8 bands from schools across the borough competing to be The Gathering '08 battle of the bands winners. The atmosphere was charged as the concert hall was crammed with eager fans wanting a piece of the action.

The judging panel including Dr Simon Pitt from Rockschool UK was not prepared for what they were about to witness as the gig erupted with top class new music by these young bands.

Other aspects that really enthralled the crowd was the amazing Hip Hop crew from Cardiff called Jukebox and amazing multi media aspects such as 2 huge video screens, the diary shed and the fact that the whole event was being web-caste on www.celticaradio.com .

Worthy winners of the competition was All For The Fall from Ynysawdra Comprehensive with Parental Consent ( Bridgend College ) and The Accent (Arch Bishop McGrath Comprehensive) being the shared runners up.

Andre van Wyk, Arts Development Officer for the Arts & Culture Service said:'I am so grateful to everybody that has contributed to this great event right from the bands, the audience, schools and all our great sponsors including amongst other Rockschool UK & the Bridgend Substance Misuse Action Team. '

CLICK HERE to check The Gathering Xtreme Sports!

CLICK HERE to listen to the festival music!

Keep checking back for updates on The Gathering documentary being produced by Bridgend College Media students and more!

The Project is a BCBC Arts & Culture Service led initiative funded by BRIDGEND COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP SUBSTANCE MISUSE ACTION TEAM
& ROCKSCHOOL Ltd with kind sponsorship from Bad Habits Skate & Surf, Exist Clothing, Celtica Radio, HR Cycles, Independent Truck Company, Bridgend College (Performing Arts) & 15 Records.

(Event organizers can not take responsibility for the content of the following www.myspace.com pages)

Here's the 8 bands that took part:

PENCOED COMPREHENSIVE--PATHONAX---www.myspace.com/pathonax
 
ARCH BISHOP MCGRATH COMPREHENSIVE--THE ACCENT---www.myspace.com/theaccent
 
BRYNTIRION COMPREHENSIVE---THE GREENWAYS--www.myspace.com/thegreenways
 
CYNFFIG COMPREHENSIVE---NEMURI----www.myspace.com/nemuriband
 
PORTHCAWL COMPREHENSIVE---DEFNDERS OF THE STATE---www.myspace.com/defendersofthestate
 
YNYSAWDRE COMPREHENSIVE---ALL FOR THE FALL-----www.myspace.com/allforthefall

BRYNTEG COMPREHENSIVE---OFFSET----www.myspace.com/offsetonthenet

BRIDGEND COLLEGE---PARENTAL CONSENT---www.myspace.com/parentalconsentwales

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