Richmond’s young athletes made the borough proud, despite missing out on the London Youth Games overall title on Sunday.

Team Richmond, who improved on last year’s third place, finished second to Jubilee Trophy champions Wandsworth, but will have left finals weekend at Crystal Palace disappointed having held a slender 22 point advantage prior to the competition’s climax.

The champions set a new points record of 1216 and Richmond’s haul of 1133 was enough for silver ahead of Bexley (1111pts) in third.

The borough’s female swim team claimed overall gold at the weekend with the indoor rowing team landing silver and both the boys athletic and archery teams winning team bronze.

Richmond council’s cabinet member for sport Cllr Meena Bond said: “This is a truly fantastic achievement for Richmond as we have consistently been in the top four at the London Youth Games for the past four years now.

“The competitive spirit and sporting prowess of our young people is a proud tradition here in Richmond which will continue in future generations.

“Well done to all the young people who took part – you made Richmond proud.”

Eight months of competition between more than 100,000 athletes representing 33 boroughs in 31 sports, reached its climax at the weekend.

British women’s 100m record holder Dina Asher-Smith and rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi were on hand to light the flame at last Thursday’s opening ceremony.

And Alphonsi believes the event is a breeding ground for future world and Olympic stars.

“The London Youth Games is an amazing event, I am so happy to have been here today and to be a patron of the Games,” she said.

“I took part in 1999 and it’s really inspiring to see the next generation who are coming through, some of which will be hoping to represent their country at an Olympic Games and world championships.”

Richmond had already claimed the Thames Water regatta trophy earlier in the year.