Cuddly toys were pummelled and sweets went for bike rides in a series of novelty sports events held by Redbridge 18 Plus. The social group was inspired by the Olympics and Paralympics to put their own twist on sport, and created the Jelly Baby Olympics and Silly Sports Day. The Jelly Baby Olympics earlier this month used the classic sweets in events including the table top sprint, long jump, high jump and cycling. Organiser Trevor Eley said: "It was one of my weirdest ideas. We had a couple of bags of Jelly Babies and we put them on little tiles and bikes and things. "For the races, you had to push them and the fastest one left on won." For the high jump, a spoon was used to launch the sweets over a bar between two chairs at the "arena" in the York Room of Redbridge Central Library. The Silly Sports Day involved 10 "athletes" competing in fun events in Valentines Park, Cranbrook Road, Ilford. Highlights included the stuffed toy target shoot, three-legged race and penalty shoot-out. Events officer Gary Silver said: "Having enjoyed the great sports so far this summer, we thought we'd hold our own events, but with the emphasis on fun and a bit of madness." Redbridge 18 Plus is a social group for people aged between 18 and 40. Meetings are on Friday evenings at Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford at 8.30pm.
For more details, phone 020 8553 0947 or 020 8554 1364 or visit www.redbridge18plus.org.uk