Arun triumphed for the third time in six years after finishing as top borough in the BAA Gatwick sponsored event in Horsham.

They claimed gold medals in the girls football, rugby and mixed tennis, a silver medal in the mixed hockey and bronze medals in the mixed cricket and swimming.

They even secured first place, through Alistair James, in the triathlon (cycling, rowing and running), a demonstration sport.

Arun, winners in 1998 and 1999, also won the Spirit Of The Games award for sportsmanship and behaviour from runners-up Wealden and third-placed Crawley.

Sports development officer Dave Hibberd said: "It was the perfect way to win. We managed to be the most accomplished and well behaved. We're proud of the whole team.

"We're usually there or thereabouts but we just had that bit extra this year. Our secret was a pool of good volunteers and coaches, keen clubs and tremendous parental support.

"We had a very enthusiastic bunch of competitors who want to go places with their sports. We picked them up at 6.30 in the morning and when the Games finished 12 hours later they still had smiles on their faces."

Goalkeeper Jenna Martin was the star as the footballers secured a 2-1 win over Adur in a penalty shoot-out after the final finished 0-0 following extra-time.

She saved two spot-kicks and scored one herself. Defender Stephanie Diplock was also on target for Arun.

Manager John Lawson said: "Jenna did really well but so did the whole team. We've been trying to win this event since the Games started and have got close several times."

Arun girls football team: Nikki Brown, (captain), Jenna Martin, Stephanie Diplock, Stephanie Gillies, Emma Holden, Anne Shrubb, Ruth Acott, Georgia Beach.

Arun secured the rugby title in extra time against Wealden when one try separated the sides.

But success was a painful experience for Heather Scott who suffered a suspected dislocated finger shaking hands with a vanquished opponent after the semi-final against Rother.

Coach Sharon Hodgett said: "Her dad was telling her she must go to hospital but she insisted on staying to watch her team win. Fortunately, it turned out to be just bruising. There was a good spirit in the team. They did magnificently."

Arun girls rugby team: Chelcee Hodgett, Leanne Poole, Amy Burns, Heather Scott, Hannah Pearce, Clare Membury, Kerra Lewin, Emily Barton.

The borough retained their tennis title with a 4-0 final victory over Wealden with Hannah Saward, Emma Withers, Andrew Newson and Chris O'Neill all winning,
Coach Paul Macintosh said: "Emma and Hannah are only about eight years old and it was a ten and unders tournament."

Arun defeated Lewes in the mixed cricket third/fourth-place play-off.

Arun were edged into third place in the swimming with 118 points by runners-up Brighton and Hove and winners Mid Sussex and were fourth in the mixed rugby,
Horsham scored wins in the mixed rugby, mixed hockey and netball competititons.

They beat Arun with a sudden- death penalty after the shoot- out ended 2-2 in the hockey final in which goalkeeper Richard Wadey impressed.

Horsham were unbeaten in a round-robin netball competition with crucial victories over closest rivals Worthing (7-6) and Mid Sussex (9-5 from 4-0 down).

Horsham netball squad included: Hayley Matthews, Lucy Prebble, Chrissie Reeves, Lauren Cocarrachio, Vicky Gardener, Rachel Bruce, Kirsty Finch, Rebecca Hughes.

Horsham mixed hockey: Ros Keefe, Stephen Fry, Issie Darcy, Emily Smith, Emily Jones, Lenny Wood, Stephen Grout, Matthew Foster, Sam Kimberley, Sam Clark.

Horsham mixed rugby: Jack Tebbitt, Greg McLarnon, Michael Brown, Sam Withyman, Connor Clarke, Matthew Sprigge, Chloe Hebard, Annie Crooks, Katie Lambert, Crouch.

Horsham were second in the table tennis.

Mid Sussex won the swimming with a team put together at the last minute from Burgess Hill.

Coach Brian Paice said: "We didn't get to know about it until after the entry deadline because we'd received no paper work. Although it was late, organisers told us a team had dropped out and there was room to slot us in."

Mid Sussex swimming team included: Michael Thorn, Kaylie Mitchell, William Sayer, Lauren Peters, Luke Wood, Alex King, Travis Millyard, Edith Everest, Laura Rigby.