Medal-winning sports stars from all over the borough gathered in Twickenham to receive the congratulations of a World Cup winner.

Members of the team who represented Richmond in the London Youth Games and their coaches were at Harlequins Rugby Club for a special event to celebrate the borough securing 19 top 10 places.

England rugby star Stuart Abbott, who was part of the 2003 World Cup winning-squad, and Harlequins' director of rugby Dean Richards were at the celebration, organised by Richmond upon Thames Council's sports development team, to praise the young people, parents, coaches and volunteers involved.

And the duo presented awards and medals to the winners from the games, which included the gold-winning girls tag rugby team, and the mini-games, for nine and 10-year-olds.

Richmond's netball, hockey and tag rugby teams won the titles in the mini-games and Yuan Ying Man and Molly Savill also took first place in the mini-games swimming event.

Channelle Ovington won a silver in the disability swimming competition as did Elliot Walker Fifield in swimming and Jason Shipp and Nathan Reehal in judo.

Winners of bronze medals included high jumper Sam Yamuah and Harry Cannon, Jocelyn Major, Sophie Santillo and Patrick McDonagh in karate.

Patrick Craig and Sam Watson also picked up bronze medals in judo along with Rory and Will Atkins in cycling and Anapurna Bains in karate while Reece Edwards, two years younger than most of his rivals, claimed bronze in the disability shot putt.

Dave Francis, from Clarendon School, won the volunteer of the year award and Tanya Wilson was named main games team manager of the year for guiding the tag rugby squad to gold while another tag rugby coach, Paul Burke, won mini games team manager of the year.

Twickenham's Busen martial arts centre won the overall contribution award and Teddington School and Waldegrave School for Girls were recognised in the school participation category.

At the end of the evening Councillor Marc Cranfield-Adams, the Mayor of Richmond, accepted a cheque for £4,000 from Harlequins to contribute towards the 2008 London Youth Games.

Coun John Coombs, Richmond council cabinet member for youth, culture and leisure, congratulated everyone who took part and said 19 top ten finishes was a fantastic achievement.