SPORTSMEN and women provided exciting competition for the opening day of the Great North Millennium Transplant Games, at Gateshead stadium.

Taking part was more important than winning for the competitors of The Northern Echo- backed games.

But the North-East can already claim two golds from the first day of the three-day event.

Newcastle's volleyball team and Cleveland man Alan Ayre powered their way to victories on their home ground.

All 662 UK athletes have received life-saving transplants, and have their own personal targets and private victories in mind when they take part.

This year, 206 children are taking part in the games, the largest number ever. One of those is five-year-old Ellyn Laws, from Newcastle, who underwent a kidney transplant operation one year ago.

"She really is excited about the games," said Ellyn's mother Alyson, 32, from Ashbourne Avenue.

"Relatives are coming up from the south and she is so proud.

"This weekend will mark exactly a year since her transplant. She thinks she will win everything but just to take part is the important thing."

The games are sponsored by Asda and backed by The Northern Echo as part of our Chance to Live campaign.

Yesterday's results

Volleyball: Gold, Newcastle A; Silver, Wythenshaw and Liverpool.

Archery: Gold, Alan Ayre, Cleveland Adults; Silver, Bernerd Granger, Newcastle Freeman Hearts A.

Sailing event: Gold, Richard Ayres, Portsmouth.

Men's golf - scratch: Gold, Alex Wray, Oxford. Handicap: Gold, Richard Bennett, Guys Adults.

Women's golf - scratch: Gold, Kathleen Milne, Edinburgh. Handicap: Gold, Evelyne Dyche, Harefield.