Wandsworth team leader Pete Freeman has his sights set on topping this year’s Balfour Beatty London Youth Games table, writes Jack Zorab.

The team missed out on top spot to Richmond last year but plan to go one better this summer – with Tashan Taylor and his judo team set to be his not-so-secret weapon.

Taylor will be out to win Wandsworth’s third successive judo gold medal in his last Youth Games and Freeman will do all he can to help him bow out as part of a Jubilee Trophy-winning team at the end of finals weekend at Crystal Palace on June 30.

“We got pipped by Richmond last year but were chuffed to finish second,” said Freeman.

“We were only five points behind overall so maybe we can get a bit closer this year or even win.

“We’re not really a squad of individuals but Tashan Taylor definitely stood out last year.

“He won boys’ judo gold and is part of the squad who want to, in their words, make this year a ‘three-peat’ of the last two years by winning judo for the third time.

“Obviously, the sports we won gold in last year are our traditionally strong disciplines but we’ve had a breakthrough in a few minority sports like archery so that could make the difference for us.”

Balfour Beatty have agreed to support the London Youth Games through to at least 2015, meaning £1.1m worth of funding post-2012 and a total contribution of £2.5m since 2007.