Bellevue Athletics Club will lead the Bay of Plenty charge at the annual North Island Colgate Games to be held at Porritt Stadium in Hamilton from January 4-6, 2019.

The Colgate Games has been the country's supreme National Junior Athletics Championship for athletes aged 7-14 since 1978.

A massive 2300 young athletes are set to compete across the North and South Island events.

Bellevue is sending 38 athletes, the largest team from the wider Waikato/Bay of Plenty region, with Greerton Athletic Club's team of 26 the next biggest from the Bay of Plenty.

Other clubs from the region that will contest the Colgate Games are the Whakatane Athletic & Harrier Club (18 athletes), Tauranga Ramblers (9), Katikati Amateur Athletic Club (9), Te Puke Athletic Club (6), Omokoroa Athletic Club (5) and Papamoa Athletic Club (1).

Last year Bellevue won a record haul of medals from the Games held in Hastings but Club President, Ruth Tuiraviravi, says competition is so fierce that it is hard to know if that can be repeated in January.

'We always hope for the best. I think they will give it a huge go as there is a lot of drive and commitment to come away with medals but we are always realistic about the calibre of athletes competing at North Island is huge,” says Ruth.

Bellevue Athletics Club is based at Tauranga Domain. Ruth says the high quality running track that was resurfaced earlier this year has made a positive impact.

'Having a new track this year has definitely benefited us. Our numbers pre-Christmas are very robust compared to other years. We have always been one of the biggest clubs in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty but we are looking particularly strong.

'I believe it is not just due to the successes of the programme we have going at Bellevue and the strong committee but also the track. We are trying to make the sport as attractive as possible for those who want to compete but also those who just want to participate in the sport.

'It is a positive thing for the community.”

The Colgate Games is the pinnacle event for kids aged 7-14 and has benefits for those involved far greater than winning medals.

'Because athletics is such an individual sport, the Colgate Games gives athletes and their parents an opportunity to go away as part of the whole team thing.

'So it is really good for building that community and strong relationships within the club. It is probably the only one within children's athletics that you actually go away together.

'Socially it has huge benefits with younger kids rubbing shoulders with older athletes who are starting to choose this as a career sport, so the enthusiasm and the excitement is really heightened for these kids.”