Episode 2 Ultimate Sports Day

-You'll be a winner in the future - I want you to be a winner now.

-Yeah.

'It's not so much about the team any more,'

you've got to keep remembering that it's individuals.

You've got to pick your game up over the next few days,

you know that don't you?

It's time to start getting more competitive within the group.

We're friends, I don't want to change that,

but there's definitely rivalry.

Putting in all that work and then not to get through

would be so annoying.

I need you to turn it on.

You are playing for a place in your country.

Come on, let's go!

So far on Ultimate Sports Day.

75 outstanding young athletes from all over the UK

have been put through a series of gruelling challenges

to test their speed, skill, agility and strength.

Now, only 32 remain.

The moment that we got told was...it was really good.

-ALL:

-England!

I know like the standard it is now and I have to raise my game.

I never thought I'd get through but here I am.

Their goal -

to win one of the four places available on each of the four teams.

Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales

and to take part in the ultimate sporting tournament.

The athletes will compete in more tough trials

devised by top sports scientist Professor Greg Whyte.

The key issue now is what is their skill like,

what is their attitude like

and are they going to be the right person for their USD team?

Who has what it takes to make it into their national team?

It's up to me to tell you four...

that you will be going through to the final!

Find out now on Ultimate Sports Day.

Welcome back to Ravenscraig, where Scotland's former capital of steel

is now a heated furnace of competition

featuring some of the UK's best young athletes.

Of the remaining 32 competitors

only half of them will make it into the final teams

and the sporting legends responsible for making the decisions

are also their mentors.

Let's go.

For Scotland, seven-time British champion ice dancer Sinead Kerr.

Competing for your country

is something that you feel with your heart.

Wayoo!

For Wales, European champion sprinter Christian Malcolm.

-TEAM CHANTS:

-Who are we? Team Victory!

That's what I'm talking about, eh? Team Victory!

For Northern Ireland,

former world featherweight boxing champion Barry McGuigan.

Put your legs on a slant!

For England, Olympic decathlete Dean Macey.

If I had to put money on a team, I'd put it on Team England

-and Team England are here to win. ALL:

-England!

The first challenge is Ultimate Bike Control.

Now, simple as that sounds,

the mentors have only selected certain members of their squads

who they reckon they haven't seen enough of

in a challenge that will really test their balance,

concentration and determination.

I reckon this one's going to get interesting.

Two...

Don't worry.

-Don't forget to stop.

-Well done.

Keep going, man.

-OK.

-That's what I want you to do.

-Keep your legs going at a reasonable pace.

-Yeah.

You go under the thing, duck really low.

You only get one go at this, all right?

So good luck.

For Northern Ireland,

Barry is struggling to choose between his under-14 girls,

Zoe and Phoebe.

Phoebe Tan is light, very thin, very talented

but a lot of these exercises are going to demand strength.

Strength, co-ordination and strength,

and I don't know that she can match Zoe in that department.

The mentors must choose only one boy and one girl in each category.

I'm Phoebe, I'm 13, I'm from Belfast in Northern Ireland.

My speciality is high jump

and one day I would LOVE to take part in the Olympics.

Even though Fraser's been one of her favourites,

Sinead is starting to question his place in Team Scotland.

That's it, power up the hill, power up the hill!

Fraser's sport is athletics and the 800 metres.

No? It's hard.

Take a break and get back up and try.

His endurance on two feet is outstanding,

but when it comes to two wheels, he doesn't quite have the knack.

My name is Fraser, I'm 15 years old and my speciality is 800 metres.

From a young age, I was interested in a lot of different sports,

but I didn't start athletics until my early teens.

This fall... Cycle it.

Duck! Look - nice and low, nice and low!

Ooh, not low enough, Fraser!

It's all right, don't worry, don't worry!

Are you going to try and stand still on this?

For the required three seconds...?

..that'll be a no.

Don't lose it, don't lose it. Don't worry. You can do this.

You can do this. Give it a last try.

But Fraser has no more tries left to give.

Tall Fraser, for Scotland, is struggling.

Particularly from a psychological perspective.

He gave up on the bike,

has he the right attitude for the team of four for Scotland?

Now, competing for England,

first up is Sophie, a national track cycling champion.

Jump on a bike and what's the first thing you want to do?

Go fast downhill. Well, we was asking them to go slow uphill.

Keep the traction. That's it, just keep yourself moving.

Well done, just keep it going...

Sophie's been ill, so she's a little bit more emotional at the moment.

I brought her here so she can bounce back and build her confidence up

and I was so worried that she wouldn't do that, and she did!

Three...two...one...

..and through.

Wicked.

That's why I brought you on this, eh?

Bounce back! That's it. Champion. Wicked. Good girl.

Good girl, nice and smooth.

Hot on Sophie's heels for a place in the final team is Emily.

Keep it going, mate. Keep it going. Keep that momentum, all the way up.

I'm Emily, I'm 13, I come from Tavistock in Devon

and my sport is Triathlon.

One day I REALLY wish to be in the Olympics.

Well done, well done, stay down. Well done, well done.

She might be the smallest in the England squad,

but Emily is a national triathlon medallist,

so she's also got great cycling skills,

which she proves by racking her pedals -

that's how the pros keep their balance, by the way.

Well done, keep going all the way, don't get a penalty!

Go on, smashing!

Up until this morning, Sophie was my number one young girl,

but Emily is absolutely caned today and my decisions, my head is hurting!

I don't know what to do!

For Wales, Christian wants to see how super-fast sprinter Hannah

adapts to going slow.

Keep going, that's it.

My name's Hannah, I'm 13 years old,

I'm from Neath in South Wales. My speciality sport is sprinting

and my sporting hero, of course, is Christian Malcolm.

Hannah clams up and she admits that. She gets nervous before she competes.

No matter what she's doing, she gets nervous, she get's tense.

I try to say, "Just relax, listen to what I've got to say.

"It's not easy but if you can follow what I'm saying to you

"and you still do it wrong then there's nothing I can do."

Keep going.

Don't forget to stop, don't forget to stop in there.

-That was rubbish.

-Hannah, are you all right?

That disappointment could cost Hannah her place in Team Wales.

So bad.

It's now midway through selection week

and the mentors will soon have to pick their final national squads.

They're keen to see how their teams have improved at basketball

since they last tried it, but the nerves are starting to show.

Hannah is still lacking confidence

after her earlier efforts on the bike.

Unlucky. Just a little bit, little bit higher.

You know, if you carry on the way you are

-and just have a bit more self-belief...

-Yeah.

-..going into games.

-More confidence.

-Definitely - be confident!

Yeah.

But Hannah isn't the only one in the Welsh team feeling the strain.

Has plucky Jacob finally run out of strength?

It's all right, you've got one more.

-I feel a bit nervous.

-A bit nervous?

-Yeah, I feel a bit nervous all the time.

-Why?

-I don't know.

Because, like...I just want to get through - it's a bit weird.

You've got a big heart, you know, and you're very determined.

You're very good, you're very good at being competitive,

but sometimes, cos you're SO competitive, you want to do well,

-you don't really listen to what's being said.

-Yeah, hmm.

-Sometimes listen to me a little bit more.

-Yeah, OK.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-You can do that for me?

-Yeah.

-Thanks, Jake.

-Thanks.

Also needing encouragement from their mentor, Barry,

are the younger girls in the Northern Ireland team -

especially Phoebe.

-You looking forward to the next few days?

-Yeah, I'm quite nervous.

-Why are you nervous?

-Well, Zoe, she's really strong

and because I'm in her age group it's going to be tough...

-to get through.

-But you're good. You're very good.

You're a good all-round sportsperson.

Dean takes a tougher approach on Team England and raises the stakes.

I need you to start turning it on.

-You are playing for a place in your country, all right, mate?

-Yeah.

I don't want you to change your attitude at all

-but if there's any way...

-I won't!

..any way you can get another couple of percent out of yourself...

Work hard and just push until you've got nothing left.

I'll be on the floor dying!

Er, that won't be necessary, Allard!

Not everyone in the England team is so confident, including Emily.

I find it really difficult as, like, I'm the youngest

and I'm quite small.

So it's like feels like everyone has an advantage on me.

But I know that I can't help being small.

Yeah, what I see from you I see, like, a little whippet.

So, what you've got inside,

your psychological and physical ability, is fantastic, right?

You just need to really maximise that

-and I want you to know you got the best out yourself.

-Hm-mm.

-All right?

Put it there.

Ahead of them now they've got a whole range of tests

which are going to look at their skills, their attitude,

their psychological ability under stress.

It's going to be a tough road ahead

to finally decide who's going to make it

into the final four USD team.

Next up, Archery.

The mentors want to see if their teams have been practising

since their last tries at the targets and if they've improved.

They're aiming to score the maximum of 30 points with three arrows.

I hope I'm going to do quite well. I set myself up for it, though.

The first time we got it I think I got 27.

I've never managed to get it since.

Pressure!

The team's attitude to practise and how they cope with new skills

are key considerations for the mentors,

who must turn their thoughts to choosing the final national squads.

Only one boy and one girl in each age group, under-14 or under-16,

can make it into the final four.

For Jack, the reality that he has to beat Allard is only just sinking in.

So can only one of us that can go through?

-You're competing against Allard.

-I am competing against Allard.

-Yeah...

and I think he's very, very tough.

You've got completely different skill sets -

Judo versus hockey, all right?

It's going to be a fraction here or there.

It's going to be a feather that's going to change it.

Morgan is against Hannah for a place in the Team Wales under-14 girls,

but she gets a clear warning from Christian.

What I want you to realise

is that, you know, it's borderline for you at the moment.

Cos you're the little one in the group,

-you have to try that extra bit harder.

-Yeah.

I know what it's all about cos I used to be the little one!

-I was always the little one, just like you.

-Yeah.

We've always got to try that bit more.

Is there anything I can do as a mentor, improve,

anything you would like me to be?

-No, you're bang tidy.

-Yeah? "Bang tidy"?!

-Bang tidy.

-I love it!

For Scotland's under-16 girls,

Sinead will have to choose between Louise and Ellen.

As an athlete you're amazing,

but when it comes to the games part in the skills,

your downfall in the statistics was the basketball...

-..so maybe that needs to, we need to up your ball skills a bit.

-Yeah.

So, you're everything I need in a team

but I need you to pick up on those skills, just a little bit more,

to make yourself REALLY stand out.

After giving up on the bike event,

Fraser is more confident about his archery.

Will that be enough to keep him in the team?

Definite improvement. I improved by...three? Three.

26 out of 30, so pretty chuffed with that, yeah.

You're working together as a great eightsome

-and I need to get rid of four people.

-Yeah.

So it's time for everyone to start getting a little bit more competitive

within the group.

My downfall with you and something that I feel you need to prove to me

in the next couple of days

-is when it comes to the other agility skill tests.

-Yeah.

Because when it comes to the final week and the final games,

it's not all about sprinting.

There may be one or two tests in there that are about that,

but I need you to try and work a little bit more on the other stuff.

It's almost the end of selection week

and the teams face what's set to be their toughest challenge yet.

There are certainly some outstanding athletes in each of the teams.

Ellen in Scotland - outstanding.

If we take a look at someone like Allard, for England,

or Morgan, the gymnast for Wales, there's some great talent in there,

but what's going to be interesting is that's the physical talent.

The question is, have they got the full package

to make it on to the team?

So, Team England. Last challenge, how are you feeling?

-Nervous.

-Good, you should be.

I need you for one more time to bring your A game. Can you do that?

-ALL:

-Yes!

-COME ON! Three...two...one. ALL:

-England!

Right, guys, this is important now, this is it for you guys.

It's going to be tough out there and, trust me,

I'm so proud of what you've all done this week. REALLY proud.

But Sophie in Team England is really feeling the strain.

This is about having fun, all right?

These things are hard, physically.

Mentally, you've been challenged more this week than ever.

I read your application, you said you want to be an Olympian.

Whatever happens today, this is going to help, because it's a tough road.

I think this is really my kind of event

and I could do really well in this if I try my hardest,

so I'm hoping to impress him with what I can give.

I'm a bit nervous cos I've got a sore throat,

but I'm just going to give it my best.

Three...two...one... WHISTLE BLOWS

The England girls are first to hit

-the tough three-lap obstacle course.

-Come on! come on!

They're quickly followed by Harry and Leo.

After crossing the stream they have to scramble under a net,

race over the tyres

then, when they're really tired, run with heavy weights.

It's a tough course.

It doesn't look that hard, then you get on it

and every time those weights get heavier and heavier.

Right 15 press-ups, come on! Straight down. Shout them out!

-BOTH:

-..14...15...

-Keep it going! Round the tree! Right round, go!

Shout them out!

Despite her tears, it's Sophie who finishes the first lap in the lead.

Sophie is my closest competition and I need to beat her

because we're quite close with points at the moment.

Come on, Soph - good girl. Come on, girl.

GO! Let's go! Last lap, last lap.

Even though they're losing,

are they still trying, are they still working,

are they still trying to get to that line?

And that... There were some interesting stories in there.

We had tears before the start,

not when she run, nothing but commitment...

-You're right, mate.

-I am so impressed.

OK, first few press-ups, come on!

Good pace. Good pace. You're over halfway...

But, by the end, it's Sophie who lags behind.

No match for Dean's little whippet, Emily, who wins the race.

Take a breath.

Last one.

GO! Go, go, go, go, go, go!

Brilliant.

SOPHIE GASPS AND SOBS

-Champion.

-Well done, Sophie.

-All right? Champion.

You did not give up. That was fantastic.

Later this morning I've got to make a very difficult decision

and, you know, I've made no bones about it -

I've been struggling with the older boys and the younger girls.

They are so, so closely matched.

I think today might be the event that sways my decision.

Dean's older boys dive straight into the challenge.

Inside me I feel that I have got what it takes to beat Jack

on this course.

He has got speed but the stamina, I think, he'll struggle with.

-GO, go! Keep the pace, come on!

-All the way up!

Nervous cos I'm up against some good competition.

Allard's a good player, so a little on edge there.

Allard and Jack, I can tell when one goes really well and one does OK

that it hurts the one that comes second,

and it's a really interesting thing to watch, because it's so yo-yo.

Looks like Allard did find his extra 2%

and now he's really got nothing left...

Come on, Jack!

..leaving Jack way behind.

Come on! Go, go, go, go, go! Go on, guys.

What I did like to see was the commitment

that I've been talking about all the way through

-and that's evident that it's improved.

-Definitely.

There was a lot of effort going on there.

-It's a tough challenge to finish with.

-Yeah.

-Now you've got to decide, mate.

-No, mate, no!

-You've got the tough bit now.

-I might need some help!

Who are we?

-ALL:

-Team Victory!

-Oggy.

-Aye.

-Oggy.

-Aye.

-Oggy.

Pumped up for some obstacle course action, are Team Wales.

Now, Hannah says she gets really nervous

when it comes to big competitions.

You know, Hannah's got the physical ability to get through this

a lot better than what Morgan can, but I think Morgan has the fight.

So it will be interesting to see if Hannah gives up

or if Morgan prevails.

Let's go, girls, let's go!

The two younger girls from Wales know they're fighting each other

for a place and their start couldn't be closer.

-On your stomach! On your stomach!

-Come on, boys!

-Get up there.

Get up there!

After lap one the girls are still neck and neck.

-..and up!

-Good.

I can't even put into words - Oh, I just want to do him proud.

I want to show him that I deserve to be in that team.

But is wanting it going to be enough to get Morgan through?

Last lap! Come on! Just put everything in to it. Come on!

For the younger boys, Jacob wins easily

and for the girls it's Morgan who finishes first,

but only by a fraction.

It was really close, like.

It was just on the press-ups at the end,

that's all it came down to

and then turning round the tree,

she was just right behind me, so... but it was really close.

-Yeah, fine.

-Really well.

Trying to push yourself.

But I haven't got enough energy and I just slowed down completely.

It was really hard.

These kids, man...

I couldn't do it.

I gave, I did my best, so...

Do you think that's enough?

I hope so. Fingers crossed.

That was good, guys. I know you're like,

"We've got to beat the other team's times," but remember

that this is an individual thing. You're competing against each other.

You're fighting for a place.

For Scotland, Sinead's toughest choice

will be between her under-16 older girls Louise and Ellen.

I'm not going to lie, I'm really nervous.

It looks quite tiring, but should be OK.

OK, guys, nice pace.

Let's go, girls!

On the first lap the girls were evenly matched.

They've both got the great attitude, they work really, really hard

and that's just the final cargo net.

All of a sudden you saw the gap open up

but she didn't give up, they carried on and kept fighting.

Get down, get down! Excellent.

Louise crosses the line first.

Fantastic. Nice. Well done!

This isn't just a race against the clock,

it's a test of character and determination.

Sinead's got probably the toughest of all in terms of her selection

because, particularly in the girls, choosing them, no mean feat.

The hill and the cargo net! It's so difficult.

So let's warm up a little bit and get going, all right?

Barry warms his Northern Ireland team up ready for the competition.

This is dead even, guys. Do you hear me?

It's dead even, so I need a winner.

I need someone to show me what they're made of.

Both Thomas and Ben are hoping to prove to Barry

that they've got what it takes to make it into his final four.

Let's go, come on, Joey, come on, guys!

Get up and down, or I won't count it! Let me hear you!

Three...four...five...

Halfway round the course, there's still nothing to separate the boys.

Got Ben Fisher and we've got Thomas Quinn.

Very similar, athletically.

It's neck and neck at the finish until Thomas's luck runs out.

-On up! On up! On up!

-Up you get, Thomas! Get up.

Could that fall cost him a place in the Northern Ireland team?

It's OK, man.

Second lap's the hardest...

cos you've still got half of it to do.

To be honest with you, this has, this has levelled the playing field again.

So I just hope they don't think, from seeing that,

that I was going to pick the ones who won here today because...

the ones who won the event here, I'm not necessarily going to pick.

And picking is exactly what the mentors must do now,

as they cut their squads down from eight to just four.

They study the scores on all the activities so far,

taking into account character and ability to work in a team.

On top of that, they've got to consider the various events

the athletes will play and who would be the most suitable for them.

Only one boy and one girl from each age group, under-14s and under-16s,

can make the team.

It's the day of reckoning for the four nations.

The final teams of four are about to be chosen.

For England, Sophie, Jack, Harmonie and Harry

anxiously wait for Dean's decision.

Next door, Allard, Emily, Leo and Shanice are also waiting.

What a roller coaster week, eh?

There's been some highs, been lows

and you guys, today, showed so much heart.

Every single one of you.

I'll be honest, I didn't make my decision until 15 minutes ago.

It was nip and tuck, all the way

and my decision was based on the skill sets that you've got,

the competitive nature that everyone's got,

and the competition that's going to come.

It's been very, very difficult, I have to say...

-but you're through!

-Yeah!

You are in Team England. It was so close.

It was just nerve-racking, but I'm just so relieved, happy

and kind of sad for the other people that didn't get in,

but they've got this far so...they've got to be good

and they are good and they've shown they're good.

The Scottish athletes wait to hear Sinead's decision on her final team.

The mentors had to look at what games were coming ahead

so things weren't based on just results

but also on making a tactical decision.

The determination, courage, strength.

You nailed it, you stuck in there and you dug in there to the end.

You've shown me some toughness and some guts

that I'm happy to see the Scottish kids have.

I'm really proud of you all.

It's up to me to tell you four...

that you will be going through to the final!

So Sarah, Ellen, Fraser and Frazzle make up a very happy Team Scotland.

Absolutely amazing. Can't believe that I got through.

It's absolutely wonderful.

In the Welsh locker room, nothing is clear cut.

Morgan and the others wait to find out

if they've done enough to impress Christian.

Hi, guys. I'll be honest, this has been so, so hard. Really has.

This decision for me has been so difficult, you don't understand.

You guys are in my team.

Yeah!

Isobel, Anna, Joe and Jacob

are amazed to discover they are in Team Wales.

I'm speechless. I can't tell you.

Like I felt so happy.

It was like all this work has just gathered up, so...

Welsh team.

I'm sorry about this.

But it's not all smiles in the Welsh camp.

Listen, what I want you to remember this.

You've got to turn this into a positive now, in your future.

You've got to remember and learn from times like this,

and I know YOU - I'm going to be reading about you in the future

and we all know that, OK?

I had a chat with Christian afterwards

and I, like, understand why I didn't get through,

but I still wish Team Wales all the best of luck.

It's now time for Barry to make four people very sad or very happy.

Has Phoebe shown enough grit to make it through?

So what do you think? How did yous do this morning?

Mmm?

Not good?

Right, you're in my team.

You're in my team.

Thomas, Andrew, Sarah and Phoebe

can't quite believe what Barry is telling them.

-They are now Team Northern Ireland.

-Northern Ireland, can we do it?

-ALL:

-Yeah!

I'm really pleased, I'm so happy that I got through.

I wasn't expecting it at all so I was really happy.

Oh, wow!

All that remains for the teams is a glimpse of what's to come

and what they've let themselves in for...

How awesome is that, guys?

..a sneak preview of the Ultimate Sports Day Arena.

Next time, the tournament begins.

Nation will battle nation over six games,

to win points in an epic sporting competition.

The two highest-scoring teams will go through to the grand final

where one of them will be crowned Ultimate Sports Day champions.

First to compete will be England versus Wales.

Don't miss it on the next Ultimate Sports Day.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd