A Sutton over-55s club improved on last year’s ranking when they finished inside the top five at an Olympic-style Games event in east London.

The more than 40-member strong Sutton Evergreens, based at Sutton Sports Village, took part in the 2018 Better Club Games at the Copper Box Arena in Stratford.

Among the 700 participants, they competed in a variety of activities which included badminton, cycling, and swimming, on World Mental Health Day (October 10).

In the end they ranked fifth, an improvement on last year’s sixth-place finish, out of the 22 entrants and missed out on fourth by just 12 points.

That spot was taken by Tower Hamlets as Greenwich topped the lot to retain their title from last year.

Epsom and Ewell were this year’s runners-up, followed by Reigate and Banstead, as Sutton rounded out the top five.

There were 22 partnerships entered in the competition, with representatives from Croydon entering for the first time.

The 2018 Better Club Games’ opening ceremony was led by former WBC world light-heavyweight champion boxer John Conteh MBE.

But he wasn’t the only star as Team GB gold medallist and Dancing on Ice star Perri Shakes-Drayton was also in attendance.

Mr Conteh said: “It was great being part of the Better Club Games at the Copper Box Arena, watching so many teams of people of advanced ages keeping fit by applying themselves to the numerous sporting events.

“It inspires me to continue my workout routine, and enjoy the benefits of wellbeing.

“As my old trainer used to say to me, ‘most fights are won and lost on the training ground.’"

A raffle saw more than £500 raised as the money raised was donated to Cancer Research UK.