THE North Yorkshire sport of VX has crowned its first African champion.

Ugandan Malingha Timothy emerged triumphant from the inaugural v2 African Nations Cup, which also featured competitors from Kenya and Tanzania.

VX is the new name for rock-it-ball and the tournament, held at Uganda’s Makerere University, was filmed by sports channel Record TV.

The competition was the culmination of a trip that saw Global VX officials Craig Buttery and Paul Hildreth, who designed and developed rock-it-ball seven years ago, take the sport to the African continent.

Supported by the Ripon branch of Lions International, the visit helped Ugandan coaches Bakaze Robert and Hasindihe James in their efforts to establish national VX governing bodies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Equipment was also donated to help promotion of the sport, while coaches and assessors obtained qualifications to further aid that process.

Following the success of the tournament, there are plans to establish a national governing body in South Africa as well.

On the trip’s achievements, Newton-on-Ouse-based VX secretary Hildreth said: “We were overwhelmed with the warmth of the welcome and so impressed with the standard of play.

“I’m delighted that so many people wanted to compete and also to see two young ladies playing in the tournament.”

Global VX is still raising funds to cover the costs incurred in assisting the African nations.