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Bob StaveleyUpdated 3rd February: A digest of sport from across the borough. Send us your sports stories via e-mail for inclusion.
Leisure centre staff have worked with the School’s physical education department over the last year to provide one-hour trampolining sessions for students throughout term time. The sessions proved so popular that several students joined the regular Saturday trampoline sessions to get extra training and four pupils were entered into the regional section of the National Schools Novice Trampoline Competition in December.
All the girls did well and student Katie Jones was awarded first place in the under-13 Girls’ Novice Class – meaning she has now qualified for the next round of the nationwide competition in the New Year.
Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “Our Sandiacre Friesland Leisure Centre has provided trampoline sessions for many years and has also been the base for successful trampoline clubs. So I am delighted that the sessions we have held with Friesland School have been a great hit with the students and that several have taken the sport further . . . with great success.
“By providing facilities such as this, we are promoting the importance of an active lifestyle – and helping develop Erewash sporting stars of the future.”
NETBALL: A local netball player has one eye on the national netball scene in the wake of selection for the East Midlands Academy squad. Breadsall teenager Sophie Matthews is amongst an elite group of 24players to reach trial and an invite to Loughborough University where the academy is based.
The 16 year old started off playing the sport at Ockbrook School, and quickly came to the attention of staff and the wider netball scene with her evident talent. She found a place at Allestree Netball Club last year before transferring to the Amber Valley and Ripley Netball Club before successfully passing through the county academy trials both last year and this year.
This led to county coaches putting her forward for regional trials which will mean a six-hour training session every two weeks along with physical training testing stamina and fitness over 15 hours. Matthews takes part in the England Excel Pathway in the sport which helps guide players from regional action towards national representation.
Alison Steele is the head teacher at Ockbrook School and said she was delighted that the former pupil had been selected and that the success could well be her next step towards national recognition after her talent was picked up by coaching staff at the village school.
ATHLETICS: Members of Long Eaton Running Club have dominated action at Nottinghamshire's Turkey Trot event. The men's team were led by Sandiacre resident Rod Harris and he came home third in 1h13m39s, just 21 seconds behind the winner Matthew Poynton as his team took the men's team prize.
Meanwhile, England international marathon runner and wife of Rod, Sarah Harris was the event's second female to cross the line, coming home in an overall tenth in 1h20m3s, a course record in the over-35 category.
TABLE TENNIS: Long Eaton 2nd couldn't match the dominance of Marstons in the Premier Division, the title holders are again on course for end of season honours after seeing off our local side, meanwhile in Division 1, there is better news for a borough side - Long Eaton 3rds are stretching their lead, having taken wins against Castle Donington 2nds away and with a win at home to Rolls-Royce 3rds. Long Eaton also drew against Pirelli in Burton-upon-Trent and now have a three point lead over their nearest challenges - Castle Donington 3rds.
Sawley 3rd sit at the top along with Spondon 2nds in Division 3, Sawley climbing the table whilst Spondon have suffered a dip in form, having only taken two points in two games.
KIRKHAM GETS A RIDE: Ockbrook motorcycling rider Jon Kirkham is back in the saddle with a ride for the new season having recovered well from the disappointment of watching his British Superbike Crescent Suzuki team step up to World Superbikes after just one season.
Kirkham spent just one season with the team having taken the British Superstock title the year before. However, our local rider is joyful after earning a place alongside Michael Laverty in the Honda UK team. 26 year old Kirkham is in good form having fought for and secured the Riders Cup last season, a performance which didn't go un-noticed. His new team have a good track record in the series, with several wins under their belt.
17 year old Aidan Smith has been provisionally selected by UK Athletics to help make rulings on field events at London 2012.
As a field judge, the teenager could have to call up the athletes, validate a jump or throw, measure the distance, record measurements or operate the scoreboard.
He said his experience as a Sports Ambassador for Erewash School Sport Partnership played a part in his selection. “My work as an ambassador for the partnership did play a part in me being provisionally selected. It helped me with getting involved with organising and officiating at schools events which then led to me being invited to the UK School games and it evolved from then.
“The selections that have gone out are all provisional and we will all be attending test events in 2012. I am very excited but also very nervous, at the same time I am confident that I will be able to do any duty given to me and give it my best.”
Rhian Lilley, Erewash School Sport Partnership development manager, said she was very proud of Aidan. She said: “Aidan was always a great ambassador for Erewash School Sport Partnership and we are thrilled for him that he has been provisionally selected to officiate at the Olympics. He’s done really well to get this far and we are sure he will do a fantastic job.”
Aidan was formerly a Gold Ambassador for Erewash School Sport Partnership, which involved working with other young ambassadors to promote exercise to children in primary and secondary schools.
One of the events the group organised was a Mini-Olympics involving 10 primary schools.
He said: “On the day of the event all the young ambassadors, with the help of some other sports leaders, helped to set up and organise all the events.
“This project helped me to learn how to organise events and what needs to be considered. It widened my knowledge on leading, as we had to speak to the teams we were looking after and explain what was going to happen during the day.”
After this, Aidan, a former pupil at St John Houghton Catholic School in Ilkeston, was then selected to become a Platinum Ambassador.
He said: “I would highly recommend becoming an ambassador to all youngsters whether they are active in sport or not, there are plenty of opportunities out there for anyone willing to get involved. Being an official is a great way to travel and meet many interesting people.”
Last year, UK Athletics selected the teenager to be part of a UK/USA athletics exchange trip to Sacramento, California, to officiate at the USA Masters Track and Field Championships.
He said: “This was a great trip as the Americans officiate with different styles and we got to share ideas of how we both differ in the way we work and decisions we make. On my return to the UK I had to do a presentation for the UK Athletics website. I have been invited to go back to Sacramento this year, as a guest by the Americans to officiate at the World Masters Athletics Championships.”
Aidan is currently finishing his first year at Derby College, where he is studying a BTEC National Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science, and is also a member of the Youth Advisory Group that works with UK Athletics.
The advisory group is made up of young people whose aim is to encourage children to take up sport at a young age and to also offer athletes different options that they could take up when they stop competing including becoming officials, administrators, volunteers and coaches. Aidan is hoping to continue with his officiating and gain more qualifications.
He said: “I hope to try to be included in many more national events which will help me to gain even more skills and experiences. I would like to finish college and go to university to study Sport and Exercise Science and then get a job in the sporting industry.”
Erewash School Sport Partnership is a group of 46 schools working together to develop PE and sport opportunities for all young people. Its core priority is to improve the quality and quantity of PE and sport in schools. The partnerships aims to engage, motivate and include as many young people as possible in a positive PE and sport experience.
COUNCIL BACKS HURDLES CHAMP: British Olympic medal prospect William Sharman has been awarded a free health and leisure membership to use West Park Leisure Centre’s facilities as he continues his training for the 2012 games.
Erewash Borough Council presented the hurdles champion – who lives in Long Eaton - with his training pass as part of its Elite Athletes Scheme to support sporting stars that have real potential.
William is the British 110 metres hurdles champion and is ranked fourth in the World after just missing out on the bronze medal in last year’s World Championships. His career success so far has also included a silver medal at last year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Track star William trains regularly at Bath and Loughborough University, but will be supplementing his training regime at West Park Leisure Centre.
The GB athlete has also teamed up with the Council to write a monthly diary about his achievements, results and future goals leading up to and including his participation in the 2012 Olympics. Residents can read his online blog at www.erewash.gov.uk/culture_and_leisure.
Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “We are really pleased to be able to support William with his training regime and his ambitions for the London 2012 Olympics. Our gym and leisure facilities at West Park, and at all our leisure centres, are first class and I know William is using the facilities regularly when he is back in Erewash. We are proud to be able to award him a free health and leisure membership as part of our commitment to supporting our elite athletes.
“William is an outstanding athlete and on behalf of everyone in Erewash, I would like to wish him well in all his forthcoming competitions and, of course, in next year’s Olympics . . . and I can assure him that we will all be cheering him on!”
William will be defending his title at the British Championships in July and is preparing for the World Championships in South Korea later this year – while also, of course, preparing for the 2012 Olympics.
TENNIS REVAMP FOR ILKESTON: Abandoned tennis courts in Ilkeston look set to be revitalised and brought back into use after a deal was agreed with a local tennis club.
Outdoor courts at the Rutland Sports Park were closed in 2006 after officials deemed that they were not safe to use. This led to the facility being cordoned off but the court surface has also degraded over that time.
Now, Erewash Borough Council has agreed a 21 year lease with the Stanton Tennis Club covering the four courts in the corner of the Rutland Sports Park. Officials agreed to the deal after hearing that repair work would be partly funded by the Lawn Tennis Association. It is hoped that the deal will lead to a revival in the sport locally.
COME AND HAVE A GO AT BOCCIA!: Boccia is a type of bowls played from a sitting position. The Boccia Group, open to all, is at West Park Leisure Centre on Sundays from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. People of all ages and disabilities are welcome at a cost of £2 per session for each player, whilst carers go free! For more details, contact John & Kay Milton on 0115 972 7439 or e-mail
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CROQUET: Long Eaton Park Croquet Club welcome the young and old to join them in regular games including as many as 16 people at dates and times to suit the needs of visiting groups. For evening games, visitors arrive just before 7:00pm for a start at 7:00pm upon which time members firstly explain and then play as many as two types of Croquet, Gold and Association. Club sessions are held three times a week from early May to late September, Tuesdays and Saturdays from 2:00pm to 5:00pm and on Thursdays from 6:30pm. A range of tournaments are entered and the club has four half-size lawns, two which can be converted to full size. For more details, contact Club Secretary Susan Jackson on 0115 932 2542 - and for more details on the sport in general, visit www.croquet.org.uk.
GENERAL SPORT: Sports clubs in Erewash are being urged to ensure their details are featured on the Derbyshire Sport website www.derbyshiresport.com. The on-line directory is the most popular in Derbyshire and includes free discussion forums, news, venue information, photo galleries, a members’ database and other features which all help keep everyone in contact with each other. Clubs will also find the site is an excellent way to gain new members – while it also offers a boost to those wanting to develop their own website and club information. Roland Harrison, Erewash Borough Council’s former Sport and Health Development Manager told Erewash Sound Sport: “The website is a great place for clubs to promote themselves and also enables local residents to find out where to go if they want to take part in a sport that they are interested in. I would urge all local sports clubs to log on and make sure they are listed, ensuring the website is an up-to-date database of sports clubs in Erewash.” It is vital that any clubs already on this site update their information on an annual basis to ensure people can contact the right person in the sports club.
BASKETBALL: Ilkeston Outlaws Basketball Club are based at the Cavendish Centre, Ilkeston. The club has around 130 playing members from the age of 8 to 18, 3 National League sides, local league sides for both boys and girls and a mixed mini basketball side for U12s who have just won the Nottinghamshire Open Mini Championship. The Outlaws have just joined forces with Mansfield Express EBL Divisional Men's Team and will be based at Bilborough College. The team will be known as Outlaws Express, officially 'Ilkeston and Mansfield Outlaws Express'. For further information, contact Judy Pittson on 0115 932 6720 or e-mail judypits(at)hotmail.co.uk.
BADMINTON: Dell Badminton Club is seeking new members. The group meets every Wednesday at West Hallam Community Centre, Station Road, from 8:00pm-10:00pm. For more details, just turn up at the Centre and ask to speak with club secretary Sue Selby.