Kentish Express Ashford & District
Here’s what sports you can start playing again
A number of sporting venues have reopened their doors again this week.
The government gave the green light for sports such as golf, tennis and fishing to resume yesterday (Wednesday) with social distance restrictions in place.
New coronavirus lockdown measures were announced on Sunday in a first step towards easing restrictions.
Sports secretary Oliver Dowden said: “In recent weeks our daily exercise has been so important to our health and wellbeing
“Now in tentative steps forward and in the least risky outdoor environments, we can imminently allow some sports activity like golf, basketball, tennis, fishing – solo/in households.”
The Lawn Tennis Association confirmed on Monday that “tennis activity in England will be able to take place outdoors with singles play only, other than where players are all from the same household, in which case they can play doubles.”
The LTA had previously said: “We know how important it is to keep people active, and the particular role tennis can have in the physical and mental wellbeing of those that play it.
“Our aim is therefore for tennis activity to return as soon as is possible in a way that is both safe and appropriate based on Government advice.
“We remain in regular, direct dialogue with the government to ensure the guidance we are providing to those involved in tennis is the right advice at that time.”
Kent LTA 2019 club-of-the-year, Frindsbury Lawn Tennis Club, are among those back open.
Head coach Jim Barton said: “We have strict isolation procedures in place, with online booking and with staggered court times and access.
“Nobody will be going onto or off the courts at the same time.”
Anyone wanting to play must book through the website and short-term memberships are being made available for newcomers.
Mr Barton also plans to run coaching sessions, one to one, as permitted under the new guidelines. Bookings can be done through the club’s website, where contact details are available. If playing singles with a person from a different household then you are to mark your own balls so that you don’t pick up your opponent’s.
Players should avoid changing ends, or changing ends at opposite sides of the net, maintain social distancing at all times, follow public health guidelines for hygiene and not to play if you are self-isolating.
Clubs are advised to take online/phone bookings and payments while a 10-minute ‘buffer period’ should be factored in to minimise the risk of meeting anyone else outside of the courts.
The Professional Golfers’ Association, along with other golfing bodies, issued a statement on Sunday saying that play can be resumed.
Their statement said: “All outdoor sport must be done alone or within a household group and that includes golf.
“We must ensure that the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved from golfers, to club staff and greenkeepers is maintained at all times.
“Golf clubs and golfers have observed the lockdown very well and must keep it up and act responsibly as play resumes.”
Angling was one of the first sports mentioned by the government as being able to resume, after intense lobbying by the Angling Trust, the representative body for game, coarse and sea anglers in England and Wales.
River fishing is not permitted during the current close season, which runs to mid-June, but private lakes have opened their doors and sea angling is also allowed under the government’s new guidelines.
Orchard Place Farm Fishing in Paddock Wood boasts 12 lakes and is one of the places you can book to fish from this week. They are back open on Wednesday from 7am, with social distancing procedures in place.
Lakes owner Steve Morgan said: “It’s been very tough for us. It’s our busiest time of the year, especially the Easter period that has just been.
“It’s quiet for us through the winter and our major period is spring and summer and obviously we have already lost some of that. We’ll be busy now though.”
The angling trade is estimated to be worth a total of £4bn to the UK economy, according to the Trust.
Mike Morrison from Manor Fisheries in Headcorn says they have been inundated with calls about when they will be open.
Sandwich Coarse Fishery, which has five lakes, is also among those back open.
Fishery manager Kevin Killeen said “We are open and will be following Angling Trust guidelines with regards to social distancing. It’s booking only and we’re limiting numbers, using every other swim to keep people apart.
“We’ve been feeding the fish throughout this and we’ve used a tonne of pellets since the closure so there is a cost there for us and we couldn’t keep going like that. We need to open and that’s why we’ve made the decision.”
Outdoor sports that can operate safely, such as river and lake swimming, within those restrictions are free to resume. Outdoor basketball courts can also be used.