Net gains with new pastime
WOULD you love to play netball but feel you no longer have the stamina or knees to keep up with the pace? Did you previously enjoy netball, would like to play the game again, get a bit fitter or just meet new people? Halton Borough Council can help!
You will soon know your back-line throw-in, ball handling from your banding and bending.
The Walking Netball project, set up by the council’s sports development officers and Kingsway Leisure Centre, with funding from Sports England to get adults more active, and led by talented local coach Andrea Gumbs, has made great strides and won six out of eight matches to take the silver medal at a recent contest in Manchester.
After the charity tournament for Cancer Research at the National Cycling Centre, with teams from across the North West, Andrea, 51, from Runcorn, said: “It is like getting a new lease of life. Being able to take up a new game or playing the game you love and being able to participate in a physical activity, burn some calories, keep fit and keep the old heart pumping is exciting. “It’s so much fun. “Meeting and chatting with new friends, what more can you ask for?
“Not only that, to enter a competition at a major venue and feel the atmosphere, really is inspirational.
Mainly, though, it’s all about a weekly session where you can feel welcome and involved and get some exercise on a gentle level.”
More than 100 activities operate every week as part of the Get Active project for adults in Halton, and organisers are looking to set-up a new session for walking football as the current session is now full to capacity at Kingsway showing that ‘walking’ sports are becoming very popular. Training is every Wednesday morning from 10.30am to 11.30am, at Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes. Simply bring along your training shoes and a drink and be prepared to have fun! The sessions cost £2.20 or £1.95 with a Halton Leisure Card. ● Email Paula.Parle@halton.gov.uk or telephone 0151-511 8550. For a full list of activities see www.activehalton.co.uk