Energise winners

A husband and wife team has won a 6 month Tour de France challenge which was set by Energise for its members in January.

Jack and Jill Whitham were first to successfully complete the 2,271 mile challenge to cycle, run and swim or climb the Tour de France distance prior to the Grand Départ Stage 2 leaving York on Sunday 6 July.

Jill Whitham said: “We thought it would be impossible at first but found that the challenge really gave us the push to increase cardio workouts and achieve our goal weights. It also encouraged us to try more on the bikes and the rower. We will be going out to watch the Tour de France as it is on our doorstep this year.”

Paul Bickle, Manager of Energise said: “All the staff would like to give them our congratulations and we’re glad that the challenge helped them both to achieve their goals. As a prize they have chosen the Go Ape Tree Top adventure at Dalby Forest. The individual winner category is still up for grabs and we are encouraging all our members to have a go.”

Huntington concert tickets being discounted

Council concert organiser displays sense of humour

Council concert organiser displays sense of humour

As we revealed yesterday, the Tour de France concert, scheduled for the 4th July, is being snubbed by York residents.

Now the Council has halved the cost of a family ticket – down from £100 to £50.

The offer also includes a ticket to the Grand Depart event at the Racecourse and will run until Monday 16th June.

What residents who have already paid the full price for tickets will think of this discount remains to be seen.

The concert features a group called “Loveable Rogues”

Tickets are on sale now from http://www.ticketline.co.uk/ and http://www.exeriencetherace.com/, and will be available from Visit York on Museum Street in York city centre by Friday (13th June) of this week

The Council has declined to say how many tickets for the event have been sold to date.

Meanwhile it looks like Bradley Wiggins – expected to be one of the main attractions for those attending the Tour de France start – may not now be competing this year

Fitness swimming initiative in York

healthy swimming

City of York Council’s HEAL (Health, Exercise, Activity and Lifestyle) programme is introducing a new 6 week course of swimming sessions at Yearsley Pool starting on Thursday 12 June from 2.30pm to 3.15pm.

Welcome Back to the Pool is aimed specifically at people who can swim, or could in the past, but through illness, injury or life changing event may now lack the confidence to get back in the pool.

Swimming has some great health benefits for those returning to exercise. This is another example of a practical session to help encourage regular physical activity amongst residents needing support.
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Woodthorpe Wanderers football gala attracts crowds

Football Gala 8th June 2014

Football Gala 8th June 2014

The former Lowfields school playing fields were the location for a football gala today organised by the Woodthorpe Wanderers FC.

Teams had travelled from all over the region including one from Middlesbrough.

The same playing fields are under threat after the York Council’s Housing department made a bid to include them in the redevelopment plans for the site.

Previously the intention had been to develop only the “footprint” of the former school buildings.

The attempt to develop the whole of the site is being resisted by officials working on the Councils new “Local Plan”.

The older persons village –which was scheduled to be completed on the site last year – has not even got planning permission yet so it will be 2016 before any buildings are occupied.

That will be at least 3 years behind the original schedule.

 

 

 

Swim Britain launched at Energise

 

David Williams and Kerianne Payne

David Williams and Kerianne Payne

Energise is encouraging York residents to get back in the water this summer for British Gas SwimBritain 2014.

Supported by a host of big-name swimmers including fellow London 2012 medallists Ellie Simmonds, Michael Jamieson, Rebecca Adlington, Keri Anne Payne and comedian David Walliams, SwimBritain is a series of fun team relays that are taking place this September which hopes to inspire 500,000 people across Britain to swim more regularly – and get fit!

Swimmers can take the challenge in 2 ways.

SwimBritain1000 is a four-person relay where each team member swims 250m four times around a specially-designed course in a dedicated 50m pool.

SwimBritain500 is a shorter distance where team members use the same course, swimming half the distance (125m four times) and the nearest participating venue to York is Ponds Ford in Sheffield.

Rebecca Adlington, who retired from competitive swimming at the age of 23 last year as Britain’s most successful swimmer, said: “I may have retired from professional swimming but I will always love being in the water and a challenge like British Gas SwimBritain is brilliant as it’s really inclusive – not just for professional swimmers. Swimming offers everyone a full range of health and fitness benefits so the more people we can encourage to swim regularly, the better. It’s a full body workout without any stress on the joints. A gentle half hour swim can burn up to 200 calories, so I’d love to see as many people as possible joining in and giving SwimBritain a go.”

Swimfit at Energise costs £3.85 for adults with a York Card and £4.80 without. There is no need to book in advance.

Registrations are now open. For further information on venues, how to sign up your team and get training plans and tips, visit swimbritain.co.uk/challenge

 

More Tour de France events announced for York

Tour de France WINNER

More and more events are joining in York and the UK’s first ever Fête du Tour to celebrate the Tour de France’s imminent arrival. The Fête du Tour (festival of the Tour) is a long-standing French tradition which involves communities along the route celebrating and building the excitement.

On Saturday, York city centre will have lots of French, cycling and yellow-themed activities to help residents and visitors get into the spirit of the Tour.

The fun takes place from 10am to 4pm and will include members of Riding Lights Theatre who will be performing on a rotating stage, powered by bikes, whilst dressed in French costume and accompanied by an organist.

Visitors to the city centre can also pose as Sir Bradley Wiggins with the help of a cut out and mask.

Information tents will have details about the Tour de France in York and the Made in Yorkshire market will be taking place from 29 May to 1 June, offering delicious treats for your Fête du Tour picnics and parties.

There will also be the opportunity to purchase York’s ‘Experience the Race’ merchandise.

York’s city centre will be dressed with yellow bunting in Parliament Street, St Sampson’s Square and Coney Street to bring a truly festive spirit to the centre of York.
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Monk stray planning application for new entry point

The meeting held by the Council last night heard confirmation that camping and caravanning plans for Monk Stray had been abandoned.

The Council is now trying to find alternative sites (or refunds) for those visitors who had already booked places at the venue.

However the one day spectator hub event will go ahead and the Council is seeking planning permission to remove 8 metres of hedge-line (and install a gate and access road) to facilitate entry.

The Cabinet member with responsibility for the shambles (Cllr Crisp) has been noticeably quiet leaving Council officials to make the public announcement.

Huntington Stadium

Huntington Stadium

Huntington Stadium

Meanwhile residents only have until 5th June to record any objections to the plans to hold a 10,000 capacity concert at Huntington Stadium.

It is not yet clear whether the Council has changed the conditions – and not least the capacity – attached to Huntington Stadium’s safety certificate

Huntington Stadium concert – Event license application submitted

click to go to list of applications published by the York Council

click to go to list of applications published by the York Council

The application for a license, necessary before the Russell Watson concert can take place on 4th July, has now been published on the York Council’s web site

Residents have until 5th June to record any objections to the 10,000 capacity concert planned for the Huntington Stadium.

The Huntington Stadium usually has a 4000 capacity limit for Rugby League matches.

Quite why this application has been submitted by the Council so late in the proceedings – and after the commencement of ticket sales had been announced – is something of a mystery.

It is reminiscent of the plan to hi-jack Monk Stray for use as a campsite for the Tour event; a proposal which led to widespread public concern and eventually the imposition of addition restrictions by the licensing committee.

The main concerns at Huntington are likely to revolve around traffic management issues and public safety management both inside and outside the stadium.

The event is being held on a Friday which is one of the busiest days of the week in the shopping centre and on surrounding roads.

If the Licensing Committee turned down – or imposed a lower crowd limit – on the event then it is unlikely that any appeal against such a decision could be considered in the remaining time available before the event was scheduled to take place.

York Council plans 10,000 capacity event at Huntington stadium

Star-studded concert will launch a weekend of ‘Grand Départy!’ celebrations in York

Russell Watson

Russell Watson

‘People’s Tenor’ Russell Watson, X Factor favourites Rough Copy and Union J, and Kian Egan of Westlife-fame are among the line-up for a star-studded concert that will kick off a weekend of ‘Grand Départy’ celebrations in York.

Planned for the evening of Friday July 4, the Grand Départy Concert will take place at York’s Huntington Stadium.

The size of the event has raised some serious questions about potential congestion, safety and security problems.

The Council has not yet started consultation with affected local residents and businesses in the Huntington area

 

The diverse line-up also includes York-based singer songwriter Alistair Griffin; British pop star Eylar Fox; The Loveable Rogues; 1980s bands Altered Images, Brother Beyond and the Blow Monkeys; and vocal harmony group The Overtones.

10,000 tickets are available for the event and demand is expected to be high. Priced at £29.50 for general admission, £35 for VIP seated tickets or £100 for a family ticket (for four people), they will be on sale from http://www.ticketline.co.uk/ from Friday 16 May.

The concert is just one element of an action-packed Grand Départy weekend planned for 4, 5 and 6 July. A host of other events and attractions will be taking place at locations across the city, including street theatre and live music.

Those who want to be at the heart of the action throughout the course of the weekend should head to City of York Council’s three Spectator Hubs at Monk Stray, the Designer Outlet and Millennium Bridge, where there will be family entertainment, big screens, refreshments, merchandise and much more.

For more information about the Spectator Hubs, visit: http://www.experiencetherace.com/