New tennis league open to all
The competition invites adult players of all standards to pick up their racquets and sign up to a local singles league. Participants are organised into groups and then liaise with their opponent to arrange a mutually convenient time to play, at a court in the city to suit them both. Each round runs for eight weeks and round one launches on Thursday 9 July during Wimbledon 2015.
The local league aims to open up competitive tennis to everyone, whether or not they are members of a club. It will make it easier to compete on public courts by matching interested partners of similar standards and will be a way of meeting new people through sport. The initiative is one of many opportunities across the city to encourage residents to play sport more often and exercise for the recommended 150 minutes a week.
Top spin
Cllr Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: “Anyone who is inspired by Wimbledon will love this opportunity to play competitively against new opponents in the city. Sporting opportunities such as this are an enjoyable way to build friendships as well as keeping fit.”
The league gives a can of free tennis balls to every player who completes three matches by the half way point and there are prizes for the winners of each group. It is affiliated to the sport’s governing body, the Lawn Tennis Association.
To enter the league visit www.localtennisleagues.com/york and register by Monday 6 July. The entry fee is £15 and further information is available from Local Tennis Leagues members on 07503 281732 or email yorktennisleague@gmail.com
Blow for Sports Village hopes. Community Stadium to be delayed?
The Council has announced that it will no longer be funding an athletics track at the Sports Village on Hull Road.
The facility was to have opened this year.
The proposal to establish a sports village – which also includes swimming pools, 3G football pitches, a fitness suite, a outdoor cycling circuit and spa facilities – was agreed over 3 years ago and most of the facilities are now in use.
However, the provision of a new £2 million athletics stadium was to be the final jewel in the crown.
The intention had been to maximise the use of shared facilities such as the refreshment area, physiotherapy, spa and changing rooms.
Now the Council has decided to refurbish the University of York running track on Heslington Lane which is nearly 2 miles away from the Sports Village. The Heslington/Fulford area already suffers from traffic and parking issues
The implications for the running costs of both facilities remain unclear as does the financial commitment of the Council to the whole Community Stadium project.
A spokesperson for the Labour run council has claimed that the new site will be “cheaper”.
However, the athletes are claiming that the Council has agreed to subsidise the York Athletic Club for “5 years”.
Who has agreed such a subsidy, with what restrictions and for how much remains a mystery?
This major change in policy was taken at another behind closed doors meeting, so taxpayers are being kept in the dark
Moving the athletics track from the Huntington Stadium was an essential precursor to work on the new stadium starting.
It now seems that athletes will leave Huntington in late 2014 prior to occupying the refurbished University track in 2015.
Completion of the Community Stadium has already been put back to 2016 and further delays cannot be ruled out.