Aerobic Table Tennis – a calorie burning workout!
Worldwide, there is a shortage of females playing table tennis. In partnership with Wigan Sports Development and the Active Women programme, Wigan TTC are running Aerobic Table Tennis Sessions. The sessions are fun and include aerobic exercises. Aerobic Table Tennis will help you burn those calories. It has been known to burn between 400 and 600 calories per session. No table tennis experience is required to join in with Aerobic Table Tennis.
Why not have fun, burn calories, and learn the game of table tennis ?
The new sessions will be starting on Sunday 8th January at 4pm at Platt Bridge Community Centre.
If you are interested in attending then please contact Steve Rowe on 07840466691 or email steve@wiganttc.co.uk
To download a poster, please click here
Wigan Sports Development celebrate ‘Back to Badminton’ success
On Saturday 10th December, Wigan Sports Development’s ‘Back to Sport’ programme hosted a Christmas theme tournament at Howe Bridge Sports Centre to celebrate the huge success of the ‘Back to Badminton’ programme. Over the last 3 years the sessions have given over 200 adults the opportunity to play badminton in a fun, friendly environment regardless of previous experience or ability.
The Tournament was an open invitation to participants that had attended any Back to Badminton session since its introduction in October 2008. The tournament attracted 32 players all of whom made the effort to celebrate in there own unique way by wearing some form of christmas attire.
One of the players on the day Phil Rimmer said, “I have been attending the sessions at Howe Bridge Sports Centre & Robin Park for the last 2 years and have now progressed to playing for Wigan ‘Back to Badminton’ Club. I would never have expected to be playing league badminton and owe it to the ‘Back to Sport’ programme for giving me the opportunity to start playing again.”
The Back to Sport coach Stephen Dixon said, “This was a perfect way to celebrate the programme’s success and it was great to see so many people on the day.”
Wigan Sports Development will strive to continue this success after being awarded the PCT funded Back to Sport contract for another three years. Back to Sport provides an extensive programme of activities that are accessible to adults aged 16+. The range of activities aim to attract adults that are currently not participating in physical activity or finding it difficult to incorporate this into a busy lifestyle. Visit our website www.wlct.org/backtosport for a full list of sessions or contact Richard Smith at r.smith@wlct.org for more information.
Leigh Fundraiser ‘Amazed’ to be Olympic Torchbearer
A 16-year-old from Leigh who suffered serious injuries after falling from a ski lift has been chosen to carry the Olympic Torch during the flame’s relay next year.
Avid sports fan and player Cameron Foster said he was “amazed” to receive the offer from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
He said that it showed how “you can turn what seems like a bad situation into a positive one”.
Cameron’s accident in 2005 left him with dislocated ankles, broken legs and a broken arm.
In his rehabilitation, he had to use a wheelchair to get around and it was while doing so that he realised how difficult it can be for people in a similar situation to become involved in sport.
As a result, once he was back on his feet, the teenager started volunteering in his local area, helping out at his local cricket and karate clubs and working with Wigan Sports Development on various schemes including one that focuses on getting young disabled people into sport.
He also began fundraising and has raised about £15,000 for causes around the Leigh area, a feat which saw ex-cricketer Andrew Flintoff surprise him with a Princess Diana Award at his school in March.
“The Olympic Torch Relay is going to be such a magical event ”
He said at the time that his work was about trying “to give something back”.
That award has only spurred him on and in November, he became the youngest volunteer to take part in Cricket Without Boundaries’ activities, travelling toAfricato teach children and adults to play cricket.
Before the relay, he will also travel back to Africa with Andrew Flintoff’s AF Foundation to take part in a charity climb ofMount Kilimanjaro.
Yet, even with that on the horizon, it is being a torchbearer that Cameron is most looking forward to.
“The Olympic Torch Relay is going to be such a magical event and I want to be able to share that experience with family, friends and those who I work with,” he said.
“I was amazed when I learnt I have been offered the chance to carry the Olympic Flame.
“I hope that when people learn about my story they see you can turn what seems like a bad situation into a positive one that others can benefit from.”
Speaking to Wigan Sports Development following the Olympic Torch Relay launch event Cameron gave his account of the day:
“The day consisted of being introduced on stage by former Olympic athlete Jonathan Edwards and after the main photo call there was around 20 interviews, radio, online and TV, that we took part in. I have been seen on the National ITV CH4 and BBC News in pictures and there is a cheesey clip on ITV of me running with the torch”
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank yourself (Wigan Sports Development Unit) for all the amazing hard work and time you put into my work and for all your continued support as I wouldnt be where I am without you! ”
Some photograph’s of the day can be seen below:
Wigan Athletic Victorious in Fred Perry Table Tennis Urban Cup
Young table tennis stars representing Wigan Athletic narrowly clinched the title of Fred Perry Table Tennis Urban Cup 2011 Champions, with the Gunners finishing a close second in the event at London’s Business Design Centre today.
Wigan’s two boys and two girls – Annabelle Rowlands, Hannah Burrow, Ross Byron and Michael O’Donnell – finished the day with 24 points to Arsenal’s 22 points, with Hull City in third on 20 points.
In the boys division, Arsenal were victorious over runners-up Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers. Portsmouth were triumphant in the girls division over second-placed Manchester City, with Norwich City’s young stars in third.
The Fred Perry Urban Cup, an initiative partnered by the Premier League, Fred Perry and the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA), gives 120,000 kids aged 11-14 across urban areas of the country the chance to try out table tennis for the first time this year. Today’s Urban Cup Finals in London saw the top 100 kids representing every Premier League club battle it out for the 2011 title.
Darius Knight, GB table tennis star and Fred Perry Urban Cup ambassador, was on hand to support the finalists and inspire the next generation of table tennis stars.
Darius said: “There was some great table tennis talent at today’s Fred Perry Urban Cup Finals. I definitely spotted some stars of the future and it is through initiatives like this we will see more and more youngsters taking up the sport. Congratulations to everyone taking part in today’s finals and well done to the tournament’s winner Wigan Athletic.”
Richard Martin, Director of Marketing at Fred Perry, said: “This year’s Urban Cup was bigger and better than ever and Fred Perry is extremely proud to have partnered with the Premier League and ETTA to give so many kids the opportunity to play table tennis. Congratulations go to overall winners Wigan Athletic on a very impressive team performance today. Fred Perry himself was a table tennis world champion in 1929 so we are really excited to see the popularity of the sport continuing to grow and look forward to the next edition of the Urban Cup.”
For further information follow the link below:
http://etta.co.uk/news/wigan-athletic-pip-arsenal-for-the-fpuc-title/
Rebound Therapy improving health for young people with autism
Young people with autism in Wigan Borough can now benefit from an innovative sports therapy.
Rebound Therapy uses gentle trampolining to allow young people with autism to build muscle tone and strengthen their core stability.
The sessions are run by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sports Development Unit every Thursday from 4.30 – 6.30pm for six week blocks at Leigh Indoor Sports Centre, Leigh Sports Village.
Daniel Jones at his Rebound Therapy session.
Back row, left to right: Personal Assistant Madeleine Roberts, Mum Lynne Jones and Sports Development worker Tim Rees.
Front row, left to right: Daniel Jones, seven, and sister Ella, four.
Adam Blezard, from the Sports Development Unit, said: “Studies have shown that Rebound Therapy can have a real effect on young people with autism and this new course is already getting some great recognition in Wigan Borough.
“Trampolining to music is a brilliant way for the young people to not only relax but also build up their muscle strength.
“As with all our disability sports sessions, there may be the opportunity for the young people involved to be eventually signposted on to mainstream sports clubs once they have completed the Rebound Therapy course.”
The sessions are already throwing up some impressive results for the families who have attended.
Seven year-old Daniel Jones who attends Hope School has been taking part in the Rebound Therapy sessions.
His mum Lynne said: “Daniel has poor muscle tone so this is really helping to strengthen him.
“It is normally hard to get him to exercise but he has really taken to Rebound Therapy.
“Since he has started to come here he can actually walk up stairs whereas before we always had to use a stair lift for him.”
Wigan Council have commissioned Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sport Development Unit to run the Rebound Therapy.
A further £2000 was also provided to help purchase an extra trampoline by the council’s Short Breaks Team, who provide short breaks for young people with disabilities and their carers.
The sessions are open to young people with autism aged 5 – 19 (currently this doesn’t include wheelchair users or people requiring use of a hoist). A pre-assessment form needs to be completed prior to taking part.
All Sports Development Unit staff are fully qualified to run the sessions and have received specialised training.
WLCT’s Sports Development Unit also run further sports sessions for young people with a range of disabilities including multi-sports sessions, dance and cheerleading and a wheels for all group using specially adapted bikes.
To book on the next six week Rebound Therapy course, or to find out more about opportunities in disability sports, call Sports Development on 01942 404982 or email sdu@wlct.org.
For more information on Rebound Therapy go to www.reboundtherapy.org.
