As straight as an Arrow - Blue Arrow's Archery Club are aiming straight and have success firmly within their sights. This small Ipswich club promotes the sport of target archery.
One of the great things about archery is that members of all abilities and ages can take part side by side. The club has fun, friendly and family atmosphere welcoming all interested archers aged seven and over, meaning that it is something that the whole family can do together.
The club also provides key educational support where two junior members have used the sport of archery for their GCSE PE and one is now using the sport for her A-Level.
During the summer months the club shoots outside at Suffolk Police Headquarters in Martlesham but while light is low during the winter months some brave souls still shoot outside at the weekends, whereas the more sensible members prefer to shoot indoors at Northgate Sports Centre.
If you would like to find out about joining the club please contact Jackie and Richard Quinton on 01473 414457, 07713 162581 or visit their website www.bluearrows.ukonline.co.uk.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics in Ipswich, in partnership with Ipswich Borough Council, has been awarded almost £400,000 by Sport England and the Big Lottery Fund to extend the Ipswich Gymnastics Centre. The extended facility will not only increase and extend participation in gymnastics but also increase participation in a range of other sports and physical activities, including martial arts, keep fit, netball, dance and trampolining.
Basketball
Ipswich Borough Council's Sports Development Unit, in partnership with a number of organisations, including Ipswich Basketball Club, Westbourne High School and Suffolk Sports Partnership, has appointed Nick Drane as the town's first ever full-time professional Basketball Coach.
Nick's role will involve coaching in primary schools, running new after school basketball clubs, providing more basketball activities in the holidays and coaching the Ipswich Tomcats, Suffolk's first ever boys' National League team.
Nick will be based at Westbourne High School and can be contacted on 07736 826071 or by email at nickdraneCSC@hotmail.com.
Free Kit
Barclays Bank doesn't just sponsor the Premiership League they also have an on-going project that provides free kit for groups.
For more information the Barclays project visit their website www.barclays.co.uk/spacesforsports/kit.
Girls' Soccer Centre
The third girls Active Sports Girls Soccer Centre begun on Thursday 13th January at Gainsborough Sports Centre. The centre, which aims to encourage interest and improve skills in girls’ football, is funded by Suffolk Active Sports and supported by Suffolk FA.
The centre will also provide a pathway for girls into local club football with partners Copleston Sports College and St John's Football Club.
Swimming Festival
Sixteen young swimmers from school years 4, 5 and 6 took part in the fourth Active Sports Swim Festival at Fore Street Pool last month. The Festival included a varied programme focusing on flexibility, strokes and turns, culminating in some fun races. Participants now progress to a 3 day swimming camp before linking them into a swimming club.