Page 34 - link magazine

38 Relaunching soon: www.swindonlink.com

Will football boot hockey club Redhouse resident rides to heights
out of Greendown? The Castles 28 mile sponsored cycle ride was just the target Sam
Allen from Redhouse needed to kick start his training regime while
Swindon Hockey Club’s hopes of continuing to play at Greendown helping a deserving cause.
School hangs in the balance, despite drawn out negotiations and an Sam, who runs Elevation Crea- ercise before,” said Sam who was
online petition to the Prime Minister. tive Studios, decided in January surprised to find he was hooked.
The present all weather pitch Alan Gough of Swindon Hockey that he wanted to get fit. He de- “There’s a great sense of achieve-
needs replacing but the cost of pro- Club said that it looked most likely cided to hire personal trainer, Gary ment once the run or ride is over.”
viding a surface suitable for top that they would move from West O’Brien, and has so far lost 28lbs Gary now monitors his progress
level hockey would be £250,000. to North Swindon and be playing with a regime of running, cycling via the internet with regular re-
School manager, Mark Lanchester, at Isambard School next season. and weight training. ports of his training, the timings
said that as a community school He understood the difficulties “I’ve never really done any ex- and heart rate readings.
they would like to please every- faced by the school in juggling its Gary suggested finding a goal to
body but raising finance was a finances. “I think the responsibil- aim for and Sam chose the Castles
huge stumbling block. ity sits with Swindon Council and Bike Ride in aid of MacMillan Can-
A number of options have been not the school: why invest in 5-a- cer Support. He will set out from
explored which boil down to two: side pitches at the Link Centre Croft Sports Centre on 3 June to
either borrowing the money and when they could invest at complete the gruelling 28 mile trek
pay interest, or accepting an offer Greendown and boost a minority following the ups and downs of
from a private finance company, sport?” the ancient Ridgeway.
and giving up control of the facil- Coun Nick Martin, Swindon All money raised will be used
ity after-school for the next 25 Council’s cabinet member for fi- locally to fund more medical posts.
years. nance and also a Greendown gov- Sam set himself a target of raising
School Soccer Ltd has offered to ernor, said the education depart- £800 and is well on track, with his
build 12 five-a-side football pitches ment would have to take a view on efforts boosted by a generous do-
and a 3⁄4 pitch which they would whether the school could or should nation of £250 from Bloor Homes,
manage. “The good thing is that become involved in a long term one of his clients.
we could walk away from mainte- commercial arrangement with a Help Sam to his target at:
nance and lighting and heating private provider. www.justgiving.com/Sam-Allen
costs,” said Mr Lanchester. He added there was another
He added that, although option. “If the school comes up
Greendown received a capital with a business case, the borough Plan to beat bordom this summer
grant of £100,000 on becoming a could lend the money to refurbish ‘The Great Escape’ summer holiday sports club at Greendown Commu-
specialist school, this could not be the pitch.” nity School will again be held for two week from the end of July.
used for the pitch. The money has Greendown governors were due Experienced teachers and qualified coaches will be offering a wide
to be used for an independent to make a decision after The Link range of sports and recreation activities to 9 to 13 year olds.
learning centre and fitness suite as went to press at a meeting on 21 The cost is £55 per week and places are limited. For details contact
set out in the specialist bid. May. Christian Dobbs on 874224 or mail: [email protected]

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21 June 07 38 17/5/07, 3:16 pm