OLYMPIC LEGEND OPENS NEW SPORTS CENTRE
British Olympic Champion, Sally Gunnell OBE officially opened the Malvern St James Sports Centre on Barnards Green Road on 1st October.
As the only woman to hold four titles concurrently - Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth, Sally gave an inspirational talk to the children and guests to the School. She proved to be an enormous hit with the girls, answering their questions after she had looked around the new facility. Sally paid a special visit to the Junior Department where the girls had an opportunity to get a closer look at her gold medal and ask their own questions.
During the morning pupils from Malvern St James were joined by students from Dyson Perrins, Hanley Castle and The Chase and helped to run a Community Sports morning as part of their Sports Leader Award, helping 200 pupils from local schools aged 9 and 10 participate in a circuit of activities.
Tom Wilkinson, aged 10, St James’ Primary, West Malvern said “It was really good fun, we took part in activities including dance, basketball, climbing and pop lacrosse. We even did some training with the Worcester Warriors!”
Malvern St James has worked with Malvern Hills District Council and Mark Hammond MHDC Leisure Services Manager said: “We’re encouraging partnerships such as the local schools sports partnership and are committed to working with Malvern St James in the future. This is a great indoor sports facility for the area enabling everyone to get fit and healthy and an opportunity for local clubs to utilize the venue in the evenings.”
The new eco friendly building is equipped and marked-out for a multitude of different sports including: six badminton courts, three netball, two volleyball, two basketball, indoor hockey, five-a-side football, tennis and an indoor lacrosse arc. The indoor climbing wall is the first of its kind in Malvern with five ‘routes’ which offer varying degrees of difficulty to stretch even the most accomplished climber.
Sports Centre Manager Mike Bourne, a Duathelete who has represented Great Britain at the World Championships, leads a team of qualified fitness instructors. Mike said:
“This new centre is an exciting concept, the PT team has great experience and we can bring something fresh to Malvern that will really benefit the community".
Headmistress Rosalind Hayes said:
“In just 10 months we have created a state of the art, eco-friendly, modern sports centre. The excellent facilities and the variety of sports on offer are very much for the benefit of both the girls at Malvern St James and also the community in which the School is based".
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