South West England, The Perfect Pre-Games Training Venue

The South West region has begun its campaign to attract Olympic teams for Pre-Games Training Camps ahead of the London 2012 Games.

Sport England and the Regional Development Authority, under the banner of Team South West, have published a new brochure to promote the 60 world-class sports venues in the South West selected as possible venues.

As one of these Pre-Games Training Camp venues we are hoping that their campaign pays dividends and we can invite Olympic athletes to Somerset ahead of 2012.

The Princess Royal Sports Complex has been selected as a training venue for handball, wrestling, table tennis, archery, Tae Kwon Do and judo.

Anyone for ping pong?

We’ve recently taken delivery of four brand new Butterfly competition table tennis tables for a new Wellington School table tennis club.

This takes the number of tables we have available at the Sports Complex to six.

Now we’re keen to hear from anybody in the Wellington area, who might be keen to set-up a community club at the Sports Complex, or perhaps even use our facilities for competitions (we are after all a Pre-Games Training Camp for table tennis!).

Contact the Sports Complex Manager, JJ Rowland or call (01823) 668 718 for more information.

New treadmill arrives

Our on-going programme of investment in fitness equipment continues.

Pupils, staff and customers will be pleased to hear that we've now taken delivery of a Technogym Excite (pictured) tradmill to replace the Kip Machine, which developed a serious fault a few weeks ago.

Wellington hosts national fencing event

Last weekend (Sunday 19 April) it was the turn of Wellington Swords Fencing Club to run a qualifying competition as part of the Leon Paul Junior Series (LPJS) at the Princess Royal Sports Complex.

It was well attended with fencers travelling from as far as Lancashire, Kent and Cornwall.

This series encourages youngsters from ages nine to seventeen to develop in the sport through a friendly yet challenging introduction to national competition.

Many of the GB fencers in Wellington Swords started in LPJS before attaining international honours.

60 aspiring champions started. They fenced two rounds of pools to gain position in the 'sudden death' Direct Elimination or DE phase. In this fencers fight, first to score 15 hits, and there is no second chance!

Wellington Swords member Bryony Wedge-Thomas, who attends Castle School won the U17 Girls final 15/9 against Tara Crank from Tiger Swords, Kent.

This was a special day for Bryony who is just returning to fencing after a long break due to an ankle injury.

Alicia Parr, a Richard Huish pupil and fellow Wellington Sword, finished 3rd in this her first Leon Paul'.

In the a strong U13 Girls class, Jessica Gundry from Wellington School fenced very well to win the silver medal losing 10/9 in a closely fought, thrilling final against Francesca Summers of Redhill & Reigate, Kent.

Photo: Left to right; Alicia Parr, Bryony Wedge-Thomas, Jessica Gundry.

Whirlwinds website goes live

Wellington Whirlwinds Trampolining Club have launched their own website.

The new site can be found at www.wellingtonwhirlwinds.co.uk.

Although the website is still in its infancy this is a great development for the PRSC-based club and their many members.

The Whirlwinds were one of the first clubs to start using the PRSC facilities after we opened in the Autumn of 2002.

They started out with just one trampoline and 12 children and have now grown into one of the most successful clubs in the region, with seven trampolines, a double mini tramp and over 80 members.

The Whirlwinds train three times a week at the PRSC, Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

The club offers trampolining for both children and adults. Visit their website to find out more and contact club officials.