LIPHOOK’S second Village Sports Day has been described as an even bigger success than last year’s inaugural event – by both organisers and clubs.
It attracted more than 300 participants with Invictus Games cycling gold medallist Andy Kelsey performing the opening ceremony.
Hampshire County Council representative Floss Mitchell said she felt privileged to share the ceremonial duties with Andy.
“As Andy will no doubt confirm,” she said, “sport has a great capacity to heal – physically and mentally – and to bring communities together. This event is exactly the sort we need at a time of uncertainty, and after so much divisiveness.
“Sport teaches our children how to work together, how to lose gracefully and how to win graciously, and teaches parents how to encourage the disappointed, how to keep the jubilant humble, and how to get grass stains out of cricket whites.”
“We have received positive feedback from all the sports organisations, many of whom commented that they considered it was even better organised than the previous year.
“Both pickleball and tchoukball were particularly interesting additions to the list of sports available to try out and we may well have raised enough interest to start up a pickleball club in the village.
“The triathlon event was held at Highfield School on Sunday with over 40 children and adults taking part and many children coming from schools in outlying areas.
“We were really pleased to have Invictus gold medallist Andy Kelsey coming to support this event.
“Taking inspiration from both Andy and Olivia Breen from last year’s event, we would particularly like to see ways in which we can offer more sports, not only to all ages but also to all abilities within our community in the future.”
This year, winners as well as the overall winner for sampling the most sports on offer will be presented with prizes at a separate ceremony later in the month.
Bohunt School, which made available its new sports hall, hosted the largest variety of sports, from basketball, cricket and gymnastics to netball, pickleball, rugby, table tennis and tchoukball.
The recreation ground was open to football, bowls and tennis, while Liphook Golf Club offered coaching lessons and Highfield School hosted the triathlon events.
Throughout Saturday, and despite damp weather conditions, a steady stream of children and parents turned up to try out the dozen sports facilities on offer.
Both Bohunt Gymnastics Club and Liphook Table Tennis Club proved to be popular with participants queuing up for their turn.
As always, Liphook Tennis Club attracted many children and adults as did Liphook Bowls Club and Liphook Golf Club.
Participating for the first time were Liphook and Ripsley Cricket Club which has enjoyed a large following and boosted its young membership numbers this year.
Haslemere Rugby Club also celebrated the club’s biggest recruitment success of young players, stating that safety for players is their paramount consideration. The club is run by volunteers as well as parents and the new season starts in September.
Guildford Tchoukball Club was formed in 2009 in Liphook and holds regular training sessions at Bohunt School every Wednesday evening, while Runnymede Royals Pickleball Club demonstrated how to play this new ball sport, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis and can be played both indoors and outdoors on a court.
Also part of the Village Sports Day for the first time was the Tri-High Multisports Club at Highfield School, featuring a series of triathlon events including swimming, cycling and running, specifically aimed at children and adults who are new to triathlon - with a focus on enjoyment and personal challenge.
Village Sports Day was run by Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council and championed by Tony Rudgard, its sports and recreation representative.
The event was supported by East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council, Community Transport East Hampshire and Sainsbury’s supermarket, who supplied free water for all participants and organisers.