NG3 March/April 2021

Lockdown for Nottingham:
How are local sports clubs coping? Hannah Richardson investigates.
We are now in lockdown no.3,
and local sport clubs have had
to shut their doors again. We
have spoken to some local
clubs to find out how they are
managing.
Under the Tier 4 restrictions,
under 18s were able to do
outdoor sport and physical
activity and Nottingham
Outlaws, one of the UK’s oldest
BMX clubs, was able to carry on
holding training sessions. Annie
Chiziwa, Club Chairman, said;
“Luckily, children were exempt
from many of the restrictions
on exercise, so we were able to
run regular coaching and gate
training sessions.”
With all competitions cancelled,
Annie and the other volunteers
decided to put on their own
race series to raise club morale;
“After completing many
specific Covid risk assessments,
we were able to put on our
first club race since the first
lockdown. This was a real boost
to the club and riders. After
all, we train to race, and with
the national and regional races
cancelled for the whole of
2020, this was the opportunity
everyone had been working
towards.”
Unfortunately, Nottingham
Outlaws BMX Club is now
closed due to the current
national lockdown.
The committee at Notts
and Arnold Cricket Club are
continuing to meet via Zoom
to plan for the new season,
including the work required to
get their overseas player, Dilhan
Cooray, over from Sri Lanka. If
the guidelines allow, they will
be ready to start playing and
training outdoors in April.
Groundwork at the club and
preparation of cricket squares
is progressing within safety
guidelines.
Sherwood Cycling Club have
not been able to train as a full
group throughout Tier 4 and
can’t at all now we are in the
third lockdown. However, that
doesn’t mean the club aren’t
continuing to support members
throughout each lockdown.
Trevor Adams, Secretary of
Sherwood CC, said; “During
lockdown, we kept in touch
with members via our monthly
club newsletter, which is
e-mailed to members.
“We also have a club Strava
group, where members can
log their rides and they can
be seen by other members.
We have had a few Zoom
calls to discuss various issues
affecting members. This
proved challenging for some
of our older members, but
they have got used to the new
technology now, with a little
help and support from the rest
of us.”
Some, like Arnold Swimming
Club, where there isn’t really an
alternative option for training,
are engaging their members in
other ways. Club member Kelly
Bodycott said; “We are keeping
in touch ensuring everything
we know is communicated
to all. We’ve had a virtual quiz
night and are setting up a
virtual escape room. As none
of us are qualified to do Zoom
fitness classes, and swimming
isn’t like other sports where you
can continue in some form,
engaging with our members is
top of the agenda.”
Kelly is appealing to local
people to play the Gedling
Lotto and help support the club
during these challenging times.
Visit www.gedlinglotto.co.uk
for more information on how
you can help.
The Shudokan Black Belt
Academy, based on Haydn
Road in Sherwood have moved
online and are running Zoom
classes for all their groups daily.
Students can also book one to
one online sessions.
Founder of the Academy, Ken
Robson explained that the
club have developed an online
membership package that
includes motivational talks, one
to one sessions and even recipe
sharing. They are still recruiting
new members, which is great.
At the time of going to
press, it’s not clear when this
lockdown will end but as soon
as it does, sports clubs across
Nottingham will be raring to go.
Shudokan Black Belt
Academy – 0115 985 6504
Arnold Swimming Club –
www.arnoldswimmingclub.
org.uk
Nottingham Outlaws
BMX Club – www.
nottinghamoutlaws.com
Sherwood Cycling Club –
www.sherwoodcc.org.uk
Notts & Arnold Cricket
Club – 07834 488663