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Community Sports Hubs

East Lothian Community Sport Hub Games

A fabulous weekend of sport to Celebrate the sporting community of East Lothian has real impact

13 Sports, All Ages, All Abilities, One Community.

Inspiring and bringing together our local Communities through the spirit of the Games.

A celebration of sport and activity saw over 1600 participants and more than 1000 supporters enjoy the first ever Community Sport Hub Games over the weekend. The Games kicked off with the East Lothian Athletics Open on Saturday 14th and came to a close late on Sunday 22nd June with a hotly contested mixed 7 aside hockey tournament at Meadowmill Sports Centre. 13 sports  were includedin the event with 60 community clubs involved -  catering for ages from 5 years to adult, able bodied and disability athletes, male and female from around the  county all competing and participating together.

Organised by the 6 Community Sport Hubs the Games were a series of competitions and fun events designed to capture the imagination of people across East Lothian and it certainly did that! It celebrated and thanked all the participants and volunteers who run our sports clubs all year round with such enthusiasm whilst also giving the opportunity for retired coaches and parents to get involved in some games. The weather thanked them all too providing spectacular conditions all weekend long. 

Eamon John Sport Countryside and Leisure Manager said of the event:

“What a very successful and substantial event. It was really pleasing to see both a junior and adult competition across the county taking place in multiple sports and I am delighted see the Community sports hubs working together and delivering such an enjoyable event.”

One of the most exciting things about the games was the diversity of the events.. The swimming gala held at the Aubigny centre in Haddington combined East Lothian’s competitive swimming and non-competitive swimming clubs in an event for the first time along with the integration of East Lothian’s Disability swim club whose participants competed alongside able bodied clubs. For many this was their first competitive experience and having it in such a fun atmosphere has left many asking for similar events in the future. 

The CSH games, as with Glasgow 2014 are about bringing our community together in celebration of our similarities and differences through sport and community. Thanks to ‘Celebrate it Scotland’ (the funders) the games offered up opportunities that demonstrated the true meaning of celebration and the unique strengths that sport has to offer.

Ed Hendrikson of East Lothian Council’s Sports Development Teams Principal Officer commented:

“I walked into the sports hall to be faced with a badminton game involving one of our PAiS athletes playing with an athlete in a wheelchair against a double amputee and one of our senior club members. That is what sport and community is all about.”

This coming together made the Badminton event one of the highlights of the weekend but it was impossible to single one sport out. It reflected a number of the other sports that brought people together and sparked a passion that very easily gets hidden. A room full of Haddington Table Tennis Club players of all ages and abilities playing together in one tournament is something to behold, Sportif and Destination Judo competitions with throws from 60 kids simultaneously warming up made the spine shiver and the under 12 Racketball tournament would have brought a smile to anybody’s face.

Mark Lucas a coach at Gullane Hockey who joined in the Senior mixed hockey tournament said:

“This 3 times retired hockey player really enjoyed himself. You might even have kick started another fitness burst!  I can’t believe I could get so out of shape that I couldn’t play an hour’s hockey without lying down between games. Hopefully a slightly fitter mark for next year. Great fun”

The Games concentrated on participation, fun and healthy competition helping bring the Commonwealth Games and their Legacy right into the heart of East Lothian. The Legacy aims to increase participation in sport to create strong, sustainable clubs through our Community Sport Hubs providing more opportunities at the heart of our community for East Lothian residents to be involved in as many sports as possible.

Lisa John also involved in the Hockey tournament demonstrates the direct impact the Games can have for our community: 

“Following the adults afternoon session I reckon the passion and spirit has been ignited in a number of players and as such I'm looking to try and organise mixed summer hockey.”

There were many more stories such as this including the Basketball club picking up 7 new members, Cricket signing up a number of new players and two new coaches and the football tournament in the morning catering for 290 kids followed by an adult 7 aside competition... wow.

A truly spectacular weekend of sport and activity and as Active East Lothian tweeted on Sunday night makes you very proud to be involved in East Lothian sport.

Thanks must go to Celebrate it Scotland for their funding to make the event happen, sportscotland for their continued support of the Community Sport Hubs, Enjoy Leisure as the major sponsor of the CSH Games, East Lothian Council’s Sports Development department for their support and most importantly to all the community clubs through their Community Sport Hubs who played the major role in organising their respective sports with enthusiasm and passion. Without these local clubs and their volunteers sport in our community would not happen.

Also a big thank you to community radio station East Coast FM for their huge effort during the day creating a great atmosphere and really adding to the event. They once again embodied the spirit of community arriving on force and providing a wonderful service throughout the day.

To find local sporting opportunities near you, information on your local sports clubs and up to date news and events on our Community Hubs network go to http://www.activeeastlothian.co.uk.

 

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