HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-04-19, Page 8SportsPAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2007.
Cycling classes are what the North
Huron recreation department thinks
will boost the Wingham fitness
centre’s membership numbers come
this fall.
At last week’s committee of the
whole meeting in Blyth, director of
recreation Pat Newson proposed the
idea to council with very high hopes
for late 2007.
After a very successful two-week
trial between March 26 and April 5,
Newson said there was fantastic
feedback with over 85 people
attending trial classes and most of
them saying in surveys they would
participate in a class again.
“We ran the trial classes and had
really good results and our plan is to
run the classes and have a big launch
in the fall if we get them,” Newson
said in an interview after the
meeting.
“Our hopes are that we might
attract a new group of members,
people who aren’t members right
now, people who like to bike and are
looking for an alternative during the
winter months.”
Newson is proposing that the
municipality purchase or rent (that
has not been decided yet) 12
stationary bicycles for these classes,
with hopes of having them ready to
go with staff trained to instruct
classes in September.
Newson thinks these bikes will
attract new members and are crucial
to the centre’s success over the fall
and winter months.
“Our goal would be to have them
in September. Then we can try
toattract some members for whom
right now, we don’t offer programs
that serve them. The other great
thing is that these classes will
provide a group setting for people,”
she said.
“We’ve heard from a lot of people
who want to work out, but they’re
bored, they get on the cardiovascular
equipment and they find it boring or
tedious. This is a cardiovascular
workout done in a group with an
instructor to motivate you.”
Newson said that in addition to
bringing out people who might want
something to do indoors during the
colder months, these classes will be
ideal for people who need more
motivation or people who have
special needs.
Because the bikes work on your
setting, one person does not need to
keep up with the other and everyone
can exercise at their own pace.
Newson also has hopes that this
move will bring more men into the
centre for group activities,
something they might not have been
interested in before.
“I think it will bring people who
need more motivation, people who
don’t want to come in for an
individual workout. These are people
who know they need a group setting,
but they don’t want to work in a
dance class, which is what most
people think of when they think
about going into an aerobics studio,”
she said.
“So this might get more men out
who wouldn’t necessarily get on a
treadmill themselves but want a
person to motivate them and would
enjoy working out side-by-side with
someone who’s also doing the same
thing as them.”
Newson also thinks people with
heart problems can benefit from this
program. The cycling would help
them to exercise and strengthen their
body, without pushing it too hard
with the control being in their hands.
“This may lead to more heart-
healthy programs and things like
that. These programs would be
targeted towards people who have
specific needs that we will be able to
meet.”
While the trial period had five
bikes working on 20-minute
classes, Newson says when the new
bikes are in place, that classes will
run 45 minutes in length, five days a
week.
Council asked Newson to look into
the lifespan of the bikes, which
would factor into whether council
should purchase or rent the bikes.
They also questioned what the staff
requirements would be and
requested a proposed schedule of
classes.
“We have a budget meeting April
23, which is another chance for us to
go through all of the requests we
have on the table and I think council
is also waiting to see the entire
budget picture, as well as answering
those questions they had for me,” she
said.
The Saugeen Maitland PeeWee A
girls hockey team ended their season
this weekend by winning bronze at
the OWHA provincial
championships. The bronze goes
along with their league
championship.
Saugeen beat Sudbury 3-0 in the
bronze medal game on Sunday
afternoon.
The team is made up of local
girls from Oliphant (Lori
Mackenzie), Wiarton (Jayleen
Kirkland), Owen Sound (Dollee
Meigs), Meaford (Mackenna
Shlakat), Shallow Lake (Shelby
Arsenault), Tiverton (Sarah Gossell
and Carly Smith), Kincardine
(Kortney Watson and Hannah
Davidson), Ripley (Laura Irwin and
Abbey Gibson), Blyth (Caroline
McDowell and Shelsie Popp),
Fordwich (Taylor Gilkinson) and
Alma (Marcie Landman).
Sharing the moment
There were two recipients of the Brussels Minor Hockey Tom Schauber Award this year.
Making the presentation to Jordyn Sholdice and Curtis Bloemberg at the awards night April 10
was minor hockey president Mike Vader. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Well done
Brussels Minor Hockey president Mike Vader presented
the Don Higgins Memorial Award to goalie of the year
recipient Nathan Watson at the annual awards night April
10. (Vicky Bremner photo)
NH considers cycling classes
PO Box 237, 603 Campbell St.,
Lucknow, Ontario N0G 2H0
Phone: 519-528-2388 Toll Free: 1-877-582-5669
Email: lhcrstaff@hurontel.on.ca
Website: www.lakehuroncottagerentals.com
Owners: Carl & Belinda Sloetjes
TICO#50000 6589
Saugeen wins bronze
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen