On 5 November while people we’re lighting bonfires and setting off their fireworks, the South Leeds Lakers Junior Athletics Club were having a celebration of their own.
The junior club, which is open to 8-14 year olds, are now in their fourth year and have made a winter move to the South Leeds Stadium at John Charles Centre for Sport on Friday nights 6pm until 7pm to use the unique facilities on offer.
The children are improving their skills in long jump, triple jump, javelin, shot put and running, as well as other disciplines and are now able to use the sand pit, throwing circle and the brilliant running track to hone their already impressive skills. The brilliant aspect of all this is that is the clubs founding ethos of making it entirely free!
Some of this is made possible by the adult section of the South Leeds Lakers giving up their free time to volunteer to be marshalls for certain events, whether it being their own annual Bah Humbug 10k race or helping with other local groups to put on races this provides funding to help pay for the facilities.
Ben Turton 8 who has been with the Lakers for over a year says:
“I feel lucky to use a proper running track but I particularly love the long jump I’m learning different skills I haven’t had the opportunity to try before.”
Joel, Jonah & Esther Scopes also love using the sandpit to do their long jump, before the move to the stadium they used a school playing field to do the jumps but now love using more professional facilities
Junior coach, Martin Lee, one of the people responsible for the move to the stadium said:
“To get use of the facilities at John Charles is a great coup for the South Leeds Lakers and will really push the kids on. If any children want to come and join in please find our South Leeds Lakers Juniors page on Facebook and send us a message for how to book on”
This post was written by Richard Harrison
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