Spring into action with leisure open days

FITNESS fans have been challenged to get in tip-top shape this spring with a series of free sessions at leisure venues across the High Peak.

The gauntlet was thrown down this week by the Borough Council, which has joined forces with DC Leisure to stage a string of open days chock full of highlights including calorie-busting Zumba workouts and a military-style boot camp.

The fun starts in New Mills Leisure Centre at 3pm on Friday (April 20) with a chair-based exercise session for the less active, followed at 6.30pm by aqua circuits in the swimming pool for people of all abilities.

It’s over to the sports hall at 6pm for a Fab Five challenge in which teams of five adults aged 16 plus compete for prizes in five activities including shoot the hoop, crossbar challenge and a bleep test. The day will reach a tasty conclusion with free drinks and nibbles from 6pm.

Next day, a Zumbathon in the sports hall from 9.30am to 10.30am will challenge all comers to shed up to 1,000 calories with Latin-inspired dance moves. The session is open to anyone aged 11 and over, and will be followed by free refreshments.

Last but not least, the multi-purpose room will host 30-minute taster sessions in studio cycling, kettle bells and abdominal exercises from 11am to 3pm.

On Monday (April 23), the focus shifts to Buxton Swimming and Fitness Centre, which is offering free gym inductions and workouts from 10am to 4pm.

Also on the menu are personal training sessions with gym instructors, a revolutionary 30-minute core training class that’s new to the UK, and aqua fit classes including circuits and aqua jogging.

Just for good measure, there will be beat-the-instructor gym classes, a free raffle boasting prizes from local traders, and free fruit samples to encourage healthy eating.

The Buxton bonanza continues on Tuesday (April 24) in The Octagon, at the Pavilion Gardens, with a one-hour Zumbathon starting at 7pm. Entry costs £5, of which £3.50 goes to charity. There will be free fruit and bottled water after the event.

It’s Glossop’s turn on Saturday, April 28, starting with military-style boot camps in Howard Park from 9am to 9.45am, 10am to 10.45am and 11am to 11.45am.

Attention then switches to the Leisure Centre for activities running from 9am to 3pm and comprising gym taster sessions from 9am to 1.30pm, a squash competition, a fun-to-move children’s workout, junior fitness conditioning, sports massage and indoor climbing plus workouts with kettle bells and medicine balls.

Meanwhile, the pool is the venue from 6pm to 8.30pm for a Swimathon for Marie Curie Cancer and the Big Splash Sport Relief Mile. To register, visit www.swimathon.org.

The fun continues on the Sunday (April 29) with free aqua exercise classes in the pool from 9am to 11am while the leisure centre will host no fewer than eight group exercise classes, including boxercise, spinning and pilates, from 10am to 4.45pm.

There will be aqua scooter sessions for eight to 11 year olds in the pool from 11am to 11.30am and from 11.30am to 12 noon while floats and fun are promised for parents and younger children from 1.30pm to 2.15pm.

An all-day gym challenge in the leisure centre will include 45-minute runs with Jog Derbyshire at 10am, 11am and 12 noon while a free crèche from 10am to 2pm will allow parents to try a free personal training session.

What’s more, there will be a human table football match in the sports hall plus free food and barbecue all day in the leisure centre.

Anthony McKeown, executive councillor for community services, said: “If the run-up to the Olympics is inspiring you, why not put that inspiration into action by trying one of our many free sessions available and seeing what a difference exercise can make to your life?”

For more information, call New Mills Leisure Centre on (01663) 748842, e-mail enquiries@newmillsleisurecentre.co.uk or visit www.newmillsleisurecentre.co.uk. Alternatively, call Buxton Swimming and Fitness Centre on (01298) 766142, e-mail enquiries@buxtonpool.co.uk or visit www.buxtonswimmingandfitnesscentre.co.uk.

To contact Glossop Leisure Centre, call (01457) 842272, e-mail enquiries@glossopleisurecentre.co.uk or visit www.glossopleisurecentre.co.uk. For more information on events in Glossop Swimming Pool, call (01457) 842262, e-mail enquiries@glossopswimmingpool.co.uk or visit www.glossopswimmingpool.co.uk.