view, is similar to a 3G pitch in feel. But the relationship with the rugby club is a symbiotic rather than a parasitic one, Chris stresses. “The club like us because we bring more people on to the site and help them increase bar revenue, so there are gains for both sides.” Private clubs such as East Grinstead stand every chance of surviving and thriving, once they find a permanent base, if only because members are more likely to have the means to fund the day to day running costs, membership fees and, perhaps, even ground maintenance. Interest in lacrosse is being developed strongly, thanks to the ELA and their equivalents in Wales and Scotland developing coaching programmes. The ELA for example, employs mostly American coaches to train the sport at junior level, not surprising perhaps given the USA’s dominance of the
game. What does raise the eyebrows though is the
renewed level of interest from girls in the non-contact variation of lacrosse, although women also enjoy the physical side of the sport too, Ashley Tarran-Jones remarks.
The junior leagues have witnessed a wave of new teams entering the fray, especially in the south. “These variations on the full game allow younger players, or those with less experience, to be introduced slowly to the full contact version,” explains Ashley.
At the other end of the scale, senior
lacrosse has seen an explosion of interest in the US. “The Grand Master and Super Grand Master leagues have proved popular”, says Ashley, “and that interest is spilling over into the UK.” The sport’s northern stronghold has
released its grip of late as the south beefs up its presence, raising skill levels, establishing clubs and staging new tournaments. For evidence of this change
in fortunes, look no further than the annual lacrosse showpiece held at Bath Recreation Ground in early September.
On the world stage, the 2010 championships could
present a golden opportunity for the sport to stamp itself on the sporting agenda but, stresses Ashley, “there are no great claims of legacy to be made, especially at a time when legacy of world sports events is being scrutinised.” Proof of that is plain to see only a stone’s throw
from the ELA’s offices in east Manchester, where underused hockey pitches, laid for the Commonwealth Games held in the city in 2002, present a forlorn reminder of the need to maintain continuity of function afterwards. However, “the 2010 games will mark the next stage of lacrosse development in the UK”, he states. Clearly the ELA is keen to use 2010 as a vehicle for
recruiting lacrosse enthusiasts to the sport. The championships are being hosted by Manchester University, who are already supplying the country with a number of emerging talents, such as Elaine Radcliffe, who hopes to reach national level soon. The University plans to lay artificial pitches for the championships, a decision that serves to highlight the dilemma the game presently confronts. A firm, well- maintained surface is crucial to allow the pace and artistry of the game to come through, particularly the twists and turns of both attacking and defensive play. The USA, the world champions and currently the sport’s biggest participators, have decided that “turf ” - their term for synthetic grass - is the surface of choice. Pristine pitches, therefore, almost come as standard - players expect them. In the UK, however, surfaces are largely ‘marginalised’ - lacrosse is played on the cricket outfields or practised on artificial surfaces that are designed for a number of sports, such as hockey or, as the Manchester University pitches will demonstrate, for multi use and, therefore, not always appropriate for the high impact, physical nature of lacrosse. “There is no weight of opinion favouring either type of surface currently,” Ashley Tarran-Jones says but adds: “Given the increasingly wet winters and long recovery time of the pitches, opinion is moving towards artificial.” “The weather is beginning to put pressure on governing bodies to modify playing seasons in a number of sports,” he continues. “Some suggest that lacrosse should become a summer sport because it can be played in better weather and on firmer ground. The shifting demands of lacrosse are now coming up against those of cricket”. Also there is the issue of grass seeding, as Chris
ROADS?
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132