sport £8m Dorchester centre complete


The Leadbitter Group has completed work on the new £8m Dorchester Sports Centre, which will replace existing facilities at the town’s Tomas Hardye School. Designed by Dyer, the new


facility is the result of a part- nership between the school, Dorset County Council and West Dorset District Council. It will be operated by 1610. A 60-station fitness suite


and a 25m, six-lane swimming pool are among the facilities at the new Dorchester Sports Centre, as well as a learner pool, a dance studio and changing areas. Te pool hall, which also contains a specta-


Te new £8m Dorchester Sports Centre includes a 25m swimming pool


tor gallery, maximises views of the surrounding countryside, while the building itself is in keep- ing with the nearby Poundbury Estate. Dorset County Council’s Toni Coombs said: “With so much focus for sports this summer,


it couldn’t have come at a better time and will benefit young people for years to come.” West Dorset District Council chair Gillian


Summers added: “Te centre will provide first- class facilities and we are very much looking forward to when the facility is open.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=D3c5c


Te venue was host of the Olympic rowing events Aston Uni starts work on new facilities


A second stage of development work has now commenced at Aston University’s Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre as part of a bid to further boost its sporting provision. Speller Metcalfe has secured


a £3.2m contract to complete a final phase of structural works at the Grade II-listed building, as well as to build a new facil- ity linked to the centre. Te facility is to contain a


four-court sports hall, squash courts and additional chang- ing space. It was designed by Robothams Architects, which also worked on phase one. Aston University director of sport Mike


New squash courts are to be created as part of the project’s second stage Te second phase of work is due for comple-


Kirkman said: “Te completion of the sports hall and squash courts will further enhance the sports facilities provision we have.”


tion early next year. Te first stage included a 110-station Life Fitness gym and an upgraded swimming pool area. Read more: http://lei.sr?a=d0A9P


SRA chair Andy Reed: ‘Don’t cut honours to sports people’


Sport and Recreation Alliance (SRA) chair Andy Reed has called for more sports people to be recognised by the honours system. Responding to the Public Administration


Select Committee’s report on the honours sys- tem, Reed said any changes shouldn’t be about


© CYBERTREK 2012


“levelling down” and taking potential honours away from people who deserve them. “Te number of honours awarded to peo-


ple involved in sport is trifling compared with other walks of life,” Reed said. Read more: http://lei.sr?a=h1P3s


Twitter: @leisureopps


Eton Dorney chosen to host World Rowing Cup


British Rowing has announced that Eton Dorney in Buckinghamshire – host of the 2012 Olympic rowing regatta – is to stage the 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup. FISA confirmed the decision at its annual


congress in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, with British Rowing also having the option to host a world cup event in 2015. Scheduled to take place on 21-23 June,


the 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup is expected to bring some of the world’s lead- ing rowers back to Eton Dorney for the second time in as many years. Read more: http://lei.sr?a=c9F3f


British Swimming appoints expert panel for ‘debrief’


Conor O’Shea and Tomas Lurz are among experts appointed by British Swimming to support and contribute to its London 2012 Performance Debrief. O’Shea is a former national director of


the English Institute of Sport and current director of rugby at Harlequins, with expe- rience of coaching and sport medicine. German-born Lurz is a two-time


Olympic marathon swimming medallist and is to contribute to analysis of Team GB’s open water swimming performance. Read more: http://lei.sr?a=v9D9B


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital 3


Islington leisure centre reopens in legacy mode


Sobell Leisure Centre in north London has reopened aſter serving as a practice venue for volleyball athletes for the 2012 Games. Team GB and 11 other national teams


used the sports hall during the Olympics, which has been given a £250,000 revamp. Lasting improvements for sports hall


users include a new sprung wooden floor, and international-standard lighting. Te sports hall has now been returned


to Islington Council and partner Aquaterra Leisure and is once again fully open. Read more: http://lei.sr?a=W1N3d


image: jabberwock


image (c) big picture


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