Health can be helped by participation in Sport – new ‘Sport & Health’ section

Exercise, sporting participation and regular activity have long been recognised as factors in keeping healthy. Marlborough offers a great deal of sporting and exercising opportunities, even from walking over the Downs that surround the town, to a game of Bowls on the green of the Marlborough Bowls Club getting out, being active and probably socialising with many in the process can help.

There is now a ‘Sport & Health‘ section where, with a brief introduction, there are direct links to as many of the Sporting Clubs and organisations in Marlborough of which we are aware – there may be others as well, never a definitive list – but it gives anyone the opportunity to see what is there and how to find out more.

Marlborough is a ‘Sports Town’. A thriving Sports Forum there to encourage participation, particularly from a young age, but also somewhere that all Sporting Bodies in the town can communicate with each other. To improve what there is for us.

Parkrun is a perfect example of accessible, regular and inexpensive sport on offer in Marlborough. ‘Inexpensive’? It costs nothing. Other than the cleaning stuff to get any mud off the running gear or trainers. Every Saturday, at 9am, it’s the Marlborough Common parkrun. All anyone has to do is register (click here) and then turn up. It is supported by many health professionals, both for themselves but also for those they serve in the community.

An example of this is the NHS Team Event to be taking place on the Marlborough Common parkrun on Saturday 20 June. Dr Anna Woodman, of the Great Bedwyn Old School Surgery, a regular ‘parkrunner’ tells us that “From walking, cheering, jogging, supporting, running or marshalling we will all be moving together for better health”, adding that “Led by The Old School Surgery, Great Bedwyn, who are proud to be a parkrun practice, everyone is welcome to join a community that supports everyone’s efforts.”

Details of the course can be found by clicking here, and for new parkrunners, click here to register. “Will you be joining us?” she asks…….

Another example, quite different but demonstrating the inclusivity and range of participatory sport on offer in Marlborough is that of the Marlborough Youth Football Club. As it’s name implies, it was created to enable football (beyond school football) for any youngsters. It has developed. Now there are over five hundred members, over two hundred of whom are girls and an increasing number are over the age of 50…. These are the ‘Walking Footballers’. And also they offer disability football, for 10-16 year olds with disabilities. Their ethos is inclusion, development, enjoyment rather than winning at any (or all) costs.

Sport – in Marlborough or even anywhere – isn’t about outright competitivity. It’s about participation, involvement and enjoyment, all of which goes towards making us, or keeping us healthy. In mind, body and soul…..