Nearly two hundred of Marlborough’s youngsters registered and turned up at the Salisbury Road Recreation Ground earlier today to try their hand at all of the dozen or so sports on offer. Starting at 9:30am, the weather didn’t look good, umbrellas were up, but that didn’t deter the large number who fancied trying what they might end up being very good at.
Even Olympic Champions have to start somewhere, they have to discover what they want to do and feel that they can be good at, and whilst it’s not saying that all of those at the Rec earlier will go on to be the very best in their chosen sport, maybe one will, or at least many will become dedicated, involved and very competitive in one of the sports being offered at the Marlborough Sports Festival.
Popular – very. Even more were present than at the first Sports Festival in September ’21. All free and with lunch (and goodie bags) provided, everything was donated by Tesco, Waitrose and Marlborough College, but prepared and packed by Lisa Farrell and her team of dedicated volunteers.
Sports on offer? Very many, all the major ones such as Football, Rugby, Cricket, Tennis and Golf, but also the likes of Dodgeball, Athletics, Skatepark, Boxing, Table Tennis and more, with the extremely popular return of the Climbing Wall.
After the early shower the rain disappeared, umbrellas went down and all activities started, with groups rotating all so that everyone there could get a proper opportunity to sample each of the many sports there.
Thanks also to Dominique Oughton of WASP (Wiltshire & Swindon Sports Partnership) and Simon Wells and his team from the Marlborough Sports Forum for making the day possible, and such a great success. And, of course, to Wiltshire Council and Marlborough Town Council for providing funding for the day.