Beating the winter blues

Dec 17 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE BIG CHILL may have put many outdoor sporting pursuits on ice but indoor facilities are reporting a huge surge in demand from the Perth and Kinross public, writes Gordon Bannerman.

When the McDiarmid Park astroturf surface was frozen out St Johnstone boss Derek McInnes dispatched locally based members of his squad to Bell’s Sports Centre.

The Big County has been shivering along with the rest of Scotland over the past fortnight as the mercury plunged to nearly minus 20.

It’s been good news for skiers making for the slopes at Glenshee.

But determined staff at Live Active Leisure, the charitable organisation which handles 14 facilities spread across Perth and Kinross, have also been busy.

While so many sports events have fallen victim to the icy grip of winter, Live Active Leisure has gone the extra mile to offer locals indoor alternatives to pursue a range of sports and fitness routines.

In Perth, local mum Rona McCall and her four kids, ranging in age from two to 10, had enough of sledging and made for Bell’s Sports Centre.

They wrapped up warm to make the journey to the North Inch complex and soon warmed up by enjoying a range of activities throughout the day, including badminton and soft play.

Rona said: “We had a fantastic day at Bell’s. The staff were all very helpful and it gave the kids space to run around. In fact, they liked it so much they’ve been back several times.”

Jim Moyes, chief executive of Live Active Leisure explained: “Our leisure venues are a great place for people to visit when the weather is cold outside or the schools are closed.

“We have a range of ways for the whole family to stay active indoors, including swimming, badminton, table tennis and various classes.

“Live Active Leisure staff have been working very hard over the last two weeks to keep our venues open across Perth and Kinross and have to be congratulated for their efforts in beating the snow and ensuring that people in Perth and Kinross still have the opportunity to Live Active.”

Mr Moyes revealed that despite the grim weather, more than 2000 people managed to visit Live Active Leisure venues in just seven days.

He said: “The numbers were boosted by St Johnstone players, who swapped their normal training ground for the warmer option of Bell’s Sports Centre.”

Live Active Leisure, formerly known as Perth and Kinross Leisure, are keen to encourage more people to visit their local venues over the winter.

They are even offering a number of free sessions in the countdown to 2011. Details can be seen on the Live Active website and form part of the year-long Perth 800 celebrations, which has seen 800 free activity sessions set-up within the community.

For more information visit www.liveactive.co.ukor contact Bell’s Sports Centre on 01738 492460.