Olympics and Paralympics / News
Where to try Olympic sports in Bristol
With the Olympics taking place in Brazil this month, there’s a chance that you will get inspired to get up from watching the action on the sofa and dust off your trainers.
Here is where you can emulate the world’s greatest athletes in the Bristol area:
Archery
Bristol has a number of archery clubs who run beginners courses. Cleve Archers based in Hambrook is the club of Team GB archer Larry Godfrey, who finished fourth at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
is needed now More than ever
Useful websites: www.clevearchers.co.uk, www.bristolanddisabledarchers.org.uk, www.bittonarchers.co.uk, www.gordano-valley-archers.co.uk, www.tockingtonarchers.co.uk
Athletics
The Bristol and West Athletics club provides members with access to many training facilities, such as Whitehall Athletics and Stroud College facilities at WISE Campus in Stoke Gifford. They also offer training for all age groups and abilities.
www.bristolandwestac.org, www.britishathletics.org.uk
Badminton
Bristol has a large number of badminton clubs, and the Avon Badminton Association provides a list of local clubs that are all associated with the Avon Badminton League.
www.avonba.co.uk/index.php/local-clubs, www.badmintonengland.co.uk
Basketball
Bristol Flyers compete in Britain’s top basketball league. Other local basketball clubs include Bristol Storm and Braves Basketball. These clubs have teams available for children and adults alike.
www.bristolflyers.co.uk, www.bristolstorm.com, www.bravesbasketball.co.uk, www.gbbasketball.com
Beach volleyball
Get yourself down to Weston-super-Mare and pretend that you’re at Copacabana.
www.volleyballengland.org/beach
Boxing
Bristol has a number of boxing clubs across the city that offer a range of classes, each catered to different skills.
www.westcountryboxing.com, www.bartonhillabc.co.uk, www.sbfitness.uk.com, www.gbboxing.org.uk
Canoe / kayak
Bristol’s various canoeing and kayaking clubs provide a range of different options, from taster sessions at All Aboard Water-Sports to club memberships at Bristol Canoe Club.
www.bristolcanoeclub.org.uk, www.sacc.co.uk, www.allaboardwatersports.co.uk, www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
Cycling
As the UK’s first Cycling City, those who prefer being on two wheels than two legs are spoiled for choice. For the track heads, Newport Velodrome is also conveniently close.
www.bristolmountainbikeclub.co.uk, www.cyclebristolctc.org.uk, www.bristolsouthcc.co.uk, www.britishcycling.org.uk
Diving
Swimming pools with diving boards include University of Bristol’s pool in Clifton, Horfield Leisure Centre, Kingswood Leisure Centre and Thornbury Leisure Centre.
Equestrian
Gordano Valley Riding Centre and Severn Vale Riding Club offers private and group riding lessons.
www.severnvalerc.org.uk, www.gordanovalleyridingcentre.co.uk, www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk
Fencing
Fencing clubs in Bristol include Bristol Fencing Club, Bristol White Eagle, Salle Hunt-Roeder Fencing Club and Raven Fencing Club.
www.bristolfencingclub.co.uk, www.bristol-white-eagle.org, www.sallehunt-roeder.btik.com, www.ravenfencingclub.wordpress.com
Football
Whether you’re red or blue, there’s a club for you.
Golf
Bristol’s top golfer Chris Wood obtained a single-figure handicap by age 12 at Long Ashton Golf Club. Other local clubs include Bristol Golf Club near Almondsbury, The Kendleshire at Coalpit Heath and Bristol & Clifton in Failand.
www.longashtongolfclub.co.uk, www.bristolgolfclub.co.uk, www.kendleshire.com, www.bristolandcliftongolfclub.co.uk
Gymnastics
Fly through the air like Claudia Fragapane, who trains at Hawks gym in Easton. Other clubs include City of Bristol Gymnastics, Kingswood Gymnastics, Majestic Gymnastics and Harriers.
www.bristolhawksgymnastics.org, www.bristolgymnastics.co.uk, www.kingswoodgymnastics.co.uk, www.harriersacrobaticgymnastics.com
Handball
Bristol Handball Club trains every Thursday at City Academy.
Hockey
Georgie Twigg was still a Bristol Uni student when she represented Team GB in 2012. She played for Clifton Ladies, with other local clubs including Westbury & United Banks and Old Bristolians.
www.cliftonhockey.co.uk, www.westburyhockey.com, www.obhc.org.uk, www.hockeynation.info
Judo
Budding judokas in Bristol can train in Bedminster, Knowle, Hanham, Long Ashton, Sea Mills and Patchway at various clubs.
www.bristolcountyjudo.webs.com
Modern pentathlon
Bath University is home to Team GB’s national training centre and is sending student Joe Choong to compete in the 2016 Rio games.
www.teambath.com/sport/modern-pentathlon/
Rowing
City of Bristol Rowing Club who row from Spike Island originated from the dockers’ rowing clubs. Other local clubs include Bristol Ariel in St Anne’s and Avon County based in Saltford.
www.bristolrowing.co.uk, www.bristolarielrowingclub.co.uk, www.avoncountyrowingclub.org.uk
Rugby 7s
Visit the RFU website to find your nearest club. And if you want to introduce your children to the game, sign them up to Rugby Tots which hosts sessions across the city for those aged two to seven.
www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby, www.rugbytots.co.uk
Sailing
Make the most of having the Floating Harbour in the heart of the city at All-Aboard Water Sports and Baltic Wharf Sailing Club.
www.allaboardwatersports.co.uk, www.balticwharfsailing.com
Shooting
North Bristol Rifle Club, East Bristol Rifle & Pistol Club and Bristol Muzzle & Breech Loading Gun Club are among the local clubs. There is also Bristol Clay Shooting based just outside Wotton Under Edge.
www.northbristolrifleclub.co.uk, www.eastbristolrifleandpistolclub.org.uk, www.bristolmuzzleloaders.co.uk
Swimming
For those learning or training, visit the council website for a list of swimming facilities or the Amateur Swimming Association to find local clubs.
www.bristol.gov, www.swimming.org/asa
Synchronised swimming
Bristol Central Swimming Club based at Hengrove Park Leisure Centre is one of the best synchro clubs in the UK and the largest club in the South West.
www.synchro.bristolcentralsc.co.uk
Table Tennis
Wander the streets of Bristol with a bat and ball and challenge someone to the game on one of the Ping! street tables. Alternatively, join a club in the Bristol Table Tennis League or play with your workmates at Battle of the Paddle.
www.pingengland.co.uk, www.tabletennis365.com/Bristol, www.battleofthepaddlebristol.com
Taekwondo
Bristol South Taekwondo are based in Southville and also run clubs in Hengrove and Bradley Stoke. Other clubs such as LeVan Taekwondo and Bristol Tae Kwon-Do Academy run lessons and courses for different ages
www.bristoltkdacademy.com, www.tkdbristol.com, www.levantaekwondo.com
Tennis
Turn up and play for free on public courts or look for a local club on the LTA website.
Triathlon
Swim, bike and run your way to clubs such as North Bristol Triathlon is designed for people of all fitness levels. Other clubs include Kingswood Triathlon club and BAD Tri.
www.northbristoltri.co.uk, www.kingswoodtriclub.co.uk, www.badtri.org
Volleyball
Clubs in Bristol cater for men’s, women’s and mixed teams. They include Bristol Volleyball Club who train at Abbeywood School in Stoke Gifford, City of Bristol who train at the City Academy and Hornets Volleyball Club who train at Henbury Leisure Centre.
www.bristolvolleyballclub.co.uk, www.cbvc.org.uk, www.horfieldhornets.co.uk
Water polo
The Bristol Central Water Polo Club is based at Hengrove Leisure Centre, while Bristol Harlequins train and play at Bristol South Swimming Pool.
www.waterpolo.bristolcentralsc.co.uk, www.harlequins-waterpolo.co.uk
Weightlifting
Bristol’s own Sonny Webster is one of only two members of Team GB’s weightlifting team. Lift your own bodyweight and more at Bristol Weightlifting Club in St Paul’s.
www.bristolweightlifting.co.uk
Wrestling
Go back to basics in one of the oldest Olympic sports at Esmaeli Wrestling in Staple Hill.
Read more: 19 Bristol athletes to watch at Rio 2016