Athletics club members in Bridgend certainly have an extra spring in their step these days.
Not only are they thrilled to be enjoying the freedom to train again but they also have the added bonus of a freshly resurfaced track.
Like kids at Christmas, athletes have had to wait patiently and could only admire the new track through locked gates as they passed it on their daily walks during the early weeks of lockdown.
Now, with restrictions having eased and sessions back up and running, albeit with adjustments, Bridgend Athletics Club members can finally set foot on the 300m track which was resurfaced during the spring thanks to £50,000 ‘Place for Sport’ funding from Sport Wales, together with contributions from the club itself, Bridgend County Borough Council and Bridgend Town Council.
The Place for Sport funding was allocated by Welsh Government to Sport Wales last year so that grants could be awarded to improve, protect or create new sports facilities in Wales.
The money helped to fund more than 150 projects that benefited 28 different sports in every corner of the country. Projects ranged from new cycle tracks, to changing room renovations, new artificial pitches, floodlight installations, table tennis training robots and everything in between!
Alan Kerr - Chairman of Bridgend Athletics Club, said: “Due to the horrendous wet weather we endured last winter, we weren’t able to fully complete the track until just before the crisis struck. Everyone has been itching to use it, so it’s wonderful for our members to finally do so. There has been a huge amount of input from our volunteers to get us back in action, and we’re looking forward to making the most of what remains of the season.”
For now, track use is restricted to members only as the club adjusts to the new coronavirus guidance that has been published by Welsh Athletics to make environments as safe as possible. New hygiene and social distancing measures are in place, and Bridgend Athletics Club have even mown additional lanes into the grass inside the centre of the track to make it easier to keep athletes apart.
Praising the efforts of athletics clubs across Wales who have worked hard to ensure a return to the sport they love, James Williams, the Chief Executive of Welsh Athletics, said: “Our sport is built on passionate, dedicated volunteers. Throughout lockdown, I was incredibly impressed by the innovative and resourceful ways in which clubs managed to keep their members engaged and enthused. Since then, clubs have shown yet more dedication to follow all of the necessary safety guidance. Those efforts are certainly appreciated by everyone involved in athletics in Wales.”
Visit Welsh Athletics’ website to find out more about their coronavirus guidance.