Fareham children get a taste of new sports

Almost 100 youngsters from different schools also tried their hand at hockey, netball, badminton, dance and cricket as part of the Fareham Community Taster Day.

Isla King, nine, said: I really enjoyed trying the golf. I had never played it before but I would love to try it again. It is good to have these taster sessions as we don’t get to do all these sports in school.’

Summer Featherstone, 11, added: ‘Playing petanque was fun. I never even knew this sport existed. It has also been good to meet new friends.’

The pilot event was a joint initiative between Fareham Hockey Club and Henry Cort Community College.

Hockey Club director, Steve Godwin, said: ‘As well as introducing the children to new sports it’s really important for their health to be active. Unless youngsters get to try the different sports which are out there they may never know if they like them or are good at them.’

Club chairman, Colin Bradbury, added: ‘There could be a future champion out there but if you don’t try a sport you will never know. It’s also vital for the future of clubs to attract youngsters as obviously current members will naturally be getting older.’

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Other local organisations involved included Fareham Petanque Club and Cams Hall Estate Golf Club.

Golf professional, Malcolm Cooper, said: ‘We’ve had brilliant response from the children who really enjoyed the taster session. Golf can be such a family sport as it can be played by people of all ages. It’s massively important to get children involved.

‘It’s important that people realise golf is not an exclusive sport. We run junior sessions at the club for just £6.50.’

The free all day event also won the approval of parents.

Cali Brown, 36, said: ‘The event is a brilliant idea. It’s really important to get children out and being active. A lot of them are into sports like football and so it’s really important for them to try other things. The fact it is free is even better.’

After the success of this year’s pilot, organisers now hope to run a second sports taster day during the summer half-term.

Thomas Webel Do Carmo, seven, said: ‘I enjoyed all the sports and I hope I get to do it again.’