Posted: 04/10/16
Sport clubs give students historical insight
Students got an insight into the history of local sports clubs last week at West Nottinghamshire College.
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Mansfield Tennis Club's Kevin Massey with Adam Mathers, Sam Cairns and Kimberley Radford
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Students tried closest to the pin and long drive golf challenges.jpeg
To mark Sporting Heritage Day (30 September), the college welcomed representatives from Mansfield Lawn Tennis Club and Coxmoor Golf Club to tell students about their rich history and how they’ve developed into the clubs they are today.
Both clubs offered an insight into how they were established and let students take part in practical sessions to see how they enjoyed each sport.
Professional golfers Phil Edwards and Rhiannon Linacre from Coxmoor Golf Club were on hand to speak about the club’s history since its beginnings in 1913.
They played closest to the pin and longest drive challenge with the students, giving them a flavour for the sport. Phil is one of the area’s leading professional golfers and joined the club aged 15, turning professional in 1995. He went on to play three world tours and win over 100 tournaments.
Rhiannon has gone through the junior ranks at the club, representing the club and county at all levels. She was the youngest female golfer to score a hole in one when she was just nine years old.
Meanwhile Kevin Massey from Mansfield Lawn Tennis Club showed students the athletic skills that today’s tennis champions use during competitions and spoke about its early days.
Mansfield Lawn Tennis club was formed in 1883. It began at a private house and moved to Pheasant Hill in Mansfield. The first club house was built in 1919 and many Wimbledon stars from the 1920s trained at this club.
The college’s sport maker Rob Pearce said: “Sporting Heritage Day gave our students a useful insight into some sporting activities that they may never have tried before. We’re always keen to promote fitness both inside and outside of college and it was good to show students what sport clubs are out there and have been part of our community for over 100 years.
“It’s helped to assist students with their academic studies where they have to research the history of sport in their assignments as well as showing them different sports that are available for them to complete the healthy average of 30 minutes per day moderate intensity exercise which we promote at the college.”
