Karen Gaman of Sole Sisters ladies-only north Bristol running club writes:

The Sole Sisters Beginners’ Course is ideal for any ladies who want to start running, but don’t know how to begin. Three times each year, we offer a training course for women who wish to start running, have never run before or are returning after a long period of rest, illness or injury.

Our next course starts on Monday 6th January 2020. The venue for the first meeting is Baileys Court Activity Centre, Bradley Stoke BS32 8BH. Please arrive by 6.45pm to register and meet the coaches and other beginners.

We follow a realistic six-week training programme, with a gradual build-up of mileage, after which you will be able to join one of our main groups and hopefully enjoy it with a certain amount of self-satisfaction.

Many of our current members started out on this course and are now running regular 10ks, half marathons and even full marathons, so what we offer is a trusted method.

The course costs £15. For full details and an application form, visit solesistersrc.co.uk/beginners-course

See also: Sole Sisters North Bristol Running Club on Facebook

• This year’s Bradley Stoke 10k Run, organised by Sole Sisters, will take place on Sunday 7th June.

Photo: Members of Sole Sisters Running Club at a parkrun.

This article originally appeared in the January 2020 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on page 30). The magazine is delivered FREE, nine times a year, to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

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By Matteo Bianchi, team manager and head coach.

Bradley Stoke Youth FC’s (BSYFC’s) Under-10 Blues team has just started the new season with training sessions and competitive matches as part of the Hanham Minor League Division B group.

In August 2019, the team was lucky enough to be one of eight teams selected to participate in the pre-match on-pitch parade at the FA Community Shield, representing McDonald’s grassroots football sponsorship.

An excited party of boys, parents and siblings met at Baileys Court early in the morning, departing for Wembley Stadium promptly at 7.45am. After an uninterrupted journey, we finally saw the twin towers come into view and arrived in good time, allowing the opportunity for a team photo-shoot in front of the famous statue of the 1966 World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore.

The 17 lucky boys wearing team kit who had been selected to join the parade then met with FA staff, picked up their VIP wristbands and entered the stadium. Once inside, the boys received an official briefing, had photos taken pitch-side and practised walking in formation ready for the parade.

The accompanying parents had time for coffee and window shopping prior to the turnstiles opening at 1pm, whereupon we took our seats ready to see the action. Following the players’ warm-up session, two community choirs from Liverpool and Manchester City sang rousing versions of You’ll Never Walk Alone and Blue Moon respectively, and as these songs rang out the boys paraded into the stadium waving their flags, our boys and coaches leading the parade out at the Manchester City end of the pitch.

Pre-match ceremonies complete, the boys paraded off and then made the journey up into the upper tier of the stadium to join their families and enjoy the game.

An excellent and tightly fought match followed which finished 1-1 at full time. The game went straight to a penalty shoot-out which was a tense affair at the Liverpool end of the pitch, Manchester City winning 5-4 after Liverpool’s third penalty was saved. Liverpool fans streamed out of the stadium leaving the Manchester City fans to enjoy the trophy ceremony.

More: Interested in joining the team or wanting more information? »

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Members of Bradley Stoke Gymnastics Club put in some fine performances at the 2019 South West Acro Championships held at Yate International Gymnastics Centre on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th October.

A team of 15 Bradley Stoke gymnasts (making up seven partnerships), three of them competing for the first time, made the short trip to Yate, where they joined around 300 other competitors from across the south west.

The competition format requires each partnership to perform a two-minute routine consisting of five team moves and three individual moves. Routines are judged for tidiness, sparkle, performance and artistry.

Out of the seven partnerships, four of them came away with medals. Amelia Budding and Lara Davidson came away with gold – after working together for just four weeks. Feebee Hartanto and Lara Davidson got silver in their category – in Feebee’s first-ever competition. Alissa Fulco and Tahlia Jennings-Smith got silver, also their first competition, while Sophie Dean and Leoni Miller also secured silver.

Rachael Moore, club coach, said:

“All of the gymnasts performed excellent routines, making us very, very proud. To have so many of our ‘new ones’ compete for the first time and shine like stars put smiles on our faces. We couldn’t be prouder of all the girls, and that’s what makes us a real ‘gym family’”.

“We are also proud that some of our gymnasts have now retired from competing but continue to support the club by coaching and passing on their knowledge to the younger members. The coaching team could not be more grateful to have so many special people in the club.”

More: Club runs classes for children from age four upwards »

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The U12 girls at Bradley Stoke Youth FC are now dressed for success thanks to sponsorship from local building firm LNJ Construction Services Ltd.

Lewis Colling, director at LNJ, whose youngest step-daughter plays for the team, contacted manager/coach Lee Lawson when he heard the team were looking for a kit sponsor.

A conversation about the team and how LNJ could help led to the firm agreeing to sponsor 24 new full match kits, 1 full goalkeeper’s kit and a spare goalkeeper’s shirt.

Lee says he had been in the process of drafting out emails to local businesses prior to Lewis getting in touch and he is pleased that word of mouth brought a quick offer of support.

Once the order was delivered, the girls were presented with their new kit at a photoshoot alongside Lewis and his partners at LNJ, Colin Broomsgrove and John Iles.

Lee Lawson, BSYFC U12 manager/coach, said:

“The girls look fantastic in their new kit and are looking forward to the season. The coaches, girls and parents would like to extend their thanks to Lewis and LNJ for their generosity in sponsoring the team.”

“It’s excellent to see companies like this supporting the local community in which they do business.”

LNJ Construction boasts a combined 76 years of experience covering all building and construction works ranging from basic renovation to new builds.

More: BSYFC is an FA Charter Standard Community Club »

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