An odd week.
Training
Buckingham was missing, not feeling well, which is very unusual. Chris was back on skates, but with an exclusion zone to protect his back. There were seven of us on track, in no particular order, Niven, Matt (Thompson!), Tony, Baker, Jim, Simon and me. Gillie and Phil were off sick too, leaving Carly to work her magic with the session.
Monday we announced that Buckingham is our new team captain. Very pleased with this result. I’d earlier said I’d put myself forward for the role – at the time Bucky was not sure that he’d be standing. Chris has done a good job over the past year.
Monday was also gym night and by Tuesday morning it became apparent that I’d dinged my left foot again. I thought I’d figured out which exercise was causing it and I’ve avoided it since. It seems I was wrong. I therefore avoided the gym for the rest of the week. With the days getting longer and this recurring niggling injury I’m tempted to suspend gym membership.
Banditas
Thursday was Bandita’s training. I’m loving the opportunity to skate twice a week and scrim too. (Skateful Dead had a period last year where we practised twice weekly, but numbers where often low, so no scrimmage.) Men and women play differently, but I’ve found that I come away from the Bandita’s sessions with more injuries then I do the Dead. Week one left me with a rather fine bruise on my left arm. This week it was something like a blood blister on my arm, a wheel shaped bruise/swelling on my left shin and a bruise to my right knee. Bruising Bandita’s is an accurate name! :-)
Airco
During the week news also broke that the numerous teams that use the Airco Arena in Hull are to be evicted! They have been told that they have a month to get out. This not only affects Hull’s Angels but lots of other teams too. This is very disappointing news.
It seems that the needs of one team are being put above those of several others. Not only that, those teams that are being kicked out have been given ridiculously short notice. The facilities at the Airco Arena are excellent – one of a kind in East Yorkshire apparently. Hull High Flyers Trampoline Gymnastics Club have a record number of qualifiers for National Championships and have hosted an international championship. The high ceilings at Airco are a feature that they need. Other sports affected include basketball, wrestling, netball, hockey, gymnastics, powerchair football and roller derby (three team).
These teams are working hard to persuade Hull AFC to change their mind. If you want to show your support then please like their Facebook page, follow them on Twitter and, most important, sign the petition.
The Airco website boasts “The facilities at the Sports Arena are second to none and provide opportunities and a top class venue for local teams and clubs across a wide range of sports.” I guess they’ll be changing this to “The facilities at the Sports Arena are second to none, but if you don’t play football then you’re out of luck”.