Exciting Summer of beach sports on the East Coast
An exciting and ambitious Beach Sports Programme has been announced for Mablethorpe and Skegness this summer as part of East Lindsey District Council’s continued efforts to bring more people to the coast by broadening the offer.
Through cultural activities, including SO Festival and the Festival of Bathing Beauties, the East Lindsey coastline is developing a national following and attracting new visitors to the area who would previously have taken holidays elsewhere.
Over the last few years, Skegness has attracted high level sporting competitions, including Volleyball England’s National Beach Tour and for the first time in 2009, the O2 Scrum on the Beach event. This season Mablethorpe will also host important sporting events too.
This Beach Sports Programme will build on the success of previous years and Volleyball England has already confirmed that one of its Beach Tour events will take place on Skegness’ Central Beach on August 14 and 15 between 9am and 5pm. Skegness will host some of the world’s very best Volleyball Players competing for a place in the UK finals to be held in Bournemouth.
Central Beach in Mablethorpe will host a Beach Cricket Tournament, with a specific element for girls, from July 30 until August 1 between 10am and 6pm, in partnership with the Lincolnshire Cricket Board.
Head of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said: ""The organisers of the Beach Cricket should be congratulated for introducing a fun and innovative way of introducing girls to cricket. I hope the sun shines in Mablethorpe and that lots of girls grab this opportunity to try a new summer sport!"
A Beach Rounders Tournament will also take place on Mablethorpe’s Central Beach on Saturday, August 7, between 10am and 4pm, in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership.
On August 21, from 12noon, Skegness will host a national Beach Rugby Festival organised by the RFU in partnership with the District Council.
Leader of East Lindsey District Council, Councillor Doreen Stephenson, said: "These events are part of a broader package we’re offering for local people and visitors to our coast this summer. We have the SO Festival 2010 fast approaching in Skegness and we have more announcements to come in the weeks ahead. This is an exciting and ambitious year for the coast and we must develop existing opportunities and seize new ones to ensure our coast remains a top place to visit."
For more information on any of these events or to find out how to get involved, please visit www.e-lindsey.gov.uk or contact the District Council’s Sports Development Team on 01507 601111.
For more information on SO Festival 2010, visit www.sofestival.org
