Victoria Park Rounders Season
Friends of Victoria Park, Stretford
Every Wednesday from July 15th ¨ to August 26th 6pm to 7pm
It may not quite match nearby Old Trafford for atmosphere, but Victoria Park is being readied as the venue for one of the most eagerly awaited sporting series in the calendar ¨C the Victoria Park Rounders Season, which kicks off on July 15th.
Anyone can take part, and organisers are promising a weekly fix of fun, camaraderie and high sporting drama. Although, to be fair, they¡¯re mainly focusing on the first two.
The games will take place from 6pm each Wednesday, from July 15 until the end of August. It will offer local residents an altogether more pleasant way keep fit than pumping weights in a sweaty gym, and will also provide the perfect setting to make new friends in the area. In fact, those more interested in spectating and nattering than taking part themselves are very welcome.
So with weather forecasters promising a golden summer, what better way to while away those balmy evenings than spending them in one of South Manchester¡¯s most surprisingly picturesque parks with the gentle crack of leather on willow (well, tennis ball on some form of wood) ringing in your ears as you get to meet new people right on your doorstep?
The exact venue will be the main football field in Victoria Park, so anyone interested just needs to pop along and say hello.
The Victoria Park Start Of Summer Community Picnic proved to be a rip-roaring success, with more than 150 locals turning out to celebrate both the Summer Solstice and Father’s Day in style.
Despite the weather not being entirely at its best, crowds still flocked to Victoria Park to enjoy their picnics and to meet new friends from their neighbourhood. And the smiles on the faces of the children treated to the impromptu entertainment offered by local clown, Joy Melody, such as the balloon animal making, more than made up for the lack of sunshine.
About 30 Oak Tree saplings that were donated to the friends group were potted up by the friends and given out to local children. The children were asked to care for them at home for 3 years and then return them to the park for planting at the picnic in 2012 when they should be big enough to survive on their own.
The event, held on June 21, was intended to bring local residents together and to show them what one of the finest parks in South Manchester has to offer. And not only was it a treat for those attending, but donations given for food and drink raised a valuable £125, which will be used by the Friends of Victoria Park to further improve what the park has to offer. A big thank you to Greggs the Bakers for donating goods to the event.
Shelly Quinton-Hulme, Chairperson of the Friends of Victoria Park said ‘ this was a new event for the park, and I think it was a huge success. Everyone said how lovely the day was and how nice it was to see everyone enjoying the park. I loved the fact that a spontaneous game of cricket broke out and was played by mums, dads, kids and grandparents – it looked such fun, I wish I could have stopped serving teas and coffee and played !’
