How to book City Council sports pitches and facilities online

Oxford City Council is launching a new sports booking system called ‘Pitchbooking’ to allow sports clubs and members of the public to book City Council owned pitches and sport pavilions across Oxford.

The new online booking system, which opened in the New Year, allows users to find, book, and pay for access to sports facilities and pitches. Users will create their own account and will be able to manage their bookings online.

Sites which are available to be booked include:

  • Blackbird Leys Recreational Ground
  • Court Place Farm Recreational Ground
  • Cutteslowe Recreational Ground
  • Cowley Marsh Recreational Ground
  • Grandpont Recreational Ground
  • Horspath Sports Ground
  • Quarry Recreational Ground
  • Rose Hill Recreational Ground
  • Sandy Lane Recreational Ground
  • Union Street Astroturf

Pitch rates range from £45-£65 for adults, £17.50-£35 for under 17’s, and £14.20-£25 for under 11’s.

Users will also be able to use the booking system to rent out pavilions across Oxford for events such as parties, training courses and yoga classes at a cost of £18.70 per hour.

Pavilions available to be booked include:

  • Cutteslowe Lower Pavilion
  • Cutteslowe Top Pavilion
  • Grandpont Recreation Ground Pavilion
  • Horspath Sports Ground Pavilion

One of the City Council’s key objectives is to increase participation in sport to help tackle health inequalities across Oxford. Overall, adults in Oxford are healthier than the England average, with a 78% of adults being physically active.

To book a pitch, see a full list of locations, or to find out more information, please visit: www.oxford.gov.uk/pitchbooking

Cleaning up the tennis courts

Algae on the tennis courts

Algae on the tennis courts

We’ve been asked about the state of the tennis courts in Bury Knowle Park, and have received this advice from officers.

The problem is with the algae growth.

We have had a lot of problems this year due to the wet and warm winter. This has led to similar conditions on most of our courts and tennis and play areas across the UK.

The courts are mechanically brushed twice a year and sprayed with an anti-algae agent as needed. The latest controls on chemicals, mean that many chemicals used for treatment have now been withdrawn. It is difficult to find a chemical that deals effectively with the algae.

We are working with the LTA and Premier Tennis to see what we can do to improve matters. Blowers to remove leaves and brushes have been purchased and supplied to Premier Tennis on site to assist with keeping the courts clean.

Activities for women coming up soon…

Starting soon…

Zumba

Mondays, 7pm at Barton Neighbourhood Centre (starting 16 September 2013) £2 per session*

Wednesdays, 6.30pm at Cherwell School (starting 4 September 2013) £5 per session

Fridays, 9.15am at Marston & Northway Childrens Centre (starting 27 September 2013) £2.50 per session or £20 for 10 sessions if booked in advance!*

 

Salsa

Thursdays, 7pm at Barton Neighbourhood Centre (starting 19 Sep) £2 per session*

 

For more info on the above sessions and other activities offered through the Active Women Oxford project please visit www.getoxfordshireactive.orgor email: jcooper@oxford.gov.uk , call: 01865 252729.

Free tennis in Oxford 17/18 August in Florence Park

From 10.00-16.00 each day, there will be free access to tennis courts for everyone

Free tennis coaching will be available, including:

  •        Mini coaching for children aged 3 – 10 years
  •        Adult coaching
  •        Cardio Tennis (for adults)

You can arrive on the day and play, however booking is advisable for the free coaching sessions as spaces are limited and are expected to be popular. So book here to avoid disappointment!

Ping! Play outdoor table tennis for free!

Ping! is an innovative street ping pong project which provides people with opportunities to play social and competitive table tennis, free of charge. The aim is to get as many people as possible across the whole of the UK playing – to bring about a sense of community spirit and get more people playing sport on the run up to the Olympics.

Ping! sees a month of activity and tables popping up in unusual and remarkable places.  Marked ‘Stop and Play’, the tables are up  for all to enjoy. Bats and balls are supplied: to join in the fun just borrow a bat from the side of the table!  As well as free-play, each ping-pong table features a varied programme of master-classes, competitions and free to join activities.

Ping! now has over 500 tables in public spaces across the UK including Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Cornwall, Hampshire, Hull, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Middlesbrough, Oxford and Sheffield

Ping! is produced by Sing London and is delivered in partnership with the English Table Tennis Association. Ping! is supported by National Lottery investment from Sport England.

You can see  where Ping! is offered in Oxford here The nearest place is Bury Knowle Park

For more details, try this site

Changes to Hinksey outdoor pool opening times

During the week the pool will now open for adult only swimming from 7am to 9.30am giving  locals and commuters the chance to get in an early morning swim before work.

At weekends a member’s only swim has been introduced from 8am to 9am so that members get a chance to swim some laps before the pool gets busier with families and children.

The normal opening hours for the pool are; weekdays 7am to 7pm and weekends 8am to 6pm However until  25 August swimmers get a chance to swim later in the evening until 8pm.

Hinksey Pool and the Splash feature sit in Hinksey Park which also boasts a fun packed play area, lake, and offers walks through meadow areas.

It is easily accessible on foot, by bicycle or using the Park and Ride buses.

For more information visit about Hinksey Park  call 01865 252240.

The last day of the 2013 season will be Sunday 29 September.

Oxford Family Sports Day 2012 Bury Knowle Park

Family sports in Bury Knowle Park

Following the success of the 2011 Oxford Family Sports Day, the City Council will be hosting the event again this year with kind support from Headington Action and Headington Community Association.

Join in the fun this year at the Oxford Family Sports Day.

Date: Sunday 12th August 2012
Time: 1 – 5pm
Venue: Bury Knowle Park, Headington

Just like last years event, there will be a number of free sports taster sessions and activities for you to enjoy, along with exciting stalls for you to take a look around.  

Whilst having fun at the various activity stations, this is also an excellent opportunity for you to find out more information about sporting opportunities and clubs in the city, so that you can take up a sporting habit for life.

For more information on the Oxford Family Sports Day or if you want to get involved please contact sportdevelopment@oxford.gov.uk or call 01865 252702.
If you have any books you would like to donate to the book stall being run by New Headington Residents’ Association at this event, please contact Ruth and she will give you more details

Basketball pitch for Sandfield Road Park!

You have told us that the basketball hoops in Sandfield Road park are well used, and we’d like a pitch to be marked out so that proper matches can be played – we understand that an unofficial basketball tournament is held there one day every summer.

You also told us in our ward spend surveys that you wanted us to encourage youth and well-being activities so we have allocated £25.00 from our ward budget to have a pitch marked out.

The hoops are already there, and the work will be carried out in the summer.