Bodmin’s Senior Club Games return for the over-60s in September

Six teams. Four sports. Not one of them needs you to have played before.

That is the pitch behind Cornwall’s Senior Club Games, which returns to Bodmin Leisure Centre this September for a second year. Anyone aged 60 and over can turn up, get put in a team on the day, and spend a full day trying their hand at pickleball, walking cricket, walking netball and walking football.

Four sports, no experience needed

The format is built for people who have never picked up a paddle or a bat as much as for club regulars. Everyone who applies is placed into one of six teams on arrival, with a maximum of sixteen people per team, and previous experience in any of the four sports is not required. Team trophies are handed out at the end of the day, giving the whole thing the feel of a proper mini tournament rather than a taster session.

How the day is run

Cornwall’s Senior Club Games is organised by GLL, the charitable social enterprise that runs nine leisure centres across Cornwall and more than 250 nationwide under its Better brand. GLL has been holding Better Club Games in London for the past 20 years, and the format has since been rolled out to other regions, Cornwall included.

“The event has been rolled out to the regions and our first one at Bodmin last year got some excellent feedback,” said Karen Edmond, GLL Community Sport Manager.

£4.50 for a full day, and a deadline to sign up

Applications are open to both leisure centre members and non-members, and entry costs £4.50 for the full day. Cornwall’s Senior Club Games runs on Tuesday 29 September, from 9am to 5pm, and registrations close on Monday 7 September.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve never played a sport before as there’s lots of support and encouragement on hand,” Karen said. “I can honestly say I saw plenty of smiles and laughter when we held the games last October and I’m looking forward to having just as much fun this year.”

Anyone wanting to take part can find full details and register for a place online ahead of the 7 September deadline.

Twenty years of Better Club Games

This year’s Bodmin event falls within GLL’s 20th year of running Club Games for over-60s, a run that started in London and has since spread out to other parts of the country. Karen and the team are hoping this September’s games repeat what they saw last time round, right down to the noise coming off the netball court.