Loading ...
With the Midsumma festival launching this weekend, Melbourne’s gay and lesbian sporting clubs will be hosting an array of special events over the coming weeks.
Whether you’re a couch potato looking to make good your -œget fit new year’s resolution, or a seasoned pro wanting to compete in an all-inclusive gay and lesbian environment, there should be something for you amongst the diverse program of activities.
Going Bush
The Bent Kranks bicycle club are holding two fun outdoor events in the coming weeks. On January 24, cyclists are invited to join the group on the Eltham Bike Ride. Meeting at Fairfield Park car park, the group will traverse the winding Yarra Trail to Eltham for a picnic lunch. It’s a 24km jaunt, with the option of riding back to Fairfield or hopping on the train.
The next week, on January 31, Bent Kranks host a jam-packed day of mountain biking in the You Yangs National Park. Exploring the exhilarating Kurrajong trail, a 10km trail purpose-built for mountain biking, participants can expect to rival Nicole Kidman in the BMX Bandits stakes by day’s end.
Details for both events can be found at www.bentkranks.com.au.
Closer to the city, the Nomads Outdoors Group will spend the day exploring some of the greenery in Melbourne’s urban sprawl on January 25. From Victoria Gardens, the group will walk to Fairfield Boathouse, taking in the sights of Dights Falls, Kane’s Bridge and the Fruit Bat Villa on the way before taking a break for some well-deserved afternoon tea. Details: home.vicnet.net.au/~nomads/
Fun in the sun
Outdoor sports lovers are catered to with bowls and tennis events being held in early February. On February 1, punters searching for a lazy Sunday activity need look no further than the Melbourne Bowling Club, which will host the Midsumma Bowls tournament. There’ll be competitive and social events, so even if you think of lawn bowls as merely an excuse to take off your shoes and drink cheap beer, you’ll still be happy.
The next evening, on February 2, the Ace Girls women’s tennis team will hold a match at the Carlton Gardens Tennis Club. Ladies are asked to bring their own racquets, and all skill levels are welcome.
After the tennis, it’s off to dinner at the nearby Pumphouse Hotel. Details: www.acegirls.org
Indoor fun
You don’t have to head outdoor to get sporty -” two clubs are offering two very different indoor events over Midsumma.
The Nomads will hold indoor rock climbing sessions on January 21 and February 4 at Hardrock in the CBD. One of Melbourne’s most imposing new sights, Hardrock’s climbing wall stretches high over Swanston St, and the building’s huge glass windows mean the views from the top of the wall are quite spectacular. Last year both sessions booked out, so the Nomads are encouraging budding climbers to book now.
Meanwhile, the Dance Cats will be holding a decidedly more glamorous indoor event on January 31, taking over the Collingwood Town Hall for the Same-Sex Dancesports 2009. While competing couples from around Australia and New Zealand will burn the floor in fantastic displays of ballroom dancing, there’s also time for social dancing for spectators.
The Dancesports is the biggest event of its kind in Australia, so don’t miss what promises to be a fantastic evening. Details: www.dancecats.com.au
June 17th, 2010 @ 11:25 am
In ballroom dancing, my favorite dance is Rumba and the Flamenco.”–