SPORTS and leisure clubs across the borough flung open their doors last week in a bid to get people active and exercising.

The second Get Active Week saw hundreds of people of all ages and abilities take advantage of free taster sessions at their local leisure venues.

Activities that took place during the week, which lasted from Monday, June 29 to Sunday, July 5, ranged from gym and tennis sessions to the more unusual, such as new-age kurling, Ultimate Frisbee and boxercise.

At the Basingstoke Gym Club in Houndmills, people were able to take part in the gym’s regular classes, such as Pilates, cheerleading and trampolining.

Cara Evans, head of recreational trampolining at the centre, said: “Our numbers went up during the week and I believe everyone enjoyed it.

“It is incredibly important that people do exercise and trampolining is a good way to do that because it tones your muscles and improves your cardiovascular fitness.”

Get Active Week started last year, when hundreds of people got involved in the event which was organised by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Sport and Physical Activity Alliance.

The group, now called Basingstoke Get Active, has the aim of getting people in the borough to exercise or volunteer, and is comprised of the borough council, the health sector, north Hampshire schools and sports clubs.

Councillor Keith Chapman, the borough council’s Cabinet member for sport and leisure, said: “It was great to see residents taking up the discounts and incentives offered by our local sporting venues.”

As well as leisure centres and sports clubs offering promotions this year, the borough’s schools and colleges got in on the act by running extra sporting activities.

Queen Mary’s College Sports Centre offered classes to its teachers, students and guests during the week. And at Brighton Hill Community College, in Brighton Way, Brighton Hill, pupils took part in games such as new age kurling, croquet and rocket ball – a non-contact version of lacrosse.

Mark Kingswood, assistant head teacher at Brighton Hill, said: “As a sports college, we take our commitment to encouraging participation in sports very seriously and I was overjoyed to see students who don’t normally get involved enjoying the activities.”

Among the other organisations that offered discounts and promotions were The Sports Centre, Basingstoke Aquadrome, Tadley Swimming Pool and Basingstoke Volleyball Club.