Don’t Forget Your Plimsolls

Don’t Forget Your Plimsolls is a new style of exercise class.  It brings everything people enjoyed about PE and playground games while still allowing them to get fit in a carefree and above all, fun way.  Even those of us who hated PE still have fond memories of crazes such as British Bulldog, Stuck in the Mud and Dodgeball.  Exercise never used to feel like exercise and this is exactly what DFYP is trying to recapture. Yes, you’ll burn calories as you take part in the activities, but without the pain of monotony and pressure you may have experienced in gyms previously.  Founder Joel Ryder is a fully qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer so while the emphasis is on fun with fitness, you’ll also be in safe hands.  It’s even a great way to socialise while doing something good for mind and body.

If more traditional classes are not for you, then this may be exactly what you’ve been searching for. It suits those who are returning to exercise as well as those who are just starting out.  Each game has been carefully designed to allow you to judge how far you wish to push yourself.  If your aim is to shed pounds, get a bit fitter or just have some silly laughs to chill out after work then give it a go.   Just bring yourself, and of course, your plimsolls.

DFYP is at Eastney Community Centre 7-8pm every Tuesday.

£2.50 introductory offer if you mention ‘Strong Island’ (normal price £3.50).

This is an adult class so minimum age is 18 years.

Mark Parham – The Everyday Olympian

I am in awe of Portsmouth film-maker and photographer Mark Parham’s project called ‘The Everyday Olympian’.

‘The Olympics and Para-Olympics is a global inspirational competition, creating sporting heroes and inspiring people to achieve greatness. With many of the benefits this event creates never being seen, this body of work will serve as a documentary celebrating the everyday person. Long after the hype surrounding the 2012 Olympics has died down and life returns to normal, the facilities that were built as potential training camps for the athletes will remain, benefiting and being used by communities and individuals for years to come, individuals that in their own way are the ‘Everyday Olympians’.’

The output of the project will be 32 short films and 12 prints. All photographs and films were shot at the Mountbatten Centre Swimming Pool, Portsmouth. Mark is currently looking for a suitable venue to exhibit the work in February 2012.

Deakin and Petterd wrote: (Swimming defined)
“When you swim, you feel your body for what it mostly is, water and your body begins to move with the water around it. Swimming is not an activity where the surroundings disappear; it is an activity where the environment is the focus, the corporeal sensations of it all-encompassing. It is also an environment in which swimmers are isolated and alone”.

Mark said about the project ‘On a secondary level I hope the images will open this up exploring themes surrounding the human condition such as perceived physical perfection, isolation and vulnerability.’

To see the project visit the Facebook page at : http://www.facebook.com/theeverydayolympian

Southsea Skatepark Merchandise

Southsea Skatepark is now operated by Southsea Skatepark Company, a registered charity set up by a small group of park supporters to take over the park from Portsmouth City Council. They hold the park on a 60 year lease from the council and have an Agreement which includes a reducing revenue subsidy for the first 5 years. To carry out the large scale improvements needed to make the park viable in the longer term, they are seeking grants and sponsorship.  If you have any good ideas, we’d like to hear from you via their website.

You can also Support Southsea Skatepark by buying a selection of hats, stickers and tee shirts, ideal Christmas gifts. These are now available to buy at the skatepark. See the website for opening times and directions – http://www.southseaskatepark.com/

Prices – All hats in various styles and hand knitted – £5, Stickers 40p each or 3 for £1, Tee Shirts – £15.

More exciting products will be available soon.

Skatepark Jam

Southsea Skatepark – July Roller Disco

Every month this event is getting bigger and bigger and next Friday 29th July Radio 1 DJ Dave Spoon will be providing the tunes. Get laced up and down with the grooves. From 7pm-10pm.

Below some pics from the previous Roller Disco’s at the Skatepark.

Albert Road Ashes 2011

We’re deep into the cricketing season and yet again fast approaching the biggest game in the summer sporting calendar.  This Wednesday 13th July sees the titanic battle for the Albert Road Ashes contested for it’s 3rd year.

Held on the front lawn of Stansted House in Rowlands Castle, Lord Sonics XI take on Stanstead Park CC for the coveted urn which genuinely contain the charred remains of an Albert Road kebab.  Play starts at 6pm and spectators are more than welcome.

Rocker Soccer

Ladies and gentlemen are you ready? Rocker Soccer is back due to popular demand this Saturday 2nd July and who are we to deny you.

The last tournament saw Circle Square Triangle walk off with the cup, can Sumo regain their championship status or will a new team step up and lift the trophy? We have the I Love Dust crew involved this year as well as some other new faces.

Remember this is a charity event so we will be looking for teams to find unique ways of raising money for this years chosen charity as well as there being collections on the day. The chosen charity this year is Cancer Research UK and you can also make donations to our event here http://www.justgiving.com/LJRrockersoccer

Rocker Soccer will take place at ROKO on Copnor Rd and the tournament kicks of at Midday

Southsea Skatepark – Roller Disco Tonight

Summertime brings a monthly Roller Disco at Southsea Skatepark. Get your kit out and head on down to the skatepark tonight 24th June from 7pm. Poster designed by skateboarding legend Barry Abrook. DJ’s playing 70′s tunes til 10pm. You can also hire roller skates from the skatepark.

Date for diary = next month on 29th July BBC Radio 1 DJ Dave Spoon will be providing the sounds.

Unique Perspective – Abseil Down The Spinnaker

The Spinnaker Tower will be open on August the 8th to the 14th for the first time for members of the public to abseil down from the top of the tower. Previously abseiling has only been done on specific occasions for people raising money, this time anyone is welcome to do it. If you are brave, have £75 and want to see the tower, the harbour and the city from a view few have seen then get involved. To find out more phone (023) 9285 7520.

Anyone keen?

Rocker Soccer 2011

Ladies and gentlemen are you ready?  Rocker Soccer is back due to popular demand and who are we to deny you.   As with last year we need 15 teams of 8 players (including subs) to come forward and take part in one of the events of the summer!  Entry fee per team is £80 (a measly £10 per player!)

Last tournament saw Circle Square Triangle walk off with the cup, can Sumo regain their championship status or will a new team step up and lift the trophy?

Remember this is a charity event so we will be looking for teams to find unique ways of raising money for this years chosen charity.  For instance your team could donate a pound for every goal you concede or maybe you could get sponsors for every goal you score.  The chosen charity this year is Cancer Research UK and you can also make donations to our event here http://www.justgiving.com/LJRrockersoccer

As usual there will be a plate tournament running alongside.

There will be a BBQ on the day and Bar will be open although no outside drinks are to be bought in.  We are currently looking for a band to perform on the day – Jake Hale, Playfootball, has opened up a pitch for half time music – ANYONE INTERESTED IN PLAYING?

This year’s tournament will be hosted on Saturday 2nd July at ROKO on Copnor Road.  Again the award ceremony will be held on the night at Little Johnny Russells featuring our charity raffle, your chance to win some great prizes!  This event is open to families and spectators as well so we hope to see you all there for another great fundraising event.

Please visit www.rockersoccer.info to download your entry form.  Once complete please return your form and your entry fee to Little Johnny Russells in a clearly marked envolope.

PRIMARY – A Phoneography Exhibition by Strong Island – Call for entries

This coming new year we will be proud to announce our latest exhibition PRIMARY, a Phoneography exhibition by Strong Island and we are even happier to announce that it’s open to you, the readers.

With the continuing increase in impressive camera technology in mobile phones and the ability to alter, tweak, post process and upload the photos to social media networks and websites like Instagram, the popularity of Phoneography has never been greater.

The ‘of the moment’ ability to take a photo at almost any time and any place by most people has really driven the fact that the camera does not make the photographer. By which I mean, you don’t need an expensive camera to take outstanding photos.

Agreed, the quality of the physical image may not stand up to the big guns, but new learnings in composition, style and aesthetic by a new generation of camera users via online media has really driven this popularity, and encourage people to go beyond a ‘quick shot’.

PRIMARY invites you to get out and about around Portsea with your mobile phone camera and take photos of anything and everything based around the three primary colours red, yellow and blue. What you photograph is entirely up to you, but submissions will only be accepted if they stick to the theme.

The call for entires has now begun and the deadline is the 31st of January 2012 with the exhibition being held in March of 2012. Photos can be taken on any mobile phone model and we ask that a maximum of 3 photos per applicant are sent in to primary@strong-island.co.uk.

Please submit along with your photographs your name, photo title, phone model, location of photo on the island and any post process apps you used, if any, to achieve the final shot.

We look forward to seeing all the entries, and the final installation will be something special using every photo submitted in a slightly different fashion from your average photographic exhibition. CLICK HERE TO PRINT YOUR OWN POSTER

Poster by Tristan Savage & Photo by Paul Gonella

It’s going to be a Strong Movember – Closed at £725

Righto chaps, it’s time to clean shave your boat race and get that mighty moustache on the grow in support of Movember for The Prostate Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research. For 30 days of November you can help support and raise awareness through selflessly parading your top lip for charity.

You can sign up yourself, as I’m sure many of you already have, or you can join the Strong Island team and seek out sponsorship as a team. Through the Strong Island Movember page you can ask people to join the group, make donations, upload photos and post updates via the MoSpace page, Facebook and Twitter.

Head over to www.mobro.co/StrongIsland if you would like to get involved and grow a Strong Moustache to help raise awareness, or simply head over to www.uk.movember.com and sign up to personally raise money.

The funds raised in the UK support the number one and two male specific cancers – prostate and testicular cancer. The funds raised are directed to programmes run directly by Movember and our men’s health partners, The Prostate Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research. Together, these channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programmes in line with our strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.

Poster: Tristan Savage