Despite the more-than-occasional rain, right now we are smack bang in the middle of summer and it is therefore that time of year again when Bristol’s fun-in-the-sun seeking population emigrate up to the Downs to indulge in a spot of picnicking, sunbathing, pimms-ing and yeah, you guessed it, Ultimate Frisbee-ing!
Read the rest of this entry »

It seems everything is coming up roses for cycle fans in this fine city of ours: 2008 has seen hit after hit of good news for those that love to pedal!

Right at the beginning of the year, the Bristol based sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, won the coveted ‘National Lottery People’s £50 Million’ award – receiving 42% of the votes – with it’s Connect2 project meaning they would receive a huge cheque of National Lottery money to invest in walking and cycling schemes across the UK; money which is being matched to the sound of £100 million and is already making a difference around the country.
Read the rest of this entry »

Who would’ve thought it: Bristol’s martial arts scene is bigger than ever, with Ki Aikido classes popping up all over the city.

It’s not about big, sweaty men charging about the place, shouting and trying to look macho, it’s not even about breaking bricks in half with nothing but your little toe; in fact, Ki Aikido is quite the opposite.
Read the rest of this entry »

Lacrosse – the full contact game derived from the sport of warriors, and played well, it is an incredibly fast and fluid game to watch. Experiencing a relatively low profile in the UK, the sport is hugely popular in its original birthplace of North America.

Lacrosse was originally named by French missionaries, literally meaning ‘ball with hooked stick’. Native Americans devised and played this on vast expanses of prairie to train their warriors, resolve tribal disputes and reinforce spiritual customs. Wooden stick shafts with a net at the top were used by tribesman to pass and catch balls made of deerskin or even wood. In this setting games lasted for days and boundaries could extend a mile in length with up to a 1000 men competing.
Read the rest of this entry »

The very best of Bristol in June 2008.

This issue we focus on Hurt Yourself who loves ‘Go Ape’ - Whilst Enjoy Yourself loves the VJ’s and interviews the legendary Frame Butchers.

The more the Chief Ape told us we were due to participate in a highly dangerous activity, the more and more I wanted to retreat back to the extremely cosy pub we had managed to pass several times with the crazy diversion on route to the Go Ape site. A diversion which had been set up, we assume, by a few jokers in the Forest of Dean, meaning we traveled in convoy twice around the same broken down road, in a sat-nav twilight zone, desperately trying to beat the bad weather to the site. After setting off so early and excited I had never thought for a second that fear would grip me the minute we set foot in the forest!
Read the rest of this entry »

The 2007/08 season has been a wild time for football in the city of Bristol. Not long ago the sporting public at large new more about football in Hong Kong than could even tell you what colour Bristol City or Bristol Rovers play in. This season however has permanently etched footballing Bristol onto the mind of the nation.
Read the rest of this entry »

As the April snow-showers fall confoundedly around us, you may have noticed the streets perforated with folk in snowboard jackets? These are most probably Westbeach and been purchased from The Store on Park Street, for a complete bargain before it’s doors closed after three years of trade, in their massive closing down sale!
Read the rest of this entry »

Bristol 10K – Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 2008
Bristol Half Marathon – Sunday 14th September 2008
Read the rest of this entry »

If you go down to some of the woodlands located around the Bristol and South West on a Sunday, you might get a big surprise - and it’s not a picnic. Out on the hills and in the ancient woodlands dotted across the South West (and in other locales too) a new breed of board rider is making use of the great outdoors.
Read the rest of this entry »