Latest news with #walking cricket
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Walking cricket has changed my life'
A group of over-50's walking cricket players say the sport is helping with their physical and mental health issues. Bexhill Walking Cricket Club meet every Friday for an indoor match of the sport, which is played with a soft ball at a walking pace. Players range from people in their early 60s to mid 80s. "We've got people who have lost huge amounts of weight, and players with dementia and just some who have expanded their social circle," says chairman Laurie Ray. Andy Evans, who has prostate cancer, said the activity has helped him "mentally and physically". He said he was "well overweight", and he had been told he needed to shed some pounds. "It's changed my life now," he said. "I'm quite lucky as (the cancer) is manageable now, but this has helped my health should I ever need an operation." The club have faced other walking cricket clubs in the area, but Mr Ray says it's "about exercise more than results". John Martin, aged 80, is one of the club's oldest players. "I do walking football, table tennis and this. I just love all sports," he said. "If more people did this, their health would be so much better." Bexhill Walking Cricket Club meet on Friday's at 0930 at Bexhill Leisure Centre. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Walking cricket to be prescribed on NHS
BBC News
05-08-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Walking cricket to be prescribed to Gloucestershire men on NHS
A walking cricket player says the sport has helped him to improve his health as an NHS service starts prescribing it to Lifestyles Gloucestershire, in partnership with Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, has launched "Fit For The Overs" sessions at Cirencester Leisure Centre, mostly aimed at men aged 50 or scheme will combine sport with health checks, such as blood pressure, and education, including healthy eating habits and Bromberg, 70, said, although running is not allowed in walking cricket, "it gets you moving and gets your heart beating quite quickly". The sessions began last month and will last for 14 weeks, with patients prescribed it based on their age, BMI, and Freddie Charrington, a GP at Phoenix Health Group in Tetbury, said the scheme was "breaking down barriers" in getting men to get help."You lose muscle mass faster as you get older, so keeping active, doing sport is essential," he said."It's getting easier, but traditionally, it is hard to get men to come to their doctor... being able to mix it with sport is perfect."We know exercise helps physical health, but also being able to talk to other men about their problems is going to help." Crispin Shingler, community development manager at Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, said many of those taking part in the sessions said it improved their mobility and had found "really good friendship groups"."Some have said it's a reason for getting out of the house... and also the mental agility of having to umpire and keep the score," he Bob Bromberg said that the sport is "fun", he has enjoyed the "very good camaraderie", and it has helped him improve his health. Mr Bromberg was told to lose weight by his doctor and said he has done so by taking up walking, walking football, and walking cricket."When you're bowling and batting, it's quite energetic," he said."Though you're not meant to run, you are moving. And moving, as we know, for older folk is extremely good for us."
