HEALTH &
FITNESS 38
A Celebration of Rugby! The Leeds Loves Rugby Festival from 14th - 27th May will celebrate Leeds Rugby League’s first ever championship victory with Lewis Jones leading the team to a 25–10 victory over Warrington in the final at Odsal in May 1961. This was a momentous occasion in the club’s history and the end of a 66 year wait for league glory! 52,000 fans were in attendance on the day. Current Rhinos team captain, Kevin Sinfield recently joined Lewis Jones and Derek Hallas from the 1961 team to launch the event, organised by Marketing Leeds, Leeds Rugby and Leeds City Council.
Attila the Nun Heads for Mongolia! A team from Cookridge, made up of Tom Lake, Curt Pinnock and Omeed Alikhanizadeh and known collectively as Attila the Nun, is taking on the challenge of The Mongol Rally this summer. This is an unsupported, 10,000 mile drive from Goodwood, UK, to Ulaanbaatur, Mongolia. The aim is for each team to raise at least £1,000 for charity, half of which will go to the Christina Nobel Children’s Foundation which focuses on improving healthcare, education and living conditions for orphaned or abandoned children in Mongolia. The other half will go to a charity of the team’s choice which, in the case of Attila the Nun, is the British Red Cross. The team is currently looking for businesses to sponsor them. They have just bought an ambulance to drive in the rally and donate to a hospital in Ulaanbaatur on arrival. There is a distinct lack of emergency vehicles in Mongolia.
“The festival will be a terrific platform, giving businesses in the city the opportunity to promote themselves to new audiences, nationally and internationally, through rugby themed activities. I’m sure Leeds will be buzzing with all things rugby in May!” said Nick Bates, Advisory Board Member of Marketing Leeds. Leeds Rugby invites members of the public to bring and share their Leeds sporting memories from the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s to the present day to be included in a ‘Show & Share’ exhibition at Headingley Stadium. Fans are advised to use photocopies not originals, as they can’t be returned. These can be dropped in to Leeds Visitor Centre at Leeds Station, or to the shop at Headingley Carnegie Stadium until 14th May. For further information please call 0871 423 1315
For further information, visit www.attilathenun.co.uk, email atillathenun@hotmail.co.uk or call Tom on 07747 680 378
Leeds Petanque Club Holds Open Day Formed in 2006, the Leeds Petanque Club, based at Richmond House School Sports Field, Glen Road, Headingley, now has a thriving membership. They are holding an Open Day on Sunday 22nd May and would like to invite everyone to come along from 10am – 2pm, try the game and feast on their French-style barbecue! Regular sessions are held on Tuesdays from 7pm in Summer, and all year round at 11am on Sundays. There are also club competitions and some members play in a local league and in regional and national events. Nick Bates of Marketing Leeds, Derek Hallas and Lewis Jones – players from 1961 win, Gary Hetherington, Chief Executive of Leeds Rugby, and Kevin Sinfield, Rhino’s Team Captain (front).
38 May 2011 | northleedslife.co.uk
The game is very easy to learn to play, with all the equipment provided by the club. All ages can play together on the same team and you can be as sociable or competitive as you want. For more information, contact secretary@leedspetanque. co.uk or 07977 772971 or visit www.leedspetanque.co.uk