LIFESTYLEHEALTH CLUB OF THE WEEK
XAVERIANS CRICKET Clapham Old Xaverians is a London institution, established in 1927, now with 180 playing members about 400 tag-alongs. They’re calling for new players to join the club ahead of the 2013 season – serious league types play Saturdays and the friendly sides play Sundays. Newbies are welcome to hone their batting, bowling and fielding skills at regular training sessions, and seek advice from the friendly and qualified coaches. They’ll also put you through your paces with some fitness work. “The club has a competitive but social nature,” says keen Old Xaverian player Matthew Benedict. It’s also a great way to meet other Londoners and see some of the UK, he explains. “We have annual tours to all different parts of the UK, such as Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Wight and Jersey.” Home matches are played at the pristine London School of Economics sports ground, where there are two nets, lawn tennis facilities and a relaxing bar with a veranda – where you can sink a couple of pints after an enjoyable game. Join Sunday sessions between 12pm-2pm. Winter sessions cost £3. Southfields Community College, SW18 5JU pitchero.com/clubs/ claphamoldxaverians Southfields
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Man in the Mayan mask Music and lycra with wrestling madness, Lucha Britannia is no ordinary workout WORDS JADE BREMNER I’m worried I’ll walk into a bar brawl or a sex dungeon in this dark alley, outside a sketchy-looking row of arches. This is where Londoners congregate weekly, strap on gimp-ish masks and pounce on each other. If you’re looking for an unusual way to get fit in the city, Lucha Britannia is it! Wrestling sessions are held at Resistance Gallery, known for its edgy exhibitions such as Till Art Do Us Part – An Homage to Pain. Fitting, I think, for the British version of Mexico’s famed Lucha Libre, or free wrestling, with roots in ancient Mayan mask culture. Lucha Britannia has evolved into a hyper-physical performance, with outrageous fantasy characters and Monty Python-style. And they pull off some serious stunt man moves on a regular basis. “It’s story-telling and physical theatre,” owner and instructor Garry Vanderhorne says. “But, in our live theatrical shows, mistakes cannot be made. Not only will it look really bad, it’s very dangerous.” On cue, there’s a colossal thud on the practice mat. Two wrestlers spin each other around, flipping from a stationary position,
Look out: Leon Britannico about to crush Major Lee Rotten 36
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and bounce off various parts of their bodies. “You have to have complete trust in your opponent,” Greg Burridge, a pro wrestler and coach, says. “Compared to other forms of wrestling, what we do is faster-paced and it’s high flying.” It looks threatening and painful, but that’s the point. “It’s not ballet, but it will keep you really fit and stimulate your brain,” Vanderhorne says. Sure beats the gym. “People even come just for our warmup,” he adds. I can see why – 20 wrestlers and wannabes limber-up by dancing and stretching to rave music and strobe lights, and are occasionally interrupted by participants shouting “buttocks” after particularly taxing moves. I discover this class is not just for beefy blokes, but a diverse alternative community: “We get everyone from porn stars to mimes and burlesque artists here,” Vanderhorne reveals. So leave your inhibitions at the door, mask up and get involved. Beginner classes: Mondays, 7.30pm-10.30pm. £10 per session, including a ‘Lucha aerobic’ warm-up. 265 Poyser St, E2 9RF luchabritannia.com
Pawn stars: Pongo Moon and Chester Checkmate
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30/11/12 16:30:09