Waltham Forest are looking for participants aged 60 or over in a range of activities to take part in fun, friendly competitions against other partnerships with Better leisure centres. 

The Better Club Games has been going for a landmark 20 years and is constantly growing. What once started in Brixton is now in Belfast, Cornwall, Manchester, and across the Better partnerships in the UK. To find out more information on Better Club Games click onto the link in the word website.    

The Better Club Games takes place over 3 days comprises a variety of indoor sports including timed cycle challenges, walking football, walking netball, pickleball, short mat bowls, badminton, short tennis, table tennis, timed swimming, darts and dominoes. 

If you want to be considered for selection in the London & Surrey Better Club Games or want to know where you can socially participate in the older adult activities, please email Daniel.Bank@GLL.ORG at your earliest convivence. 

The first day of competitions took place at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre and Lee Valley Velopark on the 16th September. On that day we entered two mixed pickleball pairs and two walking football teams. There is a big walking football programme in Waltham Forest and Leyton Orient Walking Football Club train every Wednesday at Score Leisure Centre. Led by captain and prolific striker Andrew Okocha the Waltham Forest walking football team earnt bronze medals. After having the misfortune to lose a tense semi-final on sudden death in a penalty shoot-out with Hackney, they then were on the right side of spot kicks in the 3rd place match against Merton with keeper Tony Weston making a clutch save.

In Pickleball, Waltham Forest 1, Maggie Curran and Jeff Jewell, had a perfect group stage winning all 5 matches before losing 11-8 to Kensington and Chelsea in the quarter finals. Back in 2024 Maggie had previously helped Waltham Forest win the trophy in Short Tennis and had made a smooth transition into Pickleball. The overall energy and level of the Pickleball was outstanding and the different in both quality and quantity to last year was noteworthy. Jacqui Stafford and Ray Sefton made up Waltham Forest 2 and despite winning 2 of their 4 games were eliminated in the group stage. If you missed out on the action this year but are interested in the sport, we encourage you to attend the sessions in Waltham Forest.

The next Club Games date is the Timed Swim. We are actively recruiting anyone aged 60 or over who can swim in the medium or fast lane. To register interest please complete the form as soon as possible. We are looking for 4-6 people to take part in a 45-minute swimming event. It is a team relay event at Britannia Leisure Centre (N1 5FT) on Thursday 8th October at 9.30am with a complimentary stretching class afterwards. If you know of anyone who would be a good participant, please encourage them to apply. 

Then it is the main event on Wednesday, 21st October at Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London with 8 sports occurring and it will be hosted by celebrity Cheryl Baker. If you want to cheer on the ‘green army’, spectators can watch the final day in the stands for free.  

Dates for the diary are: 

8th October: Timed Swim 

21st October: Better Club Games Main Event- Timed Cycle, Short Mat Bowls, Badminton, Short Tennis, Table Tennis, Timed Swimming, Darts and Dominoes. 

Daniel Bank, GLL Community Sports Manager says, “We know that active ageing helps promote good physical health and mental health and combats social isolation and the Club Games are a great opportunity for older people to come together in a social, friendly environment and play competitive sport.    

“Over the years, the Club Games have proved that you are never too old to have some rivalrous fun. It’s great to see older adults competing against each other and smiling whilst doing it. Our older adult sessions are a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and if selected for Club Games you get to represent your local area. You don’t have to be world-class at any of the activities to join in, just reasonably good and willing to try your best.”  

Waltham Forest has a network of potential participants, but we are actively recruiting swimmers and domino players.  Interested participants can complete this quick form and any questions please email Daniel.Bank@GLL.ORG.

If you want to play in another sport, there is still time, but we will want to meet you at one of our sessions soon. Details of the Better With Age programme is attached.