Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Nothing stops this Llanelli amputee from keeping fit and healthy. Despite her disability, Claire Simpson works up a sweat three times a week at Llanelli Leisure Centre gym. Five years ago, the 42-year-old had difficulty walking and was forced to have part of her right leg removed after being born with gigantism. Since then she has gone from being wheelchair bound to peddling the bikes, pounding the treadmill and working the cross trainer. Gigantism is a rare condition that causes abnormal growth in children. In Claire’s case it was her foot. The mum of two said: “I had the operation when I was 37 as the pain was unbearable. I was having to wear orthopaedic shoes and had been unable to wear proper ones all my life. Having the operation has given me a new lease of life and I’m now able to do things now I couldn’t do before. Coming to the gym has lifted my mood tenfold and it’s shown me what I can do. It was difficult at first walking through the door because my perception of the gym ...

Whether you’re on a mission to fit into that little black dress or tux for Christmas or just want to start keeping fit, Actif Fitness is the place for you. In a relaxed atmosphere, expert instructors at Carmarthenshire leisure centres are on hand to help you get into shape, lose a few pounds, improve your heart rate or stay fit. Actif Fitness has been designed and equipped to provide a balanced health and fitness programme for all types of people regardless of age, gender or fitness level. Actif Fitness also offers an extensive range of modern gym equipment and a range of classes from Zumba and Spinning to Kettlebells that will help improve stamina and promote weight loss. The £1 a day family membership for two adults and up to four children also remains on offer, giving unlimited gym use, swimming and fitness classes at any of the four leisure centres. You can take up a membership online using the Join at Home service or by visiting one of our leisure centres in Ammanford, Carmart...

Youngsters have been enjoying the start of their summer holidays by keeping active. Actif leisure centres are playing host to the ever popular playschemes across the county throughout the holiday break. Come rain or shine children are taking part in a range of exciting sporting activities including table tennis, archery, trampolining, football, squash and karate. The fun all day schemes at Carmarthen, Llanelli, Ammanford and St Clears provide eight to 12-year-olds the opportunity to experience a wide range of activities such as multi skills, circuit sessions, swimming, snorkelling, netball, canoeing and hockey. The active camps run mid week until August 29 (except Bank Holiday) and are delivered by Carmarthenshire County Council’s sports and leisure team. Executive board member for regeneration and leisure, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “These activity programmes provide an ideal opportunity for children to keep themselves fit and healthy over the summer holidays and also to experience a...

A new gym in St Clears Leisure Centre has opened. Users are enjoying working out with new high quality equipment including cardio vascular and free weights. It comes after Carmarthenshire County Council secured Section 106 money through planning conditions on a local development to fund the leisure refit. Residents have been given a tour of the facility and also had the opportunity of testing the new equipment at an open day held earlier this month. Senior sports and leisure manager, Carl Daniels said: “We’re delighted with the finished product and it was great to see so many people attend the open day. “Residents of St Clears and surrounding area have been using outdated equipment for such a long time. Not only will it benefit these existing customers but also encourage new customers to get active and use our facilities.” Treadmills, bikes, a cross trainer, rowers, a squat rack, chest press, shoulder press, leg press and a dual adjustable pulley weight stack are some of the new purc...

Family classes are being launched in Llanelli Leisure Centre. Whilst youngsters try their hand at racket sports, parents will have the opportunity to take part in yoga and zumba fitness classes. Saturday morning Actif Racket Club sessions will incorporate a number of racket sports such as table tennis, badminton, short tennis, multi skills and squash. The fitness classes will run alongside giving parents the opportunity to keep fit whilst their children are being coached. Actif Racket club is aimed at five to 11 year olds and runs from 9.30am- noon followed by a free swim. Steve Owens, Llanelli Leisure Centre co-ordinator said: “This is a great opportunity for the whole family to become more active at the same time. Children will be able to try a variety of rackets sport, sports which are not easily accessible to young people whilst their parents take part in Yoga or Zumba classes.’’ Children attending from the ages of five to seven years will need to be accompanied by an adult for ...

At the age of 84 most pensioners would be taking it easy but this one refuses, instead she works up a sweat in the gym three times a week. Gwynedd Baker enjoys nothing more than pounding the treadmill, cycling, working the cross trainer and wave machine and taking part in fitness classes at Carmarthen Leisure Centre. Although the former midwife and college lecturer suffers with high blood pressure, osteoporosis and arrhythmia, the sprightly pensioner shows no signs of letting up. Mrs Baker, from Carmarthen said: “I love keeping fit and also enjoy the social element to it. “It’s easy to sit back, watch television and do nothing but that’s not me, I like to keep active.” The fitness enthusiast also takes part in the balance and strengthening class and is one of the oldest members at the leisure centre. She was referred by her GP under the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) and works to a tailored fitness programme delivered by the centre’s qualified instructors. She said: “The st...