AFTER 27 years a sports club for youngsters is coming to an end.

The Saturday Sports Club is calling it a day and organisers would like to hear from people about their memories of the club.

It was initiated and originally based at Westhaven County Junior School in 1987, before moving to the new school site at Conifers Primary school in Weymouth.

Over the years the club has laid on a full programme of games for youngsters between the ages of five and 13 years old.

The activities over the years have included athletics, basketball, mini-cricket, football, hockey, obstacle races, tag-rugby, rounders, non-stop cricket, skittleball and mini-tennis for boys and girls of all abilities.

Organiser Don Whistance recalls: “I began the event in 1987 with a school colleague, Chris Harker, because they both found there were fewer organised activities in the way of sport and leisure for schoolchildren.

“The club operated every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm from May through to early July.

“It introduced the children to a variety of sports, some of which they may not have experienced before, which would hopefully encourage them to develop as a more complete sportsperson.

“It was then hoped that the children would join a sports club in the community.”

Each youngster would receive a certificate and a medal at the end of the course and have the opportunity of winning one of the merit trophies linked to the sporting activities. The sports person trophy for girl and boy would be based on their attendance, attitude, behaviour and commitment. This year the winners were Harry Mitchell and Hannah Reeman.

The famous ‘bell’ was used to organise the children and helped to give order to the movement around the sports field.

The first ‘ring’ would tell the children to sit with their coach at the end of the one hour session and the second ‘ring’ would mean that they were to ‘walk’ onto the next activity.

It has been carefully supervised by experienced teachers and coaches, such as Bob Brittain, Andy Harris (FA football coach), Sean Fitgerald (cricket coach), Des and Julien Quick (tag rugby); Julien Lawes, Clif Moreton and Ryan Bissett (tennis club coaches); with the main sponsors for 27 years being Weymouth College.

A celebratory farewell drink and food evening has been organised at The Stable, Weymouth, on Saturday July 24 from 7.30pm for people who would like to meet the original organisers Chris Harker and Don J Whistance. Anyone who would like to send in their Saturday Sports Club memories should email joanna.davis@ dorsetecho.co.uk