BASKETBALL is finally on the rise in Weymouth following years of decline, according to some of the sport’s leading figures in the town.

Weymouth Bandits used to be one of the area’s leading clubs but, with players moving away and a tougher standard to compete at, suffered a decade of falling back.

However, membership has trebled since the club was re-branded Weymouth Basketball Club and sportsmen and women are excited about its rise once again.

“It’s just jumped at us,” said Chris Canham, secretary of Weymouth Basketball Club. “The admin has been piling up, but it is a little problem as we’re just so pleased to welcome all these new players.”

A committee was formed when the club was re-branded inside the last 18 months and the three-fold increase in membership, with Polish, German and Dutch players also getting involved, has justified the new enthusiasm towards putting Weymouth basketball back on the map.

Tim Kingman, who has been involved with basketball in the area for decades, said: “It’s fantastic to see so much basketball going on in just a short amount of time.

“It shows you just how popular the sport is and what kind of positive effect it can have on the community.”

As well as the support from the Weymouth club, West Dorset County Sports Partnership (WDCSP) and schools have also helped.

WDCSP has provided 10 hours of coaching a week to a variety of primary schools in the Weymouth and Portland area with a qualified coach.

Wey Valley School and Weymouth College now have dedicated staff members who work with their basketball players and results have been impressive as a result.

Wey Valley won all but one regional competition and the college finished top of the Dorset League.

Alex Fuhrmann, Weymouth’s club development coach, said: “One of our main goals is providing a hobby or interest that can help to get children off the streets and into a physical sport.

“We’re always looking for more members and the more people that want to play – whatever their age or skill – the more teams will enter each year into fitting competition.”

Weymouth Basketball Club has a number of training sessions for different age groups.

Men (aged 16 and over) can train with Weymouth Bandits at Weymouth Sports Hub, Redlands, on Mondays between 8pm and 10pm.

Training sessions for men (aged 14 and over) with Weymouth Cowboys take place at Osprey Leisure Centre, Portland, on Thursdays between 8pm and 10pm.

Weymouth Huskies (ladies aged 14 and over) train at Weymouth College Sports Hall on Wednesdays between 8.30pm and 10pm.

On Saturdays, the college sports hall also hosts Weymouth Giants (boys and girls aged under 12) between 12pm and 1.30pm, and Weymouth Tropics (boys aged under 16) from 1.30pm until 3pm.

For more information, email info@weymouthbandits.co.uk