SPORT IN OXFORD

Athletics: The Horspath Road Athletics track is a state-of-the-art facility available to everyone. The facility is designed to encourage both the beginner and expert to try their hand at any track and field discipline. There are facilities for disabled athletes, including accessible changing facilities and chair anchorage for field events.

Organised coaching sessions are run by Oxford City Athletics Club which uses Horspath Road as its home base. There is also a range of sports pitches at Horspath Road. For more information, visit the website: www.oxford.gov.uk/leisure

Ice skating: Home to Oxford Stars Ice Hockey team and the Junior Figure Skating Club, Oxford Ice Rink is in Oxpens, a ten-minute walk from the city centre and railway station. There is a car park next to it.

Open daily for sessions between 10am and noon and 2pm to 4pm. On Fridays there is a lunch hour slot from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. Early evening sessions are available from 5.45pm to 7.15pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and 6pm to 7.30pm on Fridays.

Later slots are available on Sundays and Mondays at 9pm to 10.30pm and Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8pm to 10.30pm.

The afternoon session on Saturdays features disco lights and a DJ, as do some of the evening sessions.

Skate parks: Meadow Lane recreation ground is home to one the best outdoor skate ramp facilities in the UK. Open to all and free to ride, the park serves hundreds of skaters and bikers from Oxford.

There are also skate parks in Blackbird Leys Park and Sunnymead recreation ground.

Swimming and gyms: Oxford City Council offers free swimming for everyone under 17. All you need is a free Kids Slice card, which is available from your nearest council leisure facility.

Barton Pool is a brand new 25m, four-lane swimming pool and multi-activity room in Waynflete Road, Barton, east Oxford, which also offers exercises classes. 01865 467290.

Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre is in Pegasus Road, east Oxford, five miles from the city centre. Activities at the leisure centre include fitness classes, badminton, basketball and five-a-side football. 01865 467020.

Located a few minutes' walk from the centre is the swimming pool, in Blackbird Leys Road. 01865 467040.

Ferry Sports Centre, situated in Diamond Place, Summertown, to the north of Oxford, includes a fitness suite, 25-metre, six-lane main pool, learner pool, dance studio, three squash courts, sports hall, therapy room, five-a-side football, basketball and volleyball. 01865 467060.

Peers Sports Centre is on the Peers School campus, Sandy Lane West, Littlemore. Facilities include a 20m x 8m swimming pool, sports hall, three squash courts, tennis courts, exercise classes, badminton, basketball and five-a-side football. 01865 467095.

Temple Cowley Pools, Temple Road, Cowley, is approximately two miles south east of the city centre.

This modern centre offers a wide variety of facilities and activities, including a main pool, learner pool, 20+ station gym, sauna and steam rooms and classes. 01865 467124/ 467110.

When the weather is nice, Hinksey Outdoor Pool is a must.

It is situated in Hinksey Park, Lake Street, off the Abingdon Road, one mile south of the city centre.

Facilities include: a large outdoor heated swimming pool, relaxation area, outdoor play area, disabled toilet and changing facility and refreshments. 01865 46707.

Tennis: There are many opportunities to play indoor and outdoor tennis in the city. The city council runs courts in the following parks:

Alexandra Park, Mondays to Sundays, noon to 7.30pm Bury Knowle Park, Mondays to Fridays noon to 7.30pm and noon to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays

Cutteslowe Park, Mondays to Fridays noon to 7.30pm and 11am to 7pm at the weekend

Florence Park, Mondays to Fridays noon to 7.30pm and noon to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays

Hinksey Park, Mondays to Fridays noon to 7.30pm and weekends noon to 6.30pm

Bookings should be made in the kiosks next to the courts. When they are closed, the courts remain open and free to use.