Woodcock Sports Centre celebrated its 10,000th gym member this week by awarding the lucky 10,000th member with a free academic gym and swim pass worth £140!
Amber Edwards, a first year Psychology student here at Aston was presented with her prize by Mike Kirkman, Head of Sport and Recreation. Amber was over the moon: 'Wow! I am really pleased to have won this free membership. The gym here is excellent and is very convenient for me as I live on campus so I use it 4 times a week. Thank you very much Sport Aston!'
Mike Kirkman added: 'We are delighted to have reached the milestone of 10,000 members since the end of 2002. Many congratulations to Amber, she sounds like she will certainly be putting her membership to good use.'
Since opening in late 2002 the gym has expanded and improved year on year to cope with the ever increasing demand placed on it predominantly by Aston students. The gym is now open seven days a week from 7am- 10pm in the week and from 10am to 5pm at weekends. Mike: 'Sport plays such an important part of the overall university experience and it is essential that we provide our students with an opportunity to exercise and take part in physical recreation. From humble beginnings we have developed the gym into a 60+ station facility with a range of cardio, fixed resistance and free weights. We have two gym rooms with one of them hosting women only gym sessions at certain times during the week. Our gym revenue has increased by an impressive 40% in the last 4 years alone whilst swimming revenue has also increased by about 60%.
'Sports facilities in general are heavily used by international students with about a third of Sport Aston gym and swimming members being international students – this surely highlights the importance and enjoyment of Sport and Recreation facilities – particularly for international students.'
With this landmark now passed the Sport and Recreation department will be working hard to ensure that the next 10,000 members get a service they can be proud of!
Words by Simon Foster
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