St Marys' middle-distance runner Colin is all geared up for Summer of Sport

Sporting events across the country might have been cancelled because of Covid-19, but the residents at St Marys care home in Ipswich are thrilled to have Anchor Hanover’s Summer of Sport to still look forward to. 

Kristy Smith, Manager at St Marys, said:

We are a resilient bunch at St Marys and won’t let the pandemic stamp on our Summer of Sport! The residents have started their own versions of the usual classics like netball and football, and are showing the carers how it should be done.

So far, netball seems a firm favourite and this is exercising their brains and their bodies which is wonderful.

One resident particularly interested in sport is 87 year old Colin Redmonds. In his younger years, Colin was a successful middle-distance runner, coming second in the All England under 18s 880 yards, and becoming Yorkshire Champion at just 17. 

To save up money to buy running spikes and improve his racing, Colin worked as the results boy at Bradford Northern Rugby League Club, getting on his bike at the end of matches and taking the scores to the town’s newspaper. 

He later became the Yorkshire half mile champion, and ran races around the Galas in Yorkshire. 

He still loves sport and is very competitive in all of the activities at St Marys, from volleyball to golf.

Kristy continues:

Colin loves sport. He is his most animated and joyous when competing and exercising. He loves anything and everything from balloon volleyball to football. He is always outside and helps keeps our gardens watered.

The Summer of Sport tournament is being held from Monday, 20 July to Sunday, 26 July – the same week when the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics would have been held. 

The tournament will see residents at St Marys taking on daily one-minute sporting challenges in disciplines such as basketball, cricket, football, table tennis, golf and rugby. The care home has been provided with sports equipment specially adapted for people living with dementia, ensuring all residents are able to participate.

Residents will be in friendly competition with other care homes across the country for coveted trophies which will be awarded during a special closing ceremony, co-ordinated across all care homes, on Sunday 26 July.

Although many sports now have to be played without spectators, staff at St Marys will be there to cheer residents on.

For more information about St Marys, contact 0800 731 2020.

All our homes will be sharing photos and videos of their competitors and sporting events on Twitter using the hashtag #SummerofSport2020. Be sure to use it to share your Summer of Sport TRYathlon attempts too!