Youngsters and members return to Spalding and Holbeach area gyms and pools
Fitness fans across South Holland were delighted to return to their ‘new normal’ over the weekend.
On Saturday, gyms, leisure centres and indoor pools were able to reopen, after the Government gave the go-ahead, in the latest move to ease lockdown restrictions.
Royals Gym in Holbeach was amongst those which welcomed the return of its members and owner Sam Fowler was over the moon.
He said: “It was brilliant and everybody is so happy to be back.
“Not just for the fitness side, but also for the socialising side - it’s great to socialise with people again after not having seen them for months.
“Everybody is sticking to the rules and I think because people are quite concious of them anyway that helps.
“They’re all doing it because they know it’s what we need to do to keep the gym open.
“Reopening really couldn’t have gone any better!”
Fitness fever was also in full effect at Everybody’s Gym in Spalding where extensive safety measures were in place to protect clients and staff.
Adam Jones, the gym’s managing director, said: “It was amazing to see everybody come back through the doors again.
“We’d put all these measure in place and everybody was doing exactly what we said, wiping down the machines after use and following the one-way system.
“I didn’t have to say anything to anybody, everybody just did it.
“But the main thing was just seeing everybody back exercising, with the Government going hard on everybody losing weight.
“It’s good to see our clients back in the gym and working on their goals.”
Saturday was also a big day for Billie Whyatt who was finally in a position to open her new swimming school, Billie Fin’s Swimming School, in Pinchbeck.
She said: “Saturday went really well. I was really nervous about opening during these times but everybody seemed to be really glad that we are getting back to a little bit of normality.
“We have limited numbers to ensure social distancing and safety measures in place too. We have more staff than normal working just to keep everything running well - and to clean everywhere every 15 minutes.”
Billie was due to open her new school in May, but was forced to delay due to lockdown.
The pool, which also offers private hire for families of up to six people, has already proven popular with swimmers.
Billie said: “We were fully booked up on Sunday for private hire which is great.”
“When you have built something for the public it’s so lovely to see families enjoying it – you get a real sense of satisfaction.”
Spalding Gymnastics Club also reopened on Saturday and youngsters fully enjoyed returning to the club, on Cradge Bank, where they were given temperature checks before they started their sessions.
Coach Alec Harding said: “The squads were split into four different bubbles and they were more than thrilled to be back, but they ached a bit on Sunday morning!”
