Friend group offering free fun Boxing meet ups...

A local qualified Fitness Instructor, Boxing Coach, Michael James Loup, who is offering a free Boxing and fitness meet up. We joined both Michael and his partner Alex Murphy, on Thursday, 30 July 2020, in the Waterloo Seafront Gardens, adjacent to the Crosby Marine Lake, to find out more about his idea to combat the effects of post Covid-19 Lockdown training sessions. Michael said:- "Please message me on Facebook if you want to join us. If public health guidelines allow, we hope to hold other social distanced meets like this over the Summer! So if you want to lose weight. If you are at the lowest point of your life mentally and physically after lockdown, and/or your anxiety is too much to even fathom walking Into a gym, we are all friends. And don't worry if your too financially unstable to even contemplate a gym membership? I might be able to help you. Get involved and join us..." This is a few photo we took at the meet and please play this video interview to find out more...

Liverpool woman named in Cycling UK's 100 Women in Cycling

A woman from Merseyside has been included in Cycling UK's 100 Women in Cycling for her role in promoting the mental health benefits of cycling.  Paula Bailey had suffered from post natal depression after the birth of her 1st child and she wanted to find people to cycle with. After being put in touch with someone who was looking to set up a group, they founded the Liverpool Loopline Ladies Cycling Club. Since the club started Paula has lead rides every week, in all weathers.  She joins TV Presenter and personality Gail Porter, 4 time Olympic gold medal winner Laura Kenny CBE and Olympic Gold Medallist, Nicole Cooke MBE, in the cycling charity's list recognising significant achievements in promoting women's cycling.  The women have all been recognised in celebration of the amazing work they have done to inspire other women to get on their bikes as part of the national cycling charity's Women's Festival of Cycling which runs until the end of July 2020.

Although the number of women cycling has increased during lockdown, men are still cycling nearly twice as much as women. The Women's Festival of Cycling aims to address that imbalance by inspiring more women to get in the saddle. Other well known names who have made the list include Paralympian Hannah Dines, who opened the conversation about female saddle pain after having to undergo labial surgery; Isabeau Courdurier, the youngest women to have won the Enduro World Series; Lizzie Deignan, Olympic medallist and 2015 World Road Race Champion; and cycle touring author Bettina Selby.

The list also includes less well known names who have been working tirelessly at grassroots level to encourage more women to ride. People like Paula. "Since we started the group and starting cycling regularly together it's really helped my mental health. It's really beneficial to me," she explained.

Helen Cook, Cycling UK's head of engagement, said:- "Every woman on our list is an incredible ambassador for women's cycling, and with the surge in interest in cycling over the past few months we want to make sure women continue to get on their bikes and more women join them.  During the festival we are asking women who cycle to share pictures of their rides with us using the hashtag #BeYouByBike to show the fun, freedom and adventure we can all have on a bike."

Gail Porter said:- "I absolutely love cycling; I love it to bits. I wouldn't be without my bike. When I get on my bike, with no idea where I'm going, it just makes me feel really happy. My bike is like my little sanctuary."

The Women's Festival of Cycling takes place from 11 to 31 July 2020 and includes fun interactive talks aimed at women. To find out more about the festival and to see a full list of nominees, visit our website.