Colchester has a large network of excellent sports facilities that are the envy of many other towns across the UK, providing opportunities for training camps in all of the major Olympic and Paralympic events.
The Borough's portfolio of facilities include many specialist centres that have enabled local youngsters to progress from beginner right through to elite performer, ensuring that Colchester was well represented at the 2004 Athens Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Colchester Olympic Partnership are also working with Essex County Council and other Local Authority partners to promote the county of Essex as a Pre Games Training Camp Location. 21 venues in Essex, are included in the official LOCOG Pre Games Training Camp guide. Further details on PGTC in Essex can be found by visiting http://www.essexlegacy.org/training-camps/
Facilities include:
- An 8 lane, floodlit, synthetic IAAF approved athletics track with a throws cage outside of the track. This was resurfaced in 2007 and is located within the Garrison sports ground, providing a good level of privacy.
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- A number of large sports halls including the new Garrison Physical Training and Recreation Centre (8 badminton courts), the University of Essex (6 badminton courts), Charter Hall (6 badminton courts) and Colchester Leisure World (5 badminton courts). Both the University and Charter Hall have hosted England National League basketball matches as well as GB basketball training camps.
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- A specialist, floodlit, deep-filled sand synthetic hockey pitch that can be watered to replicate a water-based surface. This pitch is located within the Garrison sports ground, providing a good level of privacy.
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- Excellent equestrian facilities at the Garrison Saddle Club, including a 60m x 40m floodlit ménage (sand / rubber surface). This facility also has a 6 course horse walker and stables for 12 horses.
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- A variety of shooting ranges including those in the Garrison (12/12/16 lanes x 600m at Middlewick and 6/12/12/10 x 600m at Fingringhoe) as well as the purpose built Colchester Rifle Club which has both indoor and outdoor ranges. Members of Colchester Rifle Club have represented their country at past Commonwealth and Olympic Games. Both arms and ammunition can be stored at the Garrison.
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- A number of high quality football pitches, including two floodlit, third generation synthetic turf pitches (rubber crumb surface), a high-quality, floodlit grass football pitch with covered spectator seating and the new 10,000 all-seater Colchester Community Stadium - the home to our professional football team, Colchester United.
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- A 22 court tennis facility including 12 grass courts and 10 hard courts (6 of which are floodlit), as well as additional grass courts in the Garrison that have been used for county standard matches.
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- A specialist indoor bowls centre accompanied by two high-quality outdoor bowling greens.
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In addition to these specialist facilities we have a number of multi-use sports centres with facilities that could be used to accommodate training camps.
Click here for a printable, at-a-glance summary of the various options for hosting a training camp in Colchester, broken down by Olympic and Paralympic sport.
