Sport clubs real winners at Sports Day Out

Gay and lesbian sporting clubs are reporting swathes of new recruits following the success of Sports Day Out on Sunday, which managed to attract a record number of people to indulge in some sun, sausages and all-out sporting fun.

Over a dozen clubs put themselves on display throughout the day, including newcomers Unbiased Bowling -” Sydney’s first GLBT lawn bowls group -” and the Amazon Women’s Tennis group. Both clubs managed to draw in new players, but it was those old favourites The Convicts and The Outfielders who attracted massive crowds for their respective rugby and softball matches.

The day was an unparalleled success according to Team Sydney secretary Wally Salinger, who was pleased to see a number of new faces signing up and a great deal of mingling between clubs.

It was the biggest ever and based on that we are considering getting even bigger next year, Salinger told Sydney Star Observer.

A lot of the clubs I spoke to on the day reported a number of new sign-ups. The newly formed bowls club is now up to about 33 or 34 people and volleyball managed to get at least another dozen new recruits.

It was also just great to see all the clubs mingling -” I mean I think the Convicts spent more time playing softball than they did rugby. And it was great to see the Australian sailing and yachting club people talking about how they might get involved with other clubs, like having a day playing volleyball or getting out with the Frontrunners. And obviously landlubbers like us would love to get out and go sailing. That was the whole point of the day, to get those crossovers and I was just pleased to see it all working out so well.

Mingling aside, there was some star-spotting, with former Olympian trampoliner Ji Wallace making an appearance at the Federation of Gay Games stand.

Federation spokesperson Kate Rowe said that despite their other guest star, Olympian Michelle Ferris, pulling out of the day, it was a tremendous success.

It’s a work in progress that each year gets bigger and better. For us it was very good, and we got a lot of enquiries about the Games which was great and helped to boost our profile.

It was a good day with beautiful weather and there was a great spirit, with everyone there to celebrate.

Team Sydney president Geoffrey Radford also commented on the sense of camaraderie in the air.
The whole day is about showing people that you can be out and play sport and compete as well. It was fantastic to see so many people getting out there and doing it and getting involved with something other than the bar scene.

Sports Day Out attracted a record number of people on Sunday.