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Vandals deal fresh blow to sports club
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| Sickened: Dave Berrington, athletics club media officer, with the damaged throwing nets. |
A WYRE Forest sports club beginning to bounce back after a devastating arson attack destroyed its clubhouse has been repeatedly targeted by vandals.
Kidderminster and Stourport Athletic club had been on the road to recovery with a Shuttle/Times & News appeal so far raising more than £20,000 to vital replace sporting equipment destroyed in the fire at Stourport Sports Club last year.
In the last three weeks, the club has been increasingly targeted by vandals and in the latest setback the throwing cage nets were cut down, cut up and part of the cage set alight.
Sue Saunders, athletics club secretary, said: "We feel absolutely sick at this latest incident. We just don't understand why someone would want to keep damaging equipment that is used for the good of the community. It feels like someone has a vendetta against us but why?"
She added the club might not be able to host the Worcestershire County Track and Field Championships on Saturday while it also put into doubt a league match scheduled for June.
"We are going to try and put the net up on Friday but, as we need at least four people, high ladders and about two and a half hours to do it, we are battling against time," she explained.
She added: "If we do put it up, is it going to be down again on Saturday morning? It really is a disgraceful act."
Dave Berrington, the club's media officer, said vandals had already caused "irreparable" damage to the pole vault apparatus.
He added: "It's just wanton vandalism. What concerns me is that this time they didn't just pull down the nets but burnt them as well. Things are definitely getting worse."
2:35pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: johntiger, Malvern on 11:49am Fri 9 May 08
Suggest a high profile presence from local police and volunteers. Somebody knows who is carrying out this vandalism and they will make a mistake in talking about it or come over to look at what is going on when the nets are being repaired. Remember vandals like this are pretty stupid individuals. A 24 hour presence of volunteers backed by the police from Friday to Saturday morning should keep the morons away.
This weekend young athletes from all over the county will arrive to compete in the county athletics championships so we need the ground to be intact and at its best. These young dedicated athletes are what is good about youth, they are our future and show the way how responsible, intelligent people behave and achieve in life. If any of the vandals see their peers on Saturday perhaps a little will rub off!- We hope.
Regards
Chris Eaton
Suggest a high profile presence from local police and volunteers. Somebody knows who is carrying out this vandalism and they will make a mistake in talking about it or come over to look at what is going on when the nets are being repaired. Remember vandals like this are pretty stupid individuals. A 24 hour presence of volunteers backed by the police from Friday to Saturday morning should keep the morons away.
This weekend young athletes from all over the county will arrive to compete in the county athletics championships so we need the ground to be intact and at its best. These young dedicated athletes are what is good about youth, they are our future and show the way how responsible, intelligent people behave and achieve in life. If any of the vandals see their peers on Saturday perhaps a little will rub off!- We hope.
Regards
Chris Eaton
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