Warwick walking sports star wins award for accumulating nearly 100,000 steps in 'One Million Steps’ challenge

A member of the Warwick walking sports group has won an award in the Just Get Active's 'One Million Steps' challenge.

Walking sports player Gareth Bland, 62, has won an award for being a ‘Champion Step Counter’.

Before the coronavirus outbreak stopped play, Gareth racked up 91,800 steps by playing walking sports — the gentler, walking versions of sports like football and hockey — at the leisure centre at St Nicholas Park.

Gareth recorded his steps on the ‘My Just Get Active’ walking sports activity tracker, which also awarded participants points for actions like bringing a friend along to a session and volunteering.

Gareth, travels from Burbage to participate in the sessions. He said: “I was truly astonished to see how many steps I racked up through walking hockey, and it was a great surprise to win the award.

"It may not seem like a lot to some, but you really do work your muscles in every session even though you’re only walking. And it’s great fun too.”

Just Get Active’s ‘One Million Steps’ challenge kicked off across Warwickshire and the surrounding areas in January 2020 in a bid to get those aged 50 and above more active.

Due to the efforts of residents like Gareth, Just Get Active will award Think Active, the Active Partnership for Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire, with £5,000 to support walking sports clubs in the region.

John Inverdale, walking sports ambassador at Just Get Active [and BBC and ITV broadcaster], said: “I’m really impressed with how the people of Warwickshire and the surrounding areas have given Just Get Active’s ‘One Million Steps’ walking sports challenge their all.

"Gareth is a worthy recipient of the ‘Champion Step Counter’ title. What Gareth has achieved is really something to be proud of; I hope he will be getting their trainers back on and reuniting with their walking sports family soon.”

Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, the business behind Just Get Active, said: “When we set up the ‘My Just Get Active’ walking sports activity tracker, we had faith that the people of Warwickshire and the surrounding areas would recognise and enjoy the many benefits walking sports has to offer, from fitness to fun and a real ‘family’ feel.

"What we’ve seen has gone beyond that — their dedication to getting active has been incredible.

"Thank you, Warwick and a huge congratulations to our ‘Champion Step Counter’, Gareth. You’ve all been fantastic and we hope, when the time is right, you’ll get back in the game and continue to live healthy, happy lives with walking sports.”

When walking sports sessions resume, anyone wishing to find out more can go to: JustGetActive.co.uk