On 23^rd July, Friends of Rhyddings Park in association with the Blaze project is hosting THE BIG GAME 2011.

The Big Game is a fun, spoof Olympic style event for teams to compete in weird and wacky games. There will be an Olympic style opening ceremony, daft games and of course a closing ceremony with prizes and awards.

We’re looking for teams to take part. Teams can be made up of players of any age from 8 to 80+. We’re recommending that each team has between 6 to 10 players. Don’t worry if you’re not ‘sporty’, some of the games will favour the less athletic. Schools, Community Groups and Businesses are all welcome to enter.

The idea behind The Big Game came about last year when Artist, Tom Russoti worked with a group of young people in Nelson. He explains the idea far better than I can, “The Big Game is a sporting event which is a work of art. As participants, you will add to this work; you will play, you will compete, you will express yourselves. You will design games and costumes, maybe even mascots, goal celebrations, and dances. You will take pictures and video yourselves running around in odd positions. You will possibly do things never done before on a sporting ground. And you will collaborate with others, all equally hurtling themselves forward in their own madness, into one gigantic performance, to make the Big Game a most grand spectacle for the senses. And, maybe, just maybe, you might receive a trophy, not for winning of course, but for more important achievements: best fall, best moustache, naughtiest adult. In the end, The Big Game will not go down in sporting history, so you will make sure it is worth your while to play, for the most important reason of all, for the sake of playing itself.”

So, can YOU field a team? If you’re interested, all you have to do is fill in the attached form. Entry is free.

If you want to know more get in touch – 01254 398319. 

DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM HERE

The Big Game 2011 is a Blaze project in partnership with Curious Minds, Friends of Rhyddings Park, Civic Arts Centre, Fusion Arts and Lancashire County Council.

Rhyddings Park was originally the grounds of a private house belonging to a local mill owning family. It has been a public park since 1909.

Friends of Rhyddings Park was initially formed on the 20th October 2005 from a group of local residents after meetings organised by Oswaldtwistle Area Council.  On the 21st December 2010 we became a registered charity. One of the main objectives for the group is to allow local residents to be involved with how their local park is run. We are a non political group, in fact our constitution prohibits Councillors from sitting on the committee. We do however have close links with the council who have funded several projects in the park for us.

Shortly after our creation we took over management of the popular pets corner which is run by our volunteers. This was and still is a great achievement for us as it is one of the biggest attractions in the park.

We were also heavily involved with Hyndburn Borough Council's recent Parks for People lottery bid that successfully secured consultation funding of £50,000. This has created an action plan to improve the park in the future. We are currently working both on our own and with Hyndburn Borough Council to secure funding to complete sections of the action plan.

As a residents group the Friends of Rhyddings Park can apply for money from funding bodies that the Council can not. We are currently very busy submitting funding bids to several of these funding bodies. If you wish to become involved with any aspect of the park please get in touch using the 'contact us'.

We are looking for people who would like to assist with looking after the animals in the Pets Corner at weekends.