A new version of curling is growing to be very popular with Lincoln retirees.
Hosted at Moorland Community Centre, this adapted version of curling has been organised by Lincoln City Foundation “to be played and enjoyed by all”.
While the original version is played on ice, this version is played indoors on any smooth, flat surface, with the players pushing stones from one end of the hall to the other.
Joyce Rimmer, 82, helps organise the new age kurling sessions and has taken part since they began 12 years ago.
She said: “We started off very small and it just gradually grew by word of mouth. It’s important because it’s a good form of light socialising for older people and they mix rather than playing with the same people every week.”
Health and wellbeing coach at Lincoln City foundation, Ian Johns, described new age kurling’s recent growth.
He said: “This year has been phenomenal. It dropped off slightly after Covid, but now we’ve ended up putting on a second session on Thursdays which gets just as many people, so it has doubled in size basically.”
Ian, who has helped deliver community sessions for over 9 years, described the benefits new age kurling provides for older people.
He said: “You’ve got the physical aspect such as gauging distance and controlling how hard to push it, which is great for the mind, but the social side is the most important part.”
Lincoln City Foundation also offers seated exercises and indoor carpet bowls for older people.
