Sporting Life
Brighton & Hove isn’t all about the water – it’s just as exciting on dry land, where the fresh air is a great motivator for fitness and leisure. Whether spectating or taking part, there’s a wealth of sporting activities to challenge and enjoy.
Until 25 years ago, Brighton & Hove Albion FC had been playing for 95 years within a mere penalty kick of The Goldstone Apartments.
These days, the top-ten Premier League club packs in the crowds seven
miles away at the 30,000 plus-capacity Amex Stadium. Matches against
Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea (to name but a few), offer fans the
opportunity to see international superstars light up the pitch with their
skills.
Whether residents relish a relaxed day of Championship cricket from one of the famous deckchairs at the Cromwell Road End or enjoy the electric atmosphere of a Friday night T20 match, the 1st Central County Ground is just fifteen minutes’ walk away.
Headquarters of the prestigious Sussex County Cricket Club, believed to
be the oldest professional sports club in the world, the grounds are
undergoing regeneration, with new stands and enhanced facilities planned
to improve the visitor experience. The County Ground is also one of the
south coast’s premier outdoor concert venues, with Elton John, Rod Stewart
and Tears for Fears recent performers.
There’s a long tradition of horse racing in the Brighton & Hove area, with the picturesque Brighton Racecourse originating back in 1783.
Nowadays the racecourse hosts flat racing fixtures from April until
October as well as a number of other events throughout the year. For
National Hunt jump racing, Fontwell Park – the only remaining figure of
eight jumps track in the UK – is around 40 minutes away, while Plumpton is
even closer. However, the highlight of the sporting and social season has
got to be 'Glorious Goodwood', five days of thrilling action at the Qatar
Goodwood Festival (not forgetting the Festival of Speed and the Revival).
Being in one of the warmest and driest parts of the country, coupled with the chalk terrain, each of the first class courses in the area are playable 52 weeks of the year.
Brighton & Hove Golf Club, the oldest in Sussex, is a nine-hole
downland-links course with 18 tees with magnificent views over the South
Downs, the sea and the city. West Hove Golf Club’s 18-hole golf course is
a challenging par 70, and boasts the only 21-bay driving range open to the
public, while Hollingbury, East Brighton and Dyke golf clubs are equally
popular.
Water sports are obviously a big pull, with wind-surfing, paddle-boarding and wakeboarding lessons available in a safe and sheltered environment at Hove Lagoon.
Further along the beach, members of the Brighton Swimming Club have been
taking to the waves daily since 1860, with a race from pier to pier taking
place every year. Yachting and sailing are also very popular, with lots of
clubs in the area, with the exclusive 1,300 berth Brighton Marina being
the largest in the UK. High-speed power boating is the latest thrill, as
qualified skippers take pleasure seekers for exhilarating rides along the
Brighton coastline.
