Leisure centre back in action following multi-million pound upgrades

Record breaking Atlantic rower, Jasmine Harrison, opened the centre.

Leader of the council, Councillor Mark Robson, said: “It was great to welcome Jasmine to officially open the new look Thirsk & Sowerby leisure centre.

“It felt only right we mark the occasion by celebrating this fantastic new community facility with an official opening event.

“I know the development work was much needed and has been welcomed by the local community and I hope this state-of-the-art facility shows our commitment as a council to delivering top quality local facilities that matter to local people and can be enjoyed for many years to come.”

The centre now boasts a gym three times the size of the old facility and is fully equipped with the latest Technogym equipment.

It also has a new studio for exercise classes and meetings, as well as a cycling studio, which includes the Technogym virtual cycling solution.

The pool changing area and showers have received a makeover including upgraded LED lighting to make the space more welcoming.

And the gym changing rooms have been updated and extended, with the reception area transformed into a light and airy modern space.

Outdated plant equipment has been replaced with greener, more environmentally sustainable equipment and the building has a new roof to address much needed repairs and condensation issues.

Alliance Leisure Services Ltd was appointed by Hambleton District Council at the start of the project as the developer for the scheme, with ISG Ltd the main contractor.

Harrison, who is from Sowerby and works at the centre, became the youngest ever solo female to row the Atlantic after setting off on her 3,000-mile journey from La Gomera in the Canary Islands in December last year.

She docked in Antigua on 20 February, completing the journey in a record breaking 70 days, three hours and 48 minutes.