Ponds Forge
Encyclopedia
Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in the City of Sheffield
, England
that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.
, which the city hosted that year. As well as the latter, Ponds Forge has hosted many swimming competitions and other events. In recent years it has been host (along with the nearby Don Valley Stadium
) to Channel Four's 'The Games', whereby celebrities compete against each other in a wide range of events. The name Ponds Forge is borrowed from the steel works that formerly occupied this site and a 7 ft high anvil has been left in situ next to the building, partly because it would have been too expensive to move it. The River Sheaf
runs under the site and flooded the car park on the 21 Dec 1991, shutting the complex for 6 days. Proof of this can be found on platform Five of Sheffield railway station, because the Sheaf also runs under that, and it also flooded at the same time. A piece of debris from "The Flood" is displayed there and the plaque mounted on it has the same date.
built to current World and Olympic standards, and home to many sporting events. The main pool hall is 90 m long by 60 m wide and when the arches for the roof were constructed temporary supports for them were necessary. When these were removed it "settled" 150 mm. It has two movable bulkheads (so the main tank can be split into 2 or 3 individual pools) and the floors at the end quarters can be raised or lowered from surface level down to 2 m depth. In its long course mode with the bulkheads at the extreme ends it has 10 lanes. If used "width ways" up to twenty 25 m lanes are available. A sophisticated ozone water treatment system is employed that results in lower levels of irritants and reduced toxicity compared with traditional methods of treatment. The quality of the pool means that a great many events are held there which creates valuable exposure for the city of Sheffield and brings in much revenue for the city's hotels etc. The down side is the consequent unavailability for its regular users whilst those events are being held. A number of world records have been set in the pool although only one was long course. The latter was in the heats of the European Championships on the 3 August 1993 when Károly Güttler
of Hungary went 1.00.95 to set a new world mark in the 100 m breaststroke. As well as competition-level swimming, the pool is also used for lessons, diving, kayaking and scuba diving. It is also open to the general public for lane swimming.
venue. The maximum seating capacity
of the arena is 1,600, and until 2006 was the home venue for the Sheffield Sharks
, before they relocated to the EIS Sheffield
. Amongst other events it has also hosted several Great Britain
international matches as well as the Semi-finals of the BBL Cup
in 2004, and will again host the BBL Trophy
equivalent in February 2008.
Park Square
, conveniently placed for access in Sheffield City Centre. Within five minutes walking distance of the main bus station & Shefffield Train Station, the complex is also served by the nearby tramstop of Fitzalan Square
/Ponds Forge. The Sheffield Parkway
is a conveniently placed dual-carriageway that runs directly from Park Square to junction 33 of the M1 motorway
.
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and kids pools, water slides and other sports facilities.
Brief history
Ponds Forge was designed by the architects FaulknerBrowns and opened in 1991 as a venue for the World Student GamesUniversiade
The Universiade is an International multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation . The name is a combination of the words "University" and "olympiad"...
, which the city hosted that year. As well as the latter, Ponds Forge has hosted many swimming competitions and other events. In recent years it has been host (along with the nearby Don Valley Stadium
Don Valley Stadium
The Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by...
) to Channel Four's 'The Games', whereby celebrities compete against each other in a wide range of events. The name Ponds Forge is borrowed from the steel works that formerly occupied this site and a 7 ft high anvil has been left in situ next to the building, partly because it would have been too expensive to move it. The River Sheaf
River Sheaf
The River Sheaf is a river in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Its source is the union of the Totley Brook and the Old Hay Brook in Totley, now a suburb of Sheffield. It flows northwards, past Dore, through the valley called Abbeydale and north of Heeley...
runs under the site and flooded the car park on the 21 Dec 1991, shutting the complex for 6 days. Proof of this can be found on platform Five of Sheffield railway station, because the Sheaf also runs under that, and it also flooded at the same time. A piece of debris from "The Flood" is displayed there and the plaque mounted on it has the same date.
Olympic-sized swimming pool
The 50 metre pool at Ponds Forge is one of three in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
built to current World and Olympic standards, and home to many sporting events. The main pool hall is 90 m long by 60 m wide and when the arches for the roof were constructed temporary supports for them were necessary. When these were removed it "settled" 150 mm. It has two movable bulkheads (so the main tank can be split into 2 or 3 individual pools) and the floors at the end quarters can be raised or lowered from surface level down to 2 m depth. In its long course mode with the bulkheads at the extreme ends it has 10 lanes. If used "width ways" up to twenty 25 m lanes are available. A sophisticated ozone water treatment system is employed that results in lower levels of irritants and reduced toxicity compared with traditional methods of treatment. The quality of the pool means that a great many events are held there which creates valuable exposure for the city of Sheffield and brings in much revenue for the city's hotels etc. The down side is the consequent unavailability for its regular users whilst those events are being held. A number of world records have been set in the pool although only one was long course. The latter was in the heats of the European Championships on the 3 August 1993 when Károly Güttler
Károly Güttler
Károly Güttler is a former breaststroker from Hungary, who represented his native country at four consecutive Olympics, beginning with the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and ending with the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia...
of Hungary went 1.00.95 to set a new world mark in the 100 m breaststroke. As well as competition-level swimming, the pool is also used for lessons, diving, kayaking and scuba diving. It is also open to the general public for lane swimming.
Diving pool
Ponds Forge plays host to Europe's deepest diving pool at 5.85 metres. This pool hosted the FINA World Diving Series Championships in April 2011 and will be home to USA Diving Squad for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.Surf City leisure pool
The "Surf City" leisure pool complex comprises many water-based attractions, that is open for public use:- A modern leisure swimming pool, which is used for lane swimming or leisure swimming. At regular intervals a wave machine is activated in this pool, turning it into a topsy-turvy experience similar to swimming in the sea.
- A lazy river goes around the outside of the square pool with a reasonably strong current, children can float on rings in the current.
- A smaller children's pool with a waterfall and fountains
- Two large water slides that loop outside and then traverse back in above the leisure pool.
Gym
In 2009 the gym at Ponds Forge went through a major refurbishment, with a £3 million investment. It now houses 130 piece modern gym, a spin studio, numerous group fitness class studios, a steam room and sauna. The modernisation upgraded the gym to give users the facilities that they have come to expect with other private gyms.Basketball
Also within the complex is the International Sports Hall, which is often used as a basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
venue. The maximum seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of the arena is 1,600, and until 2006 was the home venue for the Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...
, before they relocated to the EIS Sheffield
English Institute of Sport - Sheffield
The English Institute of Sport is a multi-sport facility in Sheffield, England. The facility designed by was opened in December 2003 at a cost of £24 million. Its main feature is a 200 m indoor track but it also hosts several other sporting arenas as well as a large gym and extensive sports...
. Amongst other events it has also hosted several Great Britain
Great Britain national basketball team
The Great Britain men's national basketball team, known as Great Britain or GB, is the national team for Great Britain in basketball...
international matches as well as the Semi-finals of the BBL Cup
BBL Cup
The BBL Cup is one of two peripheral competitions operated by the British Basketball League during the regular season, the other being the BBL Trophy...
in 2004, and will again host the BBL Trophy
BBL Trophy
The BBL Trophy is one of three cup competitions operated by the British Basketball League. The competition begins with a regional group format and comprises the BBL clubs divided into four regional qualifying groups of three...
equivalent in February 2008.
Location
Ponds Forge is at the south-western side of the major traffic RoundaboutRoundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
Park Square
Park Square
Park Square may refer to:* Park Square, Sheffield, England* Park Square, Leeds, England* Park Square, London, England* Park Square, Rhode Island, USA...
, conveniently placed for access in Sheffield City Centre. Within five minutes walking distance of the main bus station & Shefffield Train Station, the complex is also served by the nearby tramstop of Fitzalan Square
Fitzalan Square
Fitzalan Square is a municipal square situated in the city centre of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. The present day square is one of the busiest areas of the city centre with traffic and pedestrians continually moving through the area...
/Ponds Forge. The Sheffield Parkway
Sheffield Parkway
The Sheffield Parkway is a major dual carriageway which runs between the City of Sheffield and junction 33 of the M1 in South Yorkshire, England. The 5.5 mile road was opened in 1974, and runs to the east of the City, connecting Park Square in the City centre with the inner ring road, outer ring...
is a conveniently placed dual-carriageway that runs directly from Park Square to junction 33 of the M1 motorway
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
.
See also
- Sheffield Arena
- Don Valley StadiumDon Valley StadiumThe Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by...
- Sheffield City TrustSheffield City TrustSheffield City Trust is a registered charity in the United Kingdom that owns and/or manages twelve entertainment and sports venues in Sheffield, England.-Charitable objectives:The Trust was established in 1988 with three charitable objects:...
- List of Olympic-size swimming pools in the United Kingdom
- Fitness Unlimited