City Press Release has the details:
City adding adult sports to recreation programming

Richmond ’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities is starting a new adult sports league

“The department has focused primarily on giving children in the city the opportunity to play sports, but the addition of this new league will give adults the opportunity to get out and have some fun playing sports too,” said department Director J.R. Pope.

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The Bobcat Sports League is a soccer league that practices and plays on the soccer field behind Lucille Brown Middle School. Many of its players are very poor children of refugees and are not able to enjoy the same level of family support as some suburban programs. The program is a 501(c)3, and is seeking volunteers to help with all phases of the program. The founder and contact point is Dr. Bill Fleming, at 323-9864 (h) or 366-4144. Some great pictures of the wide range of ages this program supports are here. Currently the application on the site is outdated but I’ll keep an eye on it and post it when they have it up there. I also up to follow up and get out to a practice and game or two. Thanks to David H. for sending this my way.

picture grabbed from the Bobcat Website

David Hathcock submitted the pictures above.  If anyone grabbed some shots they want to up on the blog send them to me and I’ll add them into the slide show. David also had a few thoughts on the race. 

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Thanks to Jon Deutsch for sharing these great photos.

Tomorrow is race day. Interesting article on BizSense.com about the business behind the marathon is here. Below are some links that answer any marathon related question you may have this morning. I have posted the information that best applies to our area.

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The Suntrust Marathon website has all the pertinent information such as street closings. I’ll do another post Thursday or Friday with the bands playing at the Party Zones in our area but for now take a tour of the course courtesy of Runner’s World. If you would like to see a non-video of the course here you go. If you can go out and give these runners some love, they deserve and appreciate the crowds cheering them on.

On Sunday RTD had a article that took a quick look at the unique position Richmond is in when it comes to urban trails. The article was spurred by the October issue of Trail Runner magazine which listed Richmond in its “Dirty 7,” an annual list of top trail towns nationwide.

The southside rails to trails project is the next logical step in growing what is already a great resource to our community.

Michael Burton, a former professional trail builder in South Carolina who now works with Burrell for the city, praised what we have (“I’ve never seen [a trail system] that’s closer to downtown like this is and gets the kind of use that this does.”) but said he sees projects like the South Side greenway as the future of Richmond’s trail development.

“Eventually you’re going to run out of room to keep expanding the single track you have right along the river,” he said. “So to me really the next logical step would be to try to enhance the connectiveness of this trail with other parks. If those could be connected with greenways, that would be awesome.”

The last game of the year is for all the marbles. Just across the river at U of R Stadium the Richmond Kickers will be taking on the Charlotte Eagles for the USL-2 championship. Kickoff is at 8 and tickets cost $15, get out there and support your local team. If you can’t make it to the stadium the game will be televised on FSC at 11 p.m. tonight. I am going on record as predicting a 3-1 win for the Kickers, Delicate with the game winner shortly after the second half kicks off.

Championship games often turn in too cautious low scoring affairs but I don’t this will be the case for this game since “Five Eagles finished among the league’s top 20 point producers. Leading the parade: midfielders Amaury Nunes (9 goals, 2 assists) and Jorge Herrera (6, 6). . . . The Kickers are led by a pair of high-scoring forwards — Matthew Delicate (14 goals, tops in USL-2) and Bulow (9 goals). [via] The regular season records of the two teams: Richmond (12-3-6), Charlotte (10-5-7).

Today’s article in the RTD focuses on the lack of success of George Wythe High School’s football on the field. An amazing record of 1 win and 48 losses. The article then points out the familiar issues facing our school system.

Ever-dropping enrollment in the Richmond school system — it’s about half what it was 40 years ago — has meant ever-dropping funding across the board, including for sports programs.

At Wythe, that means fewer options, with the school typically fielding teams in just one-third of the 27 sports the Virginia High School League sanctions.

Across the city, with few exceptions — John Marshall basketball usually comes to mind — high school teams tend to play in antiquated facilities, draw small crowds, and fare poorly in regional and state competitions.

There are some signs of hope but sports are being left behind.

Its after-school arts programs, while hardly robust, are gaining increasing support from community groups. Students can learn music from orchestra members, produce literary journals with published authors, and learn to paint from some of the city’s best artists.

But the sports programs continue to lag, with few local supporters and little money to upgrade equipment and facilities.

In the summer of 2008 the father-son team of Jack and Philip Haar created a fundraising ride across America to raise awareness of the need for more research and better funding in the fight against cancer. The ride was done in memory of their good friend Jim Popp who died of cancer in the summer of 2007. Jim was a superb athlete, trusted physician and loved father and husband.

On Sunday August 23 you can participate in the Finale Rally Ride which is a single day ride to Yorktown. If you sign up for the ride you also get to have a deluxe spaghetti dinner provided by O’Toole’s and movie viewing of  “Breaking Away”. The donation cost to participate in the Ride for VCU, MCV & UR Students is $20 and $30 for others. You can register to ride at RideforJim.org or download the pdf RideForJim YORKTOWN RIDE

If you would like to support the Ride for Jim but don’t want to get up up at 7:30 to ride a bike to Yorktown buy a ticket and go to the Block Party Saturday, August 22nd, 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM 5000 Block of Caledonia Road (between Westover Hills Boulevard & Prince Arthur Road).

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It is really hot out there today. I know you come to this site for that kind of amazing insight. We looked into joining one of the neighborhood community pools but the cost is keeping us in guest status for at least one more summer. The good news is that the Richmond Public pools opened up earlier this week and are free.
Hours
Monday – Friday, 1 – 4:30 & 5 – 8 pm
Saturday, 12 – 5 pm
Sunday, 1 – 5 pm and
Holidays, 1 – 5 pm

Locations
Bellemeade Pool (Southside)
1800 Lynhaven Ave.
(804) 646-8849

Blackwell Pool (Southside)
238 East 14th Street
(804) 646-8718

Swansboro Indoor Pool (Southside)
3160 Midlothian Turnpike
(804) 646-8088

More locations

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Races of all sorts both Saturday and Sunday on Brown’s Island and parts of the James River Park system.

From the X-Terra website:

This is year 11 for the storied event first held in 1999 – and a decade later thousands of locals and XTERRA fanatics alike have their own tales of racing in the most unique, most profound urban adventure XTERRA ever created.

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I have warned you before that we will stray across our Hills and Heights zone due to soccer. This looks like it could be a great family event that is both cheap and entertaining. The paragraph below came from the Kicker’s website, the added emphasis is all me.

Celebrate the end of the school year and kick off the summer fun at the Richmond Kickers School’s Out Festival on Saturday, June 6th.  Beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium (just off the Downtown Expressway), the School’s Out Festival will feature live music, food, activities for kids and fun for the whole family.  The pro soccer game highlights the event as the Kickers host the Harrisburg City Islanders at 7:00 p.m.  Bring the whole family before 6:00 p.m. and purchase a $5.00 ticket that allows admission for the whole group. Parking is free.  Richmond Kickers regular priced admission ($12/adults, $7/youth) will apply after 6:00 p.m.

Full list of activities and vendors here. There really are going to be a bunch.

The Kicker’s are coming off a victory at home last Saturday and hopefully can ride that momentum. Previously the Kicker’s haven’t been able to win at home only draw.

Pretty sad that I’m already pondering the weekend and it’s only Tuesday. But, hey, I like to plan. Friday marks the opening of the inaugural Dominion Riverrock Festival.

Friday, May 15
4 – 9 p.m. Vendor Booths and Interactive Village open
6 p.m. Ultimate Air Dogs (Splash #1)
Freestyle Bikes (Qualifying)
Filthy 5k Mud Run
6:30 p.m. Free Concert featuring Jesse Chong followed by Rusted Root

Saturday, May 16
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Vendor Booths and Interactive Village open
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Rowing Regatta – Rocketts Landing
9 a.m. James River Scramble 10k trail run
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Live Music
10 a.m. Ultimate Air Dogs (Splash #2)
11 a.m. Freestyle Bikes (Qualifying)

12 Noon Ultimate Air Dogs (Fetch It!)
Urban Assault mountain bike race
1 p.m. Jammin’ on the James Canoe/Kayak Boatercross-Hollywood Rapid
1:30 p.m. Ultimate Air Dogs Finals
2 p.m. Freestyle Bikes Finals

For more details on each event go to sports backer’s website.

Half of this falls under better late than never. Sorry dear readers but I didn’t catch that there was a USAT Duathlon going on this weekend and will shut down some roads. Near West End News has the details and I am copying the road closures for Sunday below.

Road Closures for Sunday, April 26th
2nd Street from Byrd Street to Lee Bridge closed – Until 1:00 p.m.
Byrd Street between 2nd Street and 3rd Streets closed – Until 1:00 p.m.
The curb lane of the Lee Bridge closed in both directions — 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Riverside Drive closed from Lee Bridge access ramps to 42nd Street — 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
42nd Street from Riverside Drive to Springhill Avenue partially closed, police present to monitor and control — 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Parking on both sides of 42nd Street prohibited — 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Editor’s Note: Trying to post a blog in the 5 minutes you are in the house often results in mistakes. Updated info on the Duathlon here. Thanks Jonah for setting me straight. Now I am heading back outside.

Richmond’s professional soccer team’s season starts this Saturday at U of R Stadium. The Richmond Kickers will be playing the Harrisburg Islander’s, kickoff is at 7:00.  The game is right across the river and if you haven’t been you should give it a try. Tickets for college students to this game are only $5 and the first 500 (student or not) get a free t-shirt.  Head over to the Kickers website for some info on specials at NY Deli in Carytown and more about the Kickers.

If you want the inside scoop from devoted fans go the USL Discussions Zone which is a bulletin board where the supporters speak up on all aspects of the team.  I would also be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to Kickeroo the team mascot, he is one hell of a kangaroo and works hard to bring a little life into what can be a passive crowd. It is a little known fact that the Richmond hills were once home to about a dozen wild red kangaroos that escaped from a lab at VCU and that is why the team adopted the kangaroo as a mascot.

Editorial Comment: Soccer is the best sport ever. This point is completely inarguable and beyond reproach. I don’t care if it is 5 year olds running around in a mass of screaming madness or the beauty of a World Cup Final.

This run is to support the Nicole Megaloudis Foundation and will take place on April 19th in Byrd Park. Registration will start at 12 and the run will begin at 1.

On February 9th 2004, Nicole (a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University) was killed in an auto accident on I-64 in Virginia. Nicole was a member of the VCU women’s soccer team and had just begun her college soccer career. Not only was Nicole an incredible soccer player but she was an amazing person with a huge heart. Nicole never wanted to see someone hurt or be without; and her dream was to go to Africa and help out the innocent children. Gail Rongen, Nicole’s mother, vowed to fulfill her daughter’s dreams and help out other children that weren’t as fortunate as Nicole. This is where the Nicole Megaloudis Foundation was born.

Local business Riverside Outfitters made the news on NBC 12. Didn’t see it live but on the website there is a quick bit about the Outfitters. Riverside Outfitters among other services, offer raft trips down the James and launched their first trip of the season this past Saturday and are hopeful for a good season. The logic being as folks stay closer to home they will take advantage of the incredible resources that are practically in their backyard. The article is here unfortunately no video. Good to see a local business get some exposure.

It’s awhile until it happens but earlier this week  I received an email outlining the James River Run-Off Run Down, register now to ensure your spot.

On July 11, 2009, river enthusiasts from across the Commonwealth will cover small sections of the James River such that, taken in concert, the entire length of the James River – all 340-miles – will be traversed in one day.

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Richmond says good bye to another minor league sports team tomorrow night. Tomorrow night will be your last chance to see the Richmond Renegades as they take on the Ice Bears. I am not a big hockey fan but I don’t like seeing another team leave.

Dominion Riverrock will take place on Brown’s island, May 15 – 16. The “Riverlife Celebration” will feature rock band Rusted Root, a Mud Run, a high-flying Big Air dog jumping competition, acrobatic freestyle bike competition, James River Scramble trail run, mountain biking, kayaking, additional musical performances, dog and bike competition, food, exhibits and more.

You have to love the Mud Run:

The Filthy 5k Mud Run kicks off Dominion Riverrock with some down and dirty fun.  Start on Brown’s Island and run over to Belle Isle.  A series of unique obstacles awaits as you travel the trails of Belle Isle. Then you’ll cross into the dry way and experience the rocks in a whole new way.  Then it’s through the river back to Belle Isle. Follow the trails to the eastern tip of the island where you’ll get back in the James. Then it’s back to Brown’s Island for one final mud pit before you finish in the middle of an outdoor concert.  Just think Woodstock without the drug-crazed hippies.

Sponsors of Dominion Riverrock (other than the obvious Dominion) include Dream It. Do It. Virginia, RVA Construction, The Greater Richmond Chamber Foundation and Virginia Tourism Corporation.

I’ll post more as we get closer to the event but if you can’t wait to see the schedule and more details head on over to Sports Backers. They have an excellent site and great descriptions of all the events including routes.

Looks like the posts about the death of Xterra in Richmond were premature. CyclingCentralVA has released a schedule of events.

6/14/09 XTERRA Richmond Xduro Trail Run – 21km
The 21km Xduro and 10km trail run is classic XTERRA, with an urban flair. This course has stair climbs, railroad track crossings, rock jumps and a scenic run along the James River. A true test of trail running endurance.

6/14/09 XTERRA Richmond Scramble – 10km
The 21km Xduro and 10km trail run is classic XTERRA, with an urban flair. This course has stair climbs, railroad track crossings, rock jumps and a scenic run along the James River. A true test of trail running endurance.

6/14/09 XTERRA Atlantic Cup & XTERRA Sport.
Distances: 1000m swim / 29k mountain bike / 11k trail run

The XTERRA Atlantic Championship is one of five XTERRA America Tour Championship Races leading to the XTERRA USA Championship in Ogden, UT.

Andy Thompson of the RTD Sports Blog calls our attention to Richmond MORE, JROC, Friends of the JRPS for some work they did this weekend.

This past Saturday members of the three volunteer groups focused on the health of the James River Park System—Richmond MORE, JROC, Friends of the JRPS—came together for their first-ever joint work day. Under the direction of city trails boss Nathan Burrell, they planted over $1,000 worth of native species of trees, plants and shrubs along a huge section of trail that had been rerouted.

Thanks to all who particpated.

RichmondBizSense.com has posted an interview with Brian Bostic on bringing baseball to Richmond. There are also some quick facts here. Poster ptaylor spotted some differences between the Q & A document that Hills and Heights posted on the 16th and the quick facts. Ptaylor’s differences are in the first comment.

Richmond BizSense: Let’s get one thing out of the way first. We ran a column by Brian Glass that protests the use of public funds for the stadium. Is there anything you’d like to address from that column?
Bryan Bostic: First and foremost, we’re not asking the taxpayer to foot the bill upfront, nor is the city on the hook for the bonds. Mr. Glass has clearly not done his homework. Ask him to call the mayor of Louisville, who said that the baseball stadium was the single greatest investment by the city in 50 years.

The column referred to in the first question by Brian Glass and can be read in full here.

From the outset I have said that there is no documented evidence that stadiums are economic generators. I continue to refer anyone who really cares to a book titled “Public Dollars, Private Stadiums” that was the result of a collaboration between Kevin Delaney, an associate professor at Temple University, and Rick Eckstein, an associate professor at Villanova University, where the documentation exists that is necessary to prove this point.

The 2008 Richmond SunTrust Marathon will pass through the area on Saturday, Nov. 15 from about 9AM to 11AM. The race route comes east along Forest Hill Avenue, and a special “Party Zone” will be held at the CVS at the corner of Forest Hill Avenue and Westover Hills Boulevard (mile 12.9).

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