The track at this centre was the first purpose-built indoor athletics track to be created anywhere…read morein the UK. Used by students on sports courses at UWIC, as well as student clubs, the general public, and governing bodies such as the Welsh Netball Association, there's seating capacity for 690 spectators so it's also used to host major events. Although the centre is mainly intended for various types of athletics such as running, vaulting and jumping, it also accommodates other sports including netball, basketball and volleyball. The centre features a full competition 200 metre banked track; a 9-lane 60 metre straight; a separate 6-lane 140 metre straight; competition and training Long and Triple Jump pits; competition and training Pole Vault pits; a competition and training High Jump pit; training nets for all the throwing events; a fully equipped biomechanics laboratory.

I am a former athlete who used to train at the national sports centre in cardiff, i have now…read morestopped going there for reasons i shall explain. I was a high jumper and i have competed at a top level many times before. I trained at sofia gardens for roughly a year and half, i wasnt impressed with the coaching offered there i felt as if they just let anybody train us and wasnt interested about me, they have loads of football coaches there and a good level but for the high jump there was just the one who didnt really make a big effort and for me that was a really dissapointing and let down feeling. I really wanted things to change but they just didnt and for that reason i left, i know many others who have done the same. They just concentrate on what they want when they want.

This rowing club is based on the River Taff in the leafy Llandaff area of Cardiff, with a course of…read more1,200 metres of calm water for club members. They cater for everyone, all ages and rowing levels - with a young Junior Squad, a Men's Squad and a Women's Squad - as well as a Veteran Squad! It was formed after World War Two, when members of Taff and Cardiff Rowing Clubs both found their boathouses burnt or collapsed, and their boats missing. The members of the clubs joined forces to create one new club, rebuilding the Taff clubhouse. They have different types of club members. There's full membership for real rowers, with access to all the club's facilities (around £255 a year) - and with free coaching and equipment. Then there's 'social' membership, for just use the club bar and lounge (which only costs about £25 a year). There are various other membership categories at different prices, however, such as separate fees for juniors, students, senior citizens, and so on. The club can also offer storage space for boats at the club - for a fee. Anyone who's interested in joining the club is welcome to go along to the venue at the weekend for a visit, or early weekday evenings, and find out more from existing members.

I visited here a few weeks ago for a friend's birthday party. An excellent venue with views over…read morethe River Taff, and plenty of room for both dining and dancing. The club can deal with all your catering needs, and is a good venue for all social events particularly with the Llandaff set, as if you live locally you can easily walk home and don't have to worry about making decisions such as not having a drink due to driving or ordering a taxi. As for the rowing club itself, it has a great reputation and holds a regatta during the summer which attracts rowers from all round.

The 4 stars are for the quality of the facility as it is a community use venue and a well appointed…read moreone. The centre is connect with Cardiff FC which helps I guess. staff were helpful although they were not sure where all the equipment was. I believe the facility is available for hire however they have an extensive community programme so how much spec and time is available I would not like to comment on. The downside is that parking is very limited so always check if they have big events on or if the football club, which is next door, has a fixture.

Ultimate Fitness Centre is a newly opened gym and kickboxing facility opened just off City Road. It…read moreseems to be a replacement for the old Cardiff Kick Boxing outlet at 166 City Road. Denzil Lawrence and Spiro Micallef who used to operate out of this facility are now using Ultimate Fitness Centre, and the new premises carries the Cardiff Kickboxing insignia. I don't profess to know a huge amount about kickboxing, but it seems that Ultimate Fitness Centre are offering something a little different. Lee, a Muay Thai instructor, claims that Ultimate Fitness Centre are the only authentic Muay Thai Club in Cardiff, Barry, Rhondda and Vale of Glamorgan. He says that "there are many who claim this but can't back it with results, documentation or history". Apparently Muay Thai is different from kickboxing in that it is technically superior, and therefore I imagine it presents more of a challenge. Ring Lee for further details: 07792204881 Denzil Lawrence: 07932 253849 Spiro Micallef: 07710 477524

I have a lot of pent-up rage, so I thought taking a few classes at the Ultimate Fitness Centre…read morewould be like therapy, only funner. Armed with my fellow female partner-in-crime, I was ready for my first tutorial in ass kicking. The tuition is one of several offered by the gym, which includes a beginner class on Mondays and Thursdays at 6. You feel like you're in an authentic set up here, which of course adds to the Rocky-esque experience I was hoping for. The warm-up includes running, push-ups and sit-ups, followed by pairing up with a partner for a lesson in punching, kicking and elbow wielding (my favourite) using standard boxing gloves and pads. As my friend and I were the only two girls in the class, our instructor took extra time to explain self-defence manoeuvres which fell on gracious ears. The class is only £4 for the hour, and no sign up or registration is required. I'd recommend purchasing your own set of gloves, as the ones on offer smell like what you'd expect from sweaty boxing gear. Yeah, this ain't nothing like Boxercise. And I'm so going back.

This is Cardiff's University's main sports facility, and it hosts most of its indoor sports clubs…read moreas well as a few classes such as aerobics. The facilities are pretty extensive, including a large multi-purpose sports hall; a field hall with six badminton courts, 5-a-side pitch and cricket nets; Martial Arts Dojo; a gym; and outdoor tennis and netball courts, grass hockey pitch and another pitch suitable for rugby, football and general training. Incorporated into the Talybont Halls of Residence campus site, it's hugely convenient for the many first year students living there, but not so convenient for everyone else. Still, it's only about a 20-25 minute walk from central Cathays or Roath for the majority of other students, and it's certainly well used.

Talybont sports centre is somewhere you should definitely be signing up to join if you're a Cardiff…read morestudent to keep the beer belly at bay. It is easily accessible to students staying at Talybont halls, but you can reach it by car if it's a bit too far for you as it has a car park. It has a large sports hall, badminton courts, a gym, outdoor courts and a large grass pitch for a number of sports. The membership is normally pay as you go or you can have a monthly or annual deal, the best deals are normally provided at the sports fayre at the union where they will have a stand enticing the students to stay healthy, despite the pot noodle dinners. I found the facilities really good and the changing rooms were nice and clean, I only wish I could have the motivation to attend a little more often....

Decided to come here to learn Cricket as beginners who don't even know how cricket looks like…read more Honestly so glad that we did because it was one of the most interesting experiences we had in Cardiff even though Cardiff is known for its rugby, not cricket. Usually they hold 1:1 lessons for 45 minutes for £25 but we decided to get a 4:1 lesson for 45 minutes for £10 each with I thought it was pretty worth it. As long as you enquire on the website that will be good enough. Tom was our teacher and it was great. He taught us the basics of catching, throwing, and batting (excuse me if this isn't the correct terminology) in their indoor cricket lanes. It's interesting because right next door, there are the professional and pre-professional teams practicing so you can really understand what the sport is all about. Afterwards we went onto their small museum to get a glimpse of the history behind Glamorgan. Would highly recommend as the people here are incredibly nice and it was interesting to learn Cricket.

Based in Cardiff, Glamorgan County Cricket Club was founded in 1888 at a meeting of cricket…read moreofficials that took place in the well-known Angel Hotel in Cardiff city centre. Since 1921 the club have been Wales's sole representative in the English County Championship, a competition they won in 1948, 1969 and 1997. Glamorgan have also beaten all of the major Test playing nations, including Australia who they defeated in successive tours in 1964 and 1968. The club plays most of its home games at the SWALEC Stadium in Sophia Gardens, in the city centre (just next to Bute Park, near the Castle). On their website's 'Tickets' section, you can find out prices and fixtures for all of Glamorgan's home games, plus find out information about future scheduled international cricket matches at the SWALEC stadium. During the summer months, keen local cricketers can sign up for coaching or experience days at the club, or even take up individual coaching lessons.

Penarth leisure center is great value for money if you're looking to get fit or loose weight…read more It has a decent sized gym with a good range of equipment, a large pool and a lifestyle/wellness suite. There are also a huge range of fitness classes that run daily at the center. In recent years the place has undergone a revamp and so there is now a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi next to the pool in the wellness suite. (Full disabled access) Once a week there is even a ladies only session so the more body conscious or religious females don't have to miss out on the facilities. Prices are okay, for an off peak swim and relax in the wellness suite you pay £6.15 but if you become a member you can use the gym facilities, the pool and the classes from about £23 a month without getting locked into a contract. Bargain.

This place is pretty crumby …read more... The building is old and showing the signs of wear and tear. The changing rooms are quite grubby with a very odd aroma. Lots of the lockers are broken. The pool is unpredictable. It has a children's area and a hydro slide but I have never worked out when to guarantee that they are operational. The adult pool sometimes has lane swimming and sometimes not. It is 25m.

This is not for the faint hearted, its for people who can really swim and have probably done so all…read moretheir lives. You have to get through trials to get in so you or your children have to be good. What you in return is top class coaching and development at the really great international pool down in the bay. I think I was hoping more for a group of like minded people who just liked swimming. I am far to crap to ever get in the team but if you serious about swimming its a great club.