Seacourt Tennis Club is the only club in Britain to offer all five racket sports, namely, Tennis, Real Tennis, Badminton, Squash and rackets. As a members club, the courts at Seacourt are not generally open to the public. Contact the club on (023) 9246 6122 or visit their web site.

Hayling Island Community centre offers badminton and outdoor tennis to the public. Courts can be booked by calling the community centre on (023) 9246 7545.

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Whether you are the type that loves burning up the miles in preparation for a competition or you just fancy a potter and to soak up the views, the many options available for the biker on Hayling will keep you more than happy.

The popularity of riding a bike on the island has been growing steadily over the years. One of the main draws is that you are never really more than 5 miles away from anything on Hayling. Using pedal power is also a lot more peaceful than queuing in traffic.

Testament to how popular cycling is on the island is the fact that the local ‘Bobby on the Beat’ can now be seen using a bike to get around during the summer months.

For the more adventurous, the South Downs are only half an hour away by bike – so it is more than feasible to base yourself on the island and use it as a gateway to other more testing terrain.

If you fancy a spot of retail therapy but want to take in the views at the same time then you could bike all the way to the western end of the island and take the Hayling Ferry across to Southsea and Portsmouth. By pedalling this route you will be able to take in the stunning vista of the Isle of Wight and the Solent.

If you are into the more trick-orientated side of the sport then you can always take on the challenge of the quarter pipes and obstacles located on the sea front at the skate park.

Many of those into BMX choose this spot as a hang out and there is a significant pool of local talent who ride here. However it must be taken into consideration that the surface is concrete and therefore adequate protection will be needed.

If you like your biking to be stunt-orientated but with mud thrown in, then you could try the Cycle X track. This is just behind the Station Theatre along the Hayling Billy Trail. A series of hits, jumps and double ups that are sculpted out of the dirt are in this area, which provides a facility for those into the more extreme side of the sport.

With a plethora of options for the casual or serious cyclist, Hayling Island is a great destination. Use it as a gateway to other more challenging terrain or make the most of what the island itself has to offer. The choice is yours!

Cycling Key facts

• There are many cycling tracks dotted around the island of varying difficulty and length
• The skate park situated in Central Beachlands allows BMX riders to use the facilities
• A series of dirt jumps is just off the Hayling Billy Trail behind the Station Theatre in West Town
• Parking charges may be applicable in certain areas
• The local bike shop can be found near Hayling Island Library

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They are:

Hayling Golf Club

The Hayling Golf Club was established in 1883 and is a SSI 71 links course that can stump even the most skilled of golf players. Based on the shores of the Solent, with stunning views across to the Isle of Wight, you can be guaranteed of a brand new challenge every time you tee up here. Due mainly to the inclement weather, no two playing days will ever be the same.

The main clubhouse, which overlooks the 19^th hole, is built in a 1920’s style and the club boasts some of the best greens in all of Hampshire. The ground staff are extremely active with maintenance and upkeep of the greens, always striving for perfection.

Even though the club is private visitors are still welcome to come down for a ‘hack’, with green fees being paid beforehand in the pro shop.

Address: Links Lane. Ferry Road. Hayling Island. Tel: 023 92464446
website: www.haylinggolf.co.uk

Tournerbury Golf Centre

Tournebury Golf Centre, which is based on the eastern side of the island, is the newest club in the area. It features a covered driving range and fully stocked pro shop. This is used as a ‘pay and play’ course and is a steadily growing in popularity as well as improving its facilities.

Address: Tournerbury Lane. Hayling Island, Tel: 023 92 462266
Website: www.tournerburygolfcentre.com

Beachlands “Pitch and putt”

Situated right next to Hayling Golf Club is the ever popular Par 3 pitch and putt golf course featuring a 9 hole course that is brilliant for short game practice, the handicap golfer or someone who fancies a bit of exercise in the sunshine with a great vista as a backdrop.

Ray Gadd, who was previously the resident pro at Hayling Island Golf Club (of 30 years), is the manager of the Par 3 course and has built an all weather academy where he takes private and group lessons with video analysis. Prior booking is advised.

Address: Ferry Road. Hayling Island. (Next to Hayling Golf Club)
website: www.beachlands-par3.com

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During the day you will more than likely come across someone out for a trot as horse riding has and always will be a popular pastime on the island.

Many young people use Hayling as a location for horse riding and the UK Pony Club lists the island as being a great place for taking your first steps into the sport.

There are plenty of stables on Hayling and many more riders travel to Hayling to use the location as a gateway to other parts of the south coast – such as the South Downs – or meander along the various pathways, trails and beach front.

Where to Ride

Although many horse owners do ride their horses along the public highways of the Island, there is still many other areas of the Hayling where horse-riding can be enjoyed without the worry of cars and other road users.

Riding on Hayling Beach

Nothing beats a ride along the low tide sea front or out on to the sand bank at low water at West Beachlands. Just be mindful of the tide; the water fills from the inside first so it’s easy to get cut off if you aren’t aware of tide times.

Between Good Friday and September 30th, riding is not allowed between the hours of 10am and 7pm. Before 10am, after 7am or for the rest of the year you can ride to your heart’s content.

Caution : If riding out on the sandbank when the tide terms it is possible to get cut off by the incoming tide. Horses have been known to get in trouble in the past due to this. For the safety of both rider and horse please check a current tide table and be alert of the state of the tide.

The Hayling Coastal Path

The Hayling Coastal Path that runs along the west side of Hayling is a dedicated bridle path as well as a cycle and footpath. It is also known as the Hayling Billy Trail, as it was once the site of the train that carried passengers from the top of the island to West Town.

The pathway splits into two giving a clear indication of where horse riders should be. If you want a scenic ride then here is where you will find it, with views stretching across Langstone Harbour to Portsmouth and up north towards Portsdown Hill and the MOD buildings.

Hayling Island Horse Show

If you are a rider who enjoys a bit of competition then the Hayling Horse Show, which is held at Lower Tye Farm Camp Site, is one for you. Held in September the event features a variety of disciplines including Show Jumping, Working Hunter Showing and Clear Round Jumping to name just a few.

Horse Riding Key Facts

• No riding on the beach between the hours of 10am and 7pm, Good Friday – September 30^th
• If riding on public highways be wary of traffic
• Beach car parking charges are in affect through high season months

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More details from Hayling Island Bowls Club

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The aim of this guide is to give a run down on the main marks around the island and the fish that can be expected, but there are a multitude of good spots that can be found by the angler who is prepared to do a little prospecting, especially in the summer. The main South-facing beach is particularly good for bass following a good blow from anywhere between SE and SSW when large quantities of Slipper Limpet are washed up on the beach. Early morning and dusk/night is often best and care must be taken during the day in summer because of bathers etc.

Langstone harbour fishing (1)

Please be aware that the mud of the harbour can be dangerous in some areas and extreme care must be exercised when crossing it. You are generally better off walking down the channels than trying to cross the banks. Much of the Harbour is only fishable at high tide but there are a few spots that can be fished through all or most of the tide. These are mostly at the top of the harbour. Generally speaking the top bait in the harbour is ragworm all year round and peeler in the spring though big bass can be caught on live baits, whole squid and large mackerel baits. In the summer it is well worth fishing the channels on a rising tide with plugs and spinners for bass but please be aware that towards the end of the summer we get quite a few shad in the harbour that will readily take a small lure and are good sport but these are an endangered species and must be returned unharmed.

The Bridge (1a)

There are four fishing platforms (two each side) on the bridge that joins the Island with the mainland there is generally not a lot to be caught at low tide. From half tide up Bass, eels and flounder can be caught and from August to October night fishing can be good for mackerel, Scad and Bass. There are also some large Mullet around the bridge pilings through the summer that can be tempted with bread if you are prepared to ground bait, though a drop net is needed to land them.

The Old Hayling Billy line (1b)

As you come over the bridge onto the island, if you look west you will see a line of concrete blocks which mark the route of the old railway line. Fishing from the point on the Hayling side can give good bass and flounder either side of the blocks.

Oyster beds (1c)

Just to the west of the Hayling Billy line are the Old Oyster beds into which a lot of mullet move as the tide makes. Inside the beds many birds nest on the bunds and islands and this is protected during the breeding season but around the outside of the beds good bassing may be had from low water up, do be careful not to get cut off by the rising

Langstone harbour entrance (2)

The tide run here can be very fast (up to 4 knots on spring tide ebbs) which can make ledgering almost impossible however the current isn’t nearly as strong on a making tide and this is generally the best time to fish it. Nearly all baits/methods work from here as you are generally fishing into deep water. Winter sees mostly pout and whiting with a few flounder and an occasional cod but this is a spot that really comes into it’s own in the summer. Generally mackerel are fairly reliable here from the end of May till Sept from low water up with early morning being a killing time and there are often a good number of scad and garfish mixed in with them. Don’t forget that there are often good bass under the mackerel shoals and a live mackerel fished under a large float can be deadly. Spinning for bass can be good fun all along this beach and although most of the fish caught will be small there is always a sprinkling of larger fish. There are also some rocky outcrops in the run, which can be found if you adopt a mobile approach, and these hold black bream, some of which are surprisingly large. Bottom fishing will also yield flounder and eels and a few wrasse. There is plenty of Parking in the main car park alongside the channel

East Winner bank (3)

This, mostly sand, bank extends up to a mile or so on a spring tide southwards from Gunner Point. Obviously this is a low tide mark with most of the fishing from the western side into the deeper water that extends outwards from Langstone Harbour. Bass can be caught on bottom baits, spinners, plugs and flies, indeed this probably one of the most prolific spots for fly fishing as the mostly gently sloping sand lends itself admirably to wading. A few turbot and brill turn up every year from this bank, mixed in with flounder and plaice. Access is from the car park  mentioned in the previous mark.

Warning  The tide can come in very fast on this bank and the stretch nearest the shore fills before the rest of the bank. Every year people get cut off and although this is not a particularly dangerous bit of coast when the tide is coming in, you can easily end up swimming. Which is not so good if you can’t swim!!!!

West of the Inn on the beach (4)

From the East Winner to the Inn on the Beach is usually unfishable during the day as this area is used by Windsurfers and Kite Surfers the whole year round, so it is best to stay away. At night however it is a different story and this stretch of shallow water can be very productive with plaice and flounder early in the summer, bass after a good blow, and all manner of species in late summer, early Autumn can particularly good with up to 12 species in a 4 hour session and quality sole can be caught at short range in the autumn. Although there is not a lot of depth whiting can be prolific here in the winter with worm/fish cocktail baits being best. There is a car park that runs along the whole of this section

Inn on the beach to the Coastguard Station Fishing (5)

This is a fairly featureless section of shingle beach that leads onto a sandy bottom at around the low water mark. There are however some shallow channels running along the beach which means that it pays to vary your casting range to find out where the fish are feeding. Spring sees flounder and plaice along this stretch during the day with the addition of bass especially at night and after a blow. Summer adds mackerel, garfish and bream with distance casting only rarely necessary. The two most interesting features are both at the Eastern end of this section ,the first being the rainwater outflow pipe which can fish well especially after a downpour and the second is where the groynes first start, which often fishes well when the prevailing SW wind is blowing.

This is a fairly featureless section of shingle beach that leads onto a sandy bottom at around the low water mark. There are however some shallow channels running along the beach which means that it pays to vary your casting range to find out where the fish are feeding. Spring sees flounder and plaice along this stretch during the day with the addition of bass especially at night and after a blow. Summer adds mackerel, garfish and bream with distance casting only rarely necessary. The two most interesting features are both at the Eastern end of this section ,the first being the rainwater outflow pipe which can fish well especially after a downpour and the second is where the groynes first start, which often fishes well when the prevailing SW wind is blowing.

Coastguard Station to Eastoke Point Fishing (6)

This section has groynes for it’s whole length and most of them are numbered in white spray paint on their east facing side. The three main areas along this stretch are Eastoke corner (31-35), Colditz (24-25) and Millers Car park (18-19).  Between these three is the deepest section of the beach and therefore the most popular section for winter cod and whiting. Eastoke corner has a large car park, (with a pub and a chippie across the road). Colditz is the local name for a small bock of apartments which front the beach and fishing can be particularly good in front of them for cod and whiting in winter and plaice in the spring. Access this mark from either Creek road car park or Eastoke corner car park.

West pole bank (7)

This is virtually a mirror of the East Winner bank at the western end of the beach and is probably even more popular for bass fly fishing as the prevailing wind is mostly at your back if you fish into the harbour entrance. Again early morning and late evening will be most productive. Access is as for Chichester Harbour entrance, Warning don’t get cut off by the tide

Chichester harbour entrance (8)

Access involves a walk here as most of the foreshore has been cordoned off by the sailing club but the fishing can be very good here especially in spring and summer with some very big smoothound and bass being caught, there is also a good chance of early summer tope here with low tide/early flood being the easiest to fish. Get there by parking at the end of southwood road, going through the gap between the houses and then and then turning left and walking about 400 metres along the beach until you reach the entrance.

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