Sport, fitness and the spirit of competitiveness will be the theme for this year's H&F Festival from 24 March - 15 April - highlighting the fantastic range of sporting opportunities available for residents of all ages.

The H&F Festival 2007 kicks off on Sunday 25 March with an action-packed celebration of children's competitive sport at Hurlingham Park, when Hammersmith & Fulham Rugby Club (HFRFC) mark the culmination of a successful season of mini-rugby with a morning of training, inter-club tournaments and awards for players aged 5 to 12. The event, from 10.30am - 12.30pm, is due to be attended by officials from HFRFC and the leader of the council, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh.

Other landmark events include the inaugural National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships on Wednesday, 28 March at Hammersmith Town Hall, when more than 300 young rowers from all over the country will stage their own indoor version of the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The event, supported by H&F Council and organised by London Youth Rowing and The Boat Race Company Ltd, is open to all 12 to 18 year-olds nationally. It is expected to be televised as part of ITV's worldwide coverage of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Rowing machines will be set up in the town hall and teams of young people will cover the equivalent of the 6,780-metre Boat Race course, as well as shorter distances. The top prize is the chance to follow the real Boat Race in a motor launch on 7 April.

For the main Boat Race, H&F Council will be organising big screens in Bishops Park and Furnivall Gardens as well as stalls and refreshments so residents and visitors can get into the spirit of the occasion.
Saturday 31 March sees crews at the ready for the annual Head of the River race that passes through the borough from Chiswick to Putney. Every crew in the borough will be competing along with club crews from across Europe and Hammersmith will be a great place to catch the action.

The H&F Festival will be a chance for young people to enjoy free sports coaching sessions in our parks. These will take place in Ravenscourt Park and Hurlingham Park, as well as Linford Christie Outdoor Sports Centre, during the Easter holidays, with coaching in football, basketball, hockey and tennis on offer.

March also sees the launch of the new Burlington Danes Basketball Academy, which offers free professional coaching for local primary and secondary school children - encouraging talented youngsters to compete in London-wide and national tournaments.

Cllr Minnie Scott Russell, Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, has always been a keen sportswoman and is eager to encourage people in the borough to enjoy these top-flight sporting events. "At the age of 16 I went up to Crystal Palace to trial for running in the 1974 Munich Olympics," she said,"Sport remains an important part of my life and I still play tennis, row and have played hockey until recently. I will never forget the sheer elation I used to feel when running."

The H & F Festival also celebrates the best of culture and leisure in the borough with a packed programme of events for all the family.

H&F Festival programme as follows:

Free sports coaching - young people, aged under 17, can enjoy free coaching sessions and mini-tournaments in our parks and sports stadiums. These include football and tennis coaching in Hurlingham Park, Fulham, from 11.00am to 2.00pm on Saturday, 31 March; football and basketball coaching at Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith, from 11.00am to 2.00pm on Saturday 14 April, with coaches from QPR FC and Westside Basketball Club, and football and hockey at Linford Christie outdoor sports centre, Wormwood Scrubs, from 11.00am to 2.00pm on Sunday 15 April, with coaches from Chelsea FC and Polly Chiswick Hockey Club. For more details call Carina Page on 020 7736 1504.

Burlington Danes Basketball Academy - runs at Burlington Danes School. Free professional coaching for local primary and secondary school children, encouraging talented youngsters aged 9 - 14 to compete in London-wide and national tournaments. The sessions take place from 10am - 11.15am (for primary pupils) and 11.30am - 12.45pm (for secondary pupils) on 17, 24 and 31 March. To find out more contact Carlos Munoz on 020 7385 0091 / 07983 287768 or email carlos.munoz@burlingtondanes.org

Mini-rugby - Hurlingham Park, SW6. Sunday 25 March, 10.30am - 12.30pm.
More than 120 children will take part in an end of season mini-rugby training session and awards ceremony for boys and girls aged under 7 and under 12 at Hammersmith & Fulham Rugby Club (HFRFC). Spectators are welcome at the event, which is due to be attended by rugby club officials and council leader, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh. For more details about H&F Rugby Club visit www.hfrfc.co.uk

Easter tennis courses - Bishops Park, SW6. 10 - 13 April.
Young tennis players can join Easter mini-tennis and tennis courses run by professional coaches. The mini-tennis course runs from 10.00am - 12noon daily for children aged five to nine and costs £8 per day or £28 for the week. The under 16s tennis course runs from 10.00am - 3.00pm daily and costs £20 a day or £70 for the week. Apply before 30 March by downloading a form from www.lbhf.gov.uk or calling 07947 680 698.

National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships Assembly Hall, Hammersmith Town Hall, W6. Wednesday 28 March, 12noon - 6.00pm.
More than 300 young people from all over the country compete on rowing machines for bronze, silver and gold medals, a free rowing machine and the chance to follow the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race in a motor launch. To enter or find out more visit www.londonyouthrowing.com

The Boat Race
Bishops Park, SW6, and Furnivall Gardens, W6. Saturday 7 April, 2.00 - 6.00pm (race starts at 4.30pm). Enjoy the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race from Hammersmith & Fulham riverside. The council will be setting up big screens in Bishops Park and Furnivall Gardens as well as organising refreshments and stalls. To find out more visit www.theboatrace.org

Fulham Symphony Orchestra - Hammersmith Town Hall. Saturday 24 March, 7.30pm.
FSO, featuring soprano Emilia O'Connor, perform music by Strauss, Bernstein (symphonic dances from West Side Story), Howard Skempton and John Adams. Tickets available on the door at £10 and £7 (concessions). For more details visit www.fso.org.uk

Tea dance - Assembly Hall, Hammersmith Town Hall. Thursday 5 April, 12.30 - 4.30pm (dancing from 1.00pm). Free. Old time music and dancing with afternoon tea for the over 50s, hosted by the Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham. Tel: 020 8753 2013.

Wormwood Scrubs Nature Day - Old Oak Community Centre, Braybrook Street, W12.
Saturday 14 April, 11.00am - 2.00pm. Free. Come along to enjoy Wormwood Scrubs - the borough's local nature reserve. Family fun, including horse and dray, face painting, football coaching and bicycle maintenance training. Organised in partnership with Groundwork West London. For more details phone 020 8743 3040 or visit www.gwk-wl.org.uk

Bi-centenary of Britain's Abolition of the Slave Trade
- Community remembrance of abolitionists' struggle at All Saints Church, Fulham. Sunday 25 March, 6.00pm. Readings, gospel choir and performance by H&F Youth Choir. Tel: 0207 736 3284.
- Free storytelling, song and dance workshops by Abundance Arts for children aged seven plus at Fulham Palace, Bishops Avenue, SW6. Tuesday 10 April, 12noon - 1.30pm and 2.30 - 4.00pm. Book a place by calling 020 7736 3233 or email education@fulhampalace.org

Lyric Hammersmith. Call 08700 500 511 or visit www.lyric.co.uk
- St George and the Dragon. 3 - 14 April at various times. For ages 7 plus. High-octane mix of history and legend for adults and children. Adults: £13 - £23. Children and concessions: £10. Family ticket: £44.
- Claytime. 3 - 7 April, 11am and 1pm daily and also at 3pm on 4, 5 and 7 April. Explore your imagination in the ultimate squidgy interactive experience.
- Don't Look Now. 13 - 31 March. Not recommended for under 14s. Classic supernatural thriller based on the story by Daphne Du Maurier.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Centre. 4a Castletown Road, W14. Call 020 7381 3086 / 4608 or visit www.bhavan.net
- Sitar concert by Pandit Deepak Chaudhury. Sunday 25 March, 6.00pm. Tickets: £10. Concessions: £8.
- Karnatic vocal workshop by leading singer and musician Prof T V Gopalakrishnan.
26 - 30 March, 6.30 - 8.30pm. Tickets: £50 for the whole workshop.
- Concert to celebrate the 75th birthday celebration of Prof T V Gopalakrishnan. Tickets: £15, £10.
- Mridangam Percussion Ensemble, featuring Prof T V Gopalakrishnan. Tickets: £10, £7.50.

Easter events for children in libraries - 'Spring fun' story and craft events for children aged 5 - 11 at Hammersmith Library on Thursday 12 April, 2.15 - 3.15pm and Barons Court Library on Friday 13 April, 11.00am - 12noon. Also at other local libraries from 13 - 19 April. Call 020 8753 3811.

Go West free cultural walks
- Park Royal Tour starts Asda Park Royal. Tuesday 27 March, 5.30pm.
- Middle Eastern food tour. Starts at Shepherds Bush tube, Uxbridge Road. Saturday 31 March, 10.30am. Places limited to 15. To book call Catherine Knight on 020 8735 4171 or email tourism@lbhf.gov.uk
- Guided riverside walk along Hammersmith Terrace. Meet at the information centre, Hammersmith Broadway shopping centre. Saturday 14 April, 2.30pm.

Hf Cyclists family bike ride - Hammersmith to Richmond Park. Sunday 1 April. Meet 12 noon at Furnivall Gardens, W6. Free. For all ages, bring a picnic. Contact John Griffiths on 020 7371 1290 / 07789 095 748 or visit www.hfcyclists.org.uk

W12 young people's talent showcase - Bush Hall, Uxbridge Road, W12. Sunday 15 April, 5.30 - 9.30pm. Free. Performances by young people aged 11 - 19. Organised by H&F Council's street wardens. Tel: 020 8740 3413.

Take me to the river - Saturday 14 April. Thames Strategy - Kew to Chelsea (TSKC) in association with Good Going and H&F Council invite you to join a guided river cruise on board the MV Edwardian. The tours, led by Dr Andrew Duncan, focus on the natural, social, cultural and built history of the Thames. Andy will also highlight some of TSKC's recent work. Booking essential. Tel: 07917 264 396.

Boat race course guided walk - Thurs 22 and Sun 25 March. Join Andy Duncan and guest speakers to walk the route of the Boat Race between Putney and Mortlake. Learn more about this fascinating event and historic stretch of river. Meet at 11.00am at St Mary's Church at the Putney end of Putney Bridge. Finish at Chiswick Bridge at approx 2.45pm. Bring a packed lunch to eat en route. £10 to pay on the day. Email info@leglondon.co.uk to book.

Jazz at the Polish Centre - Top Polish musicians play at the launch of the Polish Jazz Café, at the Polish Social and Cultural Assocation (POSK), 238 - 246 King Street, W6. 7.30pm on Friday 23 March and 8.00pm on Saturday 24 March. Tickets are £10 and available on the door. Tel: 020 8741 1940.

Free Easter classical concerts. St Paul's Church - Queen Caroline Street, W6. Refreshments at 5.45pm, concert at 6.30pm. Monday 2 April - voice. Tuesday 3 April - oboe and harp. Wednesday 4 April - cello.

William Morris Society - Kelmscott House, 26 Upper Mall, W6.
- Saturday 24 March, 2.15pm. Lecture by Alan Read - 'William Morris: Man of Contradictions'. £4.00 for members, £5.00 for non-members (includes wine and cake).
- Saturday 31 March, 11.30am - 1.00pm (drop-in event). Tile-painting event. Be inspired by the art of William Morris at Kelmscott House Museum and paint your own Arts & Crafts tile to take home. Free, although donations towards cost of materials are appreciated. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied by an adult. Tel: 020 8741 3735; email: william.morris@care4free.net

March 16, 2007