A FITNESS conference to give sports instructors in York a range of ideas to improve their sessions has been hailed a success, after it attracted 80 teachers and sports participants.

The Masterclass York 2009 event at Oakland’s Sport Centre featured masterclasses in urban funk street, dance aerobics and dancercise and seminars in health and nutrition.

The classes were run by professionals who have travelled all over the world, such as Cherry Baker, a former UK Instructor Of The Year, and Jo Parry, an expert in sports such as karate.

Organiser Ellie Hutchinson, a community leisure officer for City of York Council, said the six-hour event had been a resounding success and the authority already hoping to organise another one next year.

Describing the conference-style day as both “inspirational” and “exciting”, she said it succeeded in being a relaxed, welcoming and inclusive day for the whole sporting community.

A number of York instructors attended and others had travelled from Harrogate, Selby and the surrounding areas.

Ms Hutchinson said: “It was a lovely mixture of local sport participants and professional instructors in both health and fitness.”

She said she hoped the event had also raised the profile of the venue within the community and among sports enthusiasts.

“This was really great as it was right on our doorstep.

“Despite the professionals’ experience in the business, they were truly down to earth and there were no egos in sight.

“Oaklands felt really privileged to have these professionals presenting the event and the community benefited from this being a local authority facility in which they as instructors and dedicated fitness enthusiasts didn’t have to travel all the way to London for.

“Oaklands Sports Centre has been doing some amazing things recently.

“As well as having the only climbing wall in York, it has the best standard dance studios in the city and is having a new swimming pool built.”