THE nation has been glued to their televisions watching Great Britain’s best performance in an Olympic Games.

And not just Team GB – the performances by the world’s elite athletes have seen records broken, jubilation and tears as well as bringing some lesser played sports in this country to a much wider audience.

We’ve been promised a legacy from London 2012 – and a generation of youngsters inspired to become the next athletes. To put in the work and dedication needed to make it to the Games and, hopefully, to the winners podium.

And it can start here.

Instead of wondering how to replace your Olympic television viewing, why not try some of the sports that have been played out in London and other parts of the country.

The Hunts Post has selected a few sports that may not have been your first choice, but could entice you into trying something a little different.

Archery

THE men’s archery final between the United States and Italy was one of the most dramatic of the Olympics.

With seconds left on the clock, and one arrow to release, Italy needed a nine to draw level with the world champions. The clock counted down... three, two... the arrow was shot ... it hit the 10 and Italy took gold.

Inspired to try the sport? Well, Hinchingbrooke Archery club is running a special Olympic six-week starter course beginning on Sunday, September 9.

Club secretary Steve West said: “We normally charge �90 for the course that teaches you the basics of archery, but we decided as part of the legacy to offer the course for less.

“It’s not as easy as the archers in the Games make it look. It’s more than just a physical sport, it’s an acquired skill. We start people shooting at targets at 30 metres but some will go on to shoot at 70 metres.”

To begin your archery journey, e-mail Steve West at secretary@hinchingbrookeac.co.uk. The club shoots at Hartford Junior School on Sundays. For more details visit www.hinchingbrookeac.co.uk

Trampolining

ONE of the newest Olympic sports in trampolining and Paul Verdicchio organised the launch of his Huntingdon Rotations Club to coincide with the opening day of London 2012.

Until the schools start again in September, the club is holding taster sessions at the Cirrus Court base from 5pm to 7pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays for people to have a go.

Mr Verdicchio, head coach, said: “London 2012 was only the fourth time trampolining featured in the Olympics so it’s quite a young sport.

“There’s room for an Olympic champion to come from Huntingdonshire. My 11-year-old son Thomas is competing nationally.”

INFORMATION: Start trampolining at Rotation Club, Unit 8, Cirrus Court, Glebe Road, Huntingdon. Sessions coast �5 per hour. For more details call 07792 828729.

Triathlon

THE Brownlee brothers shot to fame taking the Olympic gold and bronze in the triathalon last week.

Swimming, cycling and running mixed into a single race of endurance, it’s a tough sport but it’s got nothing if not a bit of variety.

“Anyone can take part,” said Vivienne Parish, owner of said TriSportsPlus in Huntingdon. “All you need to be able to do is swim, run and cycle. You don’t need any specialist equipment. I have seen a woman with a basket on the front of her bike take part.

“You don’t have to join a club, all you need is access to running shoes, a bike and somewhere to swim. It’s a challenge but it has great benefits as it helps the whole body.”

Mrs Parish is part of the BRJ Tri Club which holds one training session in pool swimming, one in open water swimming, four runs a week and two biking sessions a week.

INFORMATION: Join in with the BRJ Tri club training sessions by calling 01480 388600.

Mountain Biking

ALTHOUGH this is a rather flat part of the country, there is a place to try out your mountain bike skills.

Huntingdonshire District Council, with the help of St Ives Cycle Club, has also got into the action by adding new obstacles to the mountain biking course at Hinchingbrooke Country Park in Huntingdon.

They have included new mounds, or berms, which are the first in a series of additions to the course in the coming months.

INFORMATION: The mountain bike track is free to use.

Tae Kwon-do

IT’S not just athletics which has seen a rise in interest from a public eager to get involved – Tae Kwon-do master Mark Farnham has seen Jade Jones’s gold medal success thrust the martial art into the forefront of people’s minds.

“I hope that more people will have seen the Olympics and think they want to get involved in the sports they have seen rather than do nothing,” the owner of Mark Farnham Schools of Tae Kwon-do said.

INFORMATION: Try Tae Kwon-do at LeisuRealm, Hinchingbrooke School, on Thursdays between 7pm and 8.30pm or in St Neots at Jubilee Hall, Eaton Socon, on Saturdays between 1pm and 2.30pm. Call 07771 644460.