Rugby stars convert to the chamber at Rossendale gym (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rugby stars convert to the chamber at Rossendale gym

1:02pm Friday 25th September 2009 in

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AN atmospheric chamber at a Rossendale gym that helps elite sportspeople recover from injuries quicker, is attracting some of rugby’s top names.

Premiership club Sale Sharks have become the first side to sign a deal to use the hypoxic chamber at the Perform Centre, in Bacup Road, Waterfoot.

And bosses at the multi-million pound centre, opened by Lord Sebastian Coe in June, are this week trying to sign up Super League clubs who are competing in the end-of-season play-offs this weekend.

Joe Pitt, group sales director at the Perform Centre, said the chamber was a “big investment” for Rossendale.

He said: “It is a fantastic facility for the town.

“It is also the only one of its kind open to the public in the north; the next nearest is in Lough-borough.

“It is aimed at professional or elite sportspeople, as well as amateurs who take their sport seriously.

“It is brilliant for increasing the speed of recovery from injury, as it simulates training at 15,000 feet and gets the blood flowing quicker.”

The centre is continuing to attract star names, with Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis visiting next month for a tour of the facilities.

Mr Pitt added: “The facilities here really are world class, it’s state-of-the-art stuff.

“We are trying to make it available to the public as well as elite sportspeople.

“We have opened the first centre in Rossendale but if this is a success then we have plans to open others through the UK.

“It is a fantastic facility for local people to have access to.”