HUMPHREYS' ADVICE TO COUNCIL STAFF ON STAYING HEALTHY

Former Ireland and Ulster fly-half, David Humphreys, has been giving advice on staying healthy to Ards Borough Council staff.

Close to 70 staff from all parts of the Council gathered to hear the most capped Ulster rugby player talk about his retirement from the professional game and how he stays fit and healthy now that he no longer follows a rigorous training regime.

The event, targeted at male employees particularly, but open to all, is the latest in a series under the Council's drive to promote gender equality and to focus on employees' general health and well-being.

Humphreys, who retired from the international game in 2006 and from the Ulster team in 2008 after 163 competitive appearances, won more than 70 caps for Ireland and captained Ulster to European Cup victory in 1999. In an entertaining talk, followed by a question and answer session, he spoke of the privilege of playing professional sport, where training was a requirement, and of motivating himself to continue exercising when he didn't have to:

"You can control your health and fitness, but a big factor is setting realistic goals and targets. If you lose your motivation, you lose your goals, so I started off one day a week. I knew I didn't have to do it, but I really enjoy it now and train three or four days a week," he said. "Training with someone who's better than you is also a motivator and the third thing, something I struggled with, is time management. I found it very hard to train at the end of the day and now go to the gym at 7am before work. There are times when the alarm goes off that you just want to go back to sleep, but I get up, go, and it really sets me up for the rest of the day".

'Stay Active, Stay Healthy' took place in the Strangford Arms Hotel on Thursday 28th January. A rugby shirt signed by the Ulster Rugby Team was balloted at the event, raising over £170 for the Mayor of Ards' charities.