<< Cobweb Spin
|
2007 |
March 3
SODS Ducks race
After a day and night of blustery rain Saturday 3rd March 2007 dawned bright and clear, perfect for the duck race on a tributary of the River Wye in Herefordshire. We met at Ross services at the end of the M50, where over a dozen cars arrived from Swansea, Cardiff, Stow and Hereford amongst other places. By 10:30 we were ready for the convoy to Hoarwithy.
Jan and Julian John led us through Ross-on-Wye, then we enjoyed a lovely run on back roads to Hoarwithy, where we stopped at a pub next to a fast flowing stream. Jan had the ducks, which were sponsored to raise money for a local hospital. Julian struggled to set up a net to mark finish line and to catch the ducks;he achieved this with difficulty, but without falling in the water - a remarkable feat considering the muddy conditions.
A few minutes later the ducks were off and the leaders sped off; some ducks were caught on the way and had to flushed out to complete the course. The ducks were retrieved by Julian and taken back to the start for a second run.
Again the race was over quickly and the ducks were retrieved less successfully this time with two of them making a break for the river Wye and the Severn Estuary. Julian (above) did a great job of catching the ducks without falling in.
Jan watches Julian catching the ducks. Spring is well under way. Then it was time for tea and coffee served by the pub.
Jan gave out the prizes to the winner
and second place (above). Jan took the opportunity to tell us that £125 had been raised for the hospital - well done Jan! Then we were off again heading for Hereford. Water from yesterday's rain was still running off the fields onto the roads.
We went in convoy to Callow, which is on the A49 Ross road south of Hereford. We were taken on the scenic route and enjoyed some wonderful views of the green rolling hills of Herefordshire.
At the Grafton, a large pub which was nowhere near full, we were told that they could not provide food for 20 people - only in England ... ! This caused the meeting to end earlier than planned as some hungry 2CVers left to find somewhere else to have lunch. After a drink we said our goodbyes and drove home. It was a good morning spent with a really nice group of people.
Many thanks to Janet John, Membership Secretary of 2CVGB, who organised the outing. She is pictured above with her car 'Fred'.
The next two events are a coffee morning at a French restaurant in Cardiff and a kite flying outing; more on these later.
Jan and Julian John led us through Ross-on-Wye, then we enjoyed a lovely run on back roads to Hoarwithy, where we stopped at a pub next to a fast flowing stream. Jan had the ducks, which were sponsored to raise money for a local hospital. Julian struggled to set up a net to mark finish line and to catch the ducks;he achieved this with difficulty, but without falling in the water - a remarkable feat considering the muddy conditions.
A few minutes later the ducks were off and the leaders sped off; some ducks were caught on the way and had to flushed out to complete the course. The ducks were retrieved by Julian and taken back to the start for a second run.
Again the race was over quickly and the ducks were retrieved less successfully this time with two of them making a break for the river Wye and the Severn Estuary. Julian (above) did a great job of catching the ducks without falling in.
Jan watches Julian catching the ducks. Spring is well under way. Then it was time for tea and coffee served by the pub.
Jan gave out the prizes to the winner
and second place (above). Jan took the opportunity to tell us that £125 had been raised for the hospital - well done Jan! Then we were off again heading for Hereford. Water from yesterday's rain was still running off the fields onto the roads.
We went in convoy to Callow, which is on the A49 Ross road south of Hereford. We were taken on the scenic route and enjoyed some wonderful views of the green rolling hills of Herefordshire.
At the Grafton, a large pub which was nowhere near full, we were told that they could not provide food for 20 people - only in England ... ! This caused the meeting to end earlier than planned as some hungry 2CVers left to find somewhere else to have lunch. After a drink we said our goodbyes and drove home. It was a good morning spent with a really nice group of people.
Many thanks to Janet John, Membership Secretary of 2CVGB, who organised the outing. She is pictured above with her car 'Fred'.
The next two events are a coffee morning at a French restaurant in Cardiff and a kite flying outing; more on these later.