Colne Valley Beagles and other things of interest.: March 2016

Sunday, 13 March 2016

ROCKWOOD HARRIERS - Closing meet - 12 March 2016

ROCKWOOD HARRIERS met at an establishment in Upper Denby for the closing meet of an exceptionally and inconveniently wet season. It was a lovely day to be out and about, but the land was still soaked and so much was inaccessible. However there was a good turnout and a pleasant day to round things off for the season. The photos below can speak for themselves. (The big hairy black bears are Newfoundlands)

First a short video clip with that noisy terrier in the background again -

Video of the Meet

Rockwood Harriers – Copyright image by David Swanbury

Saturday, 12 March 2016

SPORT RELIEF 2016 - HARRY GRATION AND PAUL HUDSON - 3 COUNTIES ON 3 LEGS

THE AFTERNOON OF DAY 2 – CANON HALL FARM TO CLAYTON WEST -11th March 2016

The masochism of so many of those who try to achieve charitable donations for some good cause or other never ceases to amaze me. Maybe the more pain, endurance and fortitude the more successful the financial outcome, apart from the potential physical wreck at the end.

Anyway Paul Hudson and Harry Gration, celebrity anchormen of weather and current events respectively, of BBC TV Look North, decided to anchor their respective adjacent legs together to trudge in painful unison for 120 miles over five days to raise money for Sport Relief.

Sport Relief Link

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I went on my bike (motor) to watch the afternoon trek of Day 2 on the section from Canon Hall Farm to Clayton west where they arrived to finish the day at the narrow gauge railway terminus, Kirklees Light Railway, mentioned in a previous post.

Leaving Canon Hall from a lunch break at Canon Hall Farm near Cawthorne on Friday, 11^th March 2016 Copyright image by David Swanbury

Emerging through Deffer Wood on the climb from Canon Hall Farm with TV coverage and well wishers.Copyright image by David Swanbury

A short respite, and how to put a brave face on it, at the end of Deffer Wood, High Hoyland.Copyright image by David Swanbury

I am sure he was feeling the pain and seven more days of it after this too. The suffering seems to have encouraged significant contibutions. Link below to a bit of video -Copyright image by David Swanbury

Leaving High Hoyland on the way to Scissett link

Downhill now to Scissett and eventually Clayton West. Copyright image by David Swanbury

Video link for arriving in Scissett to the welcome at the CofE First School.
Arriving at Scissett link

Stopping for the waiting children and probably a comfort beak at a First School in Scissett. Whoever worked the schedule out has done pretty good job based on 2mph as, although they walked quite quickly and so these little events fit in well.Copyright image by David Swanbury

Arriving at the end of Day 2 in Clayton WestCopyright image by David Swanbury

“Oh goodness! It’s not him again is it! He's been popping up in front of me all afternoon” Copyright image by David Swanbury

'A relief that's over’ – off to the Station and its facilities now to a cacophony of hoots and whistles from the locomotives of Kirklees Light Railway, all steamed up ready for the welcome. Copyright image by David Swanbury

Kirklees Light Railway at Clayton West Copyright image by David Swanbury

Kirklees Light Railway station at Clayton West as the day draws to a close.
Copyright image by David Swanbury

In Conclusion SPORT RELIEF 2016 - HARRY GRATION AND PAUL HUDSON-

The epic nine day 131 mile three legged walk by Harry Gration and Paul Hudson finished in York on Friday, 18th March on time. I must confess, having seen the painful struggle by Harry with a damaged knee in particular, I never thought they would make it. It was a serious mind over matter achievement. I can't find just now how much they made for charity but last I heard when they arrived in York it was just short of £200,000 with more to count. Fantastic that they made it to the end and that the contributions to this 'painful' event were so significant.

(The figure on the Sport Relief site as to the amount raised seems to bear no relation to what the BBC said two days ago so it is time one of them got their act together and from what I have seen the Sport Relief site has been understating the BBC significantly all the time).

21 March - update. From Look North this evening, the Harry Gration and Paul Hudson epic raised £259,580 as of today. On the Sport Relief website it currently only shows as £222,621, but I trust BBC Look North figures to be correct. I guess Sport Relief are behind the times on this.

Update April - Final figure looks like £277,609.