Sport

The old road is best

THEREare various roads rising out of the city of Wells onto the Mendip Hills – each with its own unique character. My favourite is the Old Bristol Road which has featured in the Tour of Britain and many other cycling events across Mendip. The Old Bristol Road heads north out of Wells onto the Mendip Hills starting from a junction with its modern equivalent, the A39.

Each road takes a different direction to overcome Pen Hill, the second highest point on the Mendip Hills. The Old Bristol Road takes a steeper and more intense westerly approach while the A39 uses a longer but shallower gradient on the eastern side.

The top of Pen Hill is home to the Mendip TV Mast and the word “Pen” is believed to Celtic for hill or tor.

At the start of the Old Bristol Road there are no obvious signs of what you are about to undertake. There is no peak visible in the distance, or the sight of a road zigzagging back and forth against the gradients.

Instead, the road rises gently causing an increase to the heart rate and rate of breathing but nothing like what will lie ahead. The road, walled on one side, is narrow in places but well surfaced.

A steady tempo over the first kilometre helps calm the body down just in time to face two sharp and steep bends as you pass Milton Lodge House and Gardens.

The sloping ground at Milton Lodge was transformed during the first ten years of the 20th century into the existing series of terraces offering panoramic views over Wells. Now the Grade II listed gardens mix traditional English plants with unusual Mediterranean varieties which take advantage of the garden’s microclimate.

That protection from the harsher elements of the Mendip weather is one of the reasons why this is my favourite hill climb out of Wells.

The section past the house and gardens is the first big test of the day but the discomfort doesn’t last long. Before you know it, the gradient flattens out as you reach an open area and then you’re on a short but welcome descent through the hamlet of Upper Milton.

As you leave the hamlet, you get glimpses to your right of the transmitter and that becomes your target. This is also where the real work begins.

Now, if you have thrown caution to the wind and tried to take too much advantage of the moderate incline in the last kilometre, by hammering the pace, then you may find what follows a challenge!

For the next 800 metres or so the gradient becomes consistent, averaging under 10%, so it is a bit more demanding but still manageable. There are fine views in this section to the left across Somerset, but it is still the sight of the transmitter on your right that remains the focus of your efforts.

Where white lines start to appear on each side of the road, just before it enters woods, marks the start of the final kilometre and the hardest section of the hill. The gradient starts to creep up closer to 10% – and the heart

CYCLING with EDMUND LODITE

rate shoots up even more! For a moment or two the abundance of bluebells is a welcome distraction.

There are a few small left and right bends in the road that will keep you guessing as to how far you have left to go. It is only when you see a straight section rising imposingly ahead with a glimpse of daylight that you know you are almost there. The only issue is that this looks to be the steepest and hardest bit of the hill.

Keep pushing, keep going and then as the woodland clears on your right you see the transmitter again. Like an old friend to guide you home it gives you the impetus to grind out those final metres. Then as the road bends to the left you finish the climb triumphantly by a farm track on your right.

This is another one of Mendip’s wonderful hill climbs. It builds up gradually, teasing you deceptively upwards and even has a short downhill section thrown in before giving you a proper test to reach the summit. It is challenging but immensely pleasant as a ride.

Climb statistics: Distance 2.9km; elevation gain 188m; average gradient 6.3%; maximum gradient 13%.

JUNECROSSWORDSOLUTION

ACROSS: 1. Walter 5. Fortuity 9. Umbrella 10. Uphill 11. Aspidistra 13. Aria 14. Colophon 17. Bad egg 18. Ibidem 20. Flip-flop 23. Lira 24. Side effect 27. Paella 28. Rational 29. Ponytail 30. Amends. DOWN:2. Acmes. 3. Tarsi 4. Raleigh 5. Flatten 6. Rhubarb 7. Unheard-of 8. Talking to 12. Pal 15. Obbligato 16. Old Bailey 19. Mascara 20. Federal 21. Inertia 22. Lie 25. Frome 26. Chard

Norton end season on a high

MIDSOMER Norton RFC 1st XV said farewell to the 21/22 season with a convincing 62-22 home win over Cheltenham North.

A Norton attack pays dividends as No8 Joe Button heads for the try line Midsomer Norton mayor Lynda Robertson was amongst the guests at the lunch. She is pictured with club chairman Alex Davis (left) and club president Nigel Rowles

The teams played out the final fixture of their Tribute Counties North of South West Division match in front of a sizeable crowd who had earlier enjoyed an end-of-season reunion lunch.

Bowls club tribute to local miners

PAULTON Bowls Club hosted retired local miners and visitors at an open event to introduce more people to the sport.

The club is based at Paulton Recreation Ground. The land for the facility was bought by mineworkers and colliery owners 100 years ago.

Young players were given a warm welcome by club member Peter Clifford (left) and club president Dave Hancock who were on hand to offer coaching advice

Everyone was welcome to try their hand at the sport There was a reunion of a different kind when George Phillips (left) met club chairman Trevor Francis for the first time in more than 50 years; the pair played football together in the late 1950s for Paulton Rovers and are holding their team photo from the 1957/58 season

Chew Valley are champions!

CHEW Valley 1st XV finished winners of the South West 1 West division in their first full season since being promoted. They clinched the title with a bonus point victory 34-26 at Thornbury in the last game of the season.

With the best attacking record in the league, Chew Valley won 19 out of 24 games, with 14 try bonus point wins and two losing bonus points, finishing a point ahead of Devonport Services and Lydney.

It means promotion to South West Premier and fixtures against Launceston, Brixham and Bournemouth as well as local derbies against Weston-super-Mare and Hornets.

This is one step below national league status and is a remarkable achievement for the club by any measure.

Top points scorer was full back Tom Bryan, despite a season limited by injury, with winger Zac Kavanagh second highest. Top try scorer was centre Charles Shallcross, with winger Silas Cox claiming the highest try strike rate per minutes played.

Chew Valley can justifiably lay claim to being the fourth ranked and top ranked amateur side in Somerset and similarly in the Bristol combination. It is a community club based on predominantly local players who play for each other and the club for the love of the game.

Three promotions in the last ten years means that the talent nurtured by Chew Valley junior coaches now needs to look no further than their own club to further their rugby ambitions because of the quality of facilities and coaching and match day competition available.

Huge credit for the club’s progress over the last 25 years must go to the management. The committee under different chairmen has focused on continual improvement of the facilities and in engaging top quality coaches.

Steve Worrall as head coach together with Wales and Bristol Bears outside half Callum Sheedy and forwards coach Dean Brooker have delivered a playing style which is both successful and attractive to watch.

And the inclusive nature of the training sessions means that everyone attending, irrespective of ability, can improve their skills and fitness.

To cap a fine season Chew Valley made their first Bristol Combination Cup final, the season’s finale, played at Dings Crusaders £8 million Shaftesbury Road facility, against Old Redcliffians.

Old Reds finished runners-up in South West Premier, having lost only three games all season, so a real test for Chew, who were leading 18-12 at half time.

Old Reds eventually ran out 18-34 winners, but Chew Valley showed they have nothing to fear playing up a level next season.

Pre-season training starts on the first Tuesday in July and will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the season, 7pm, at Lobbingtons, Chew Road, Chew Stoke.

Andrew Tanner Club president

Scilly gig races

AFTER a break of two years, the World Pilot Gig Championships took place in the Isles of Scilly, with Pensford man Andy Littler a member of one of the teams.

Andy, who has just turned 72, and who has rowed in the last seven championships, said: “We entered two races, the men's supervets long race, 1.8 nautical miles, then a shorter 1.3 sprint. Both were exciting and close fought, but in the end we finished 34th in our class.

“Bristol as a whole did well, with the ladies finishing 10th overall in the open category, and the men finishing in 12th, in both cases out of over 140 gigs.”

Golfers support cancer charity

FARRINGTONPark Senior golfers have raised £3,406 for the Brain Tumour Charity, the chosen charity of last year’s captain Alan Skivington.

Alan said: “My daughter-in-law, Laura, coupled with David, our past seniors captain, were diagnosed with a brain tumour in fairly quick succession, I wanted to do something that would support a charity in this area.

“I'm very pleased to say that the tumours of both Laura and David are in remission."

Pictured (l to r) are charity representatives Lydia Newman, Meg Newman and Andy Newman together with Alan Skivington and current senior captain Alan Smith.

Details: enquiries@the braintumourcharity.org

Cricketers pad up for Ted

MIDSOMER Norton Cricket Club has held a fundraising day in aid of one of the sons of a popular team-mate.

Now aged six, Ted Brooks and his twin brother, Alex, were born almost 12 weeks early. As a result, Ted has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is a full-time wheelchair user. Alex has diplegic cerebral palsy and

Ted is a big fan of new England captain Ben Stokes Ted and Alex with mum Sally and dad Niel and the rest of the players who paid £10 each to take part

wears leg braces, but is mobile.

Their father, Niel, arranged a friendly match at the club’s Withies Lane ground with a raffle and auction, raising more than £1,000. Items in the silent auction included an England shirt signed by Jimmy Anderson, an England vs New Zealand Cricket World Cup final programme and an England vs Australia Rugby World Cup final programme.

The money will go towards the ongoing costs of upgrading equipment such as a stander, a walker, a bath seat and a special toilet seat for Ted as he grows and also for extra physio sessions and therapies such as horse riding and hydrotherapy to develop his core strength.

Ted himself is a keen cricket fan – his favourite players are Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow.

Mum Sally selling cakes and raffle tickets in the pavilion

Great jazz line-up

ST PETER’SChurch in Camerton will welcome some of the finest and best known swing, Dixieland and traditional jazz musicians in the West Country on Saturday, July 2nd at 7.30pm.

The concert in aid of church funds will feature the Ambassadors of Jazz, led by Terry Williams on trombone. Terry was born in Evercreech and his distinguished musical career has seen him on stage with Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Digby Fairweather, Don Lusher and many other great jazz bands.

Keyboard player, Colin Frechter, is internationally recognised having composed and arranged music for Elaine Paige, Cilla Black, Sacha Distel and many others. Dave Martin another wellknown jazz trumpeter will be in the “front line” and jazz enthusiasts will know him from his City Steam Jazz Band appearances. Roger Bond, who hails from the Glastonbury area, will be beside Dave playing clarinet and saxophone.

Andy Mayes, from Taunton, is a special guest double bass player, who has historical family connections to Camerton. St Peter’s say they are indebted to Andy for his efforts in arranging the concert. Admission will be £10 to include the universally renowned St Peter’s Church interval finger buffet.

Details: Jill 01761 470249, Kathleen 01761 470606 or Cyril 01761 470336

Jubilee concerts

BURNHAM& Highbridge Band will be appearing in full Platinum Jubilee mode at Ashcott Street Party on Friday, June 3rd at 1pm.

They will be playing two sets of 40 minutes, with lots of popular music, new and old, to dance and sing along to.

They will also be playing in their usual spot on Burnham seafront (next to the Bay View Café, opposite B & M) on Sunday, June 5th, from 2pm.

Concert leads to folk club

NEWresidents, Nigel and Shelley Carson, have launched Winscombe Folk Club, after organising a concert which raised £750 for Ukraine.

As one of the leaders of Nailsea Folk Club’s performers’ section, Nigel thought that his friends might help him with a concert in Winscombe, and so it proved. Winscombe Folk Club will focus on promoting local performers and work with existing organisations like churches and the RNLI when promoting charity concerts. An inaugural evening was due to be held on May 24th. The plan is to meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Winscombe Club, 7 Sandford Road.

Details: Nigel on 07551 197685 or email winscombefolkclub@gmail.com

Coronation anthem

TOmark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, the June concert from Wells Cathedral Oratorio Society will celebrate her coronation and English Pastoral music.

The English Symphony Orchestra will join the choir and soloists for an uplifting evening featuring Handel’s Zadok the Priest and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music and more.

The soloists are Natalie Clifton-Griffith, soprano, Lucy Balderson, alto, Richard Rowntree, tenor, William Drakett, bass, and Dawid Kasprzak on violin. The conductor is Jeremy Cole.

The Coronation anthem Zadok the Priest has been used for every English coronation since George II. The concert is at Wells Cathedral is on Saturday, June 25th, 7pm, tickets £14-£30.

Singers return

CONGRESBURYSingers are returning to the Congresbury War Memorial Hall with an exciting musical-themed concert “Another Op’nin’, Another Show” on Saturday, July 2nd at 7.30pm, including songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Greatest Showman and many more.

The Singers originally used the 100-year-old hall for their concerts and rehearsals, but sadly had to move as the hall fell into disrepair. They say the hall has recently had a wonderful makeover due to some very dedicated people and tradesmen and the results are fantastic! A spokesman said: “It is a lovely building, run by friendly staff and volunteers, who have made our return there for rehearsals very easy.”

The premises are used by a variety of clubs. Congresbury Singers meet every Tuesday evening 7.45-9.30pm led by a very experienced and enthusiastic musical director, Graham Coatman. New singers are very welcome (no audition required), and they are particularly seeking tenor and bass members.

Tickets for the concert are £10 including refreshments and are available at the Post Office and Re:Store Congresbury or on the door on the night. Doors open at 7pm. THE long-term impact of the pandemic has had knock-on effects for the finances of Wells City Band.

Band members are busy organising fundraising events such as friendly skittles and quiz nights but are appealing for more support from individuals and businesses to pay for instruments, uniforms and music.

Wells City Band will be playing at the Bishop’s Palace on Sunday, June 12th at an evening concert with the Yeovilton Military Wives Choir to raise money for the Royal British Legion.

Jane Hill, of the band, said: “With our new musical director, Paul Denegri, we are looking forward to an exciting future. With our finances holding out through the Covid years thanks to the Watch In A Box fundraiser that the public supported heavily we can pay running expenses but will need to fundraise for instruments, uniforms and music.

“By training over Zoom in the lockdown we have been able to welcome new members to the main band but this, of course, brings pressure for more instruments.”

Fringe benefits at Priddy Folk Festival

AS well as the main stages, Priddy Folk Festival boasts an exciting fringe scene – and what’s more is that it is all free.

This year’s festival takes place from Friday, July 8th to Sunday, July 10th with more than 20 bands from the UK and beyond performing across the idyllic site.

The fringe will be hosting a lively programme of local and emerging talent and will include highlights such as the Avalonian State Choir, Old Baby Mackerel and The Decades. Add in a full programme of children’s events and the dance stage and the festival offers a great day’s entertainment for all the family.

Festival organisers have once again teamed up with the Blue School in Wells to host the Priddy Rising concert on the main stage on the Saturday morning. Pupils will be showcasing their folk music skills so come and support the emerging stars of the future. l For weekend ticket sales and details, visit: www.priddyfolk.org

Band’s fundraising drive

Tickets for the concert are available via the Bishop’s Palace. To contact Jane, email janehill546@aol.com