Sport

A grand tour of country estates

BIkE routes can have different purposes. Some are functional for commuting, long for endurance or to rack up mileage and then there are those that tell a story –connecting places, history, people and things. A great example of that is the tour connecting two of England’s great country estates – Stourhead and Longleat.

The 26-mile route makes use of signed routes on the National Cycle Network, privileged access to the estates, paths and forest trails.

The tour starts from the National Trust car park and follows the gravelled drive past Stourhead House. While the house and its contents are impressive it is the landscaped gardens that are the attraction for most visitors.

The follies around the lake create a unique landscape that is enhanced by the surrounding woodland and in autumn vibrant colours create spectacular scenes.

After a couple of miles, near kilmington, there is a lovely gentle descent down Gare Hill. I’d only ever cycled up this deceptively long hill, so it was nice to enjoy a cruise downhill instead.

Heading east, the route then passes the site of the Frome Agricultural & Cheese Show which was being set up as I passed.

The first real test of the day is the uphill climb along the aptly named Forest Road. On what was probably the last hot day of this year, the overhanging branches provided some welcome shade along with a cooling breeze rippling through the leaves.

At Horningsham, by The Bath Arms, is the entrance to Longleat Estate. What soon follows is a spectacular ride for 1km down the perfectly straight South Drive towards the front of Longleat House.

There cannot be many, if any, cycle paths that have such a splendid vista. Don’t rush it, it’s a privilege to be allowed into the heart of this country estate on a bike – and for free.

At the end of the drive there are fountains and a huge lion sculpture which is eight metres long and four metres tall. It was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Longleat’s safari park. I thought, that’s as close as I want to get to a lion today!

If you do stop in the estate, it needs to be brief – rangers patrol the grounds to ensure that traffic and cyclists keep moving.

The following uphill ride out of the estate is the most demanding bit of the whole route. It’s hard to believe that only a few hundred metres away on the left behind trees are wild animals roaming the safari park. Climbing higher, the vista across the Longleat estate is spectacular and parts of the safari park are now visible.

On the steepest section a bizarre thought crossed my mind. If some of the wild animals managed to escape how much faster would I be able to go? That slightly ridiculous thought kept me distracted until the road levelled off and I exited the estate.

On the section through Longleat Forest towards Crockerton I chose to make use of some different terrain along a trail path. In wet/muddy conditions the road may be a better option.

CYCLING with EDMUND LODITE

The final highlight of this route is Shearwater Lake. It’s worth taking a detour along the traffic-free path around the back of the lake to enjoy a relaxing moment by the water – there is also a café.

The return section back to Stourhead makes use of quiet lanes passing through the villages of Maiden Bradley (founded in the 12th century as a women’s leper colony) and kilmington.

The final section makes use of the lane that started the route passing by Stourhead House once again to reach the car park, where there is also a café.

This is a tour best enjoyed in a leisurely and gentle way. With privileged access into country estates, there is a lot to enjoy as things noticeably change along the route.

But just as important there are places to stop and relax over a coffee and a cake, or pint and pie – or maybe even both!

OCTOBERCROSSWORDSOLUTION

ACROSS: 1. Riyals 5. Clause 10. Relic 11. Moonshine 12. Wedmore 13. Sweater 14. Leitmotiv 17. Pager 18. Plain 19. Airworthy 21. Ingress 23. Michael 25. Directory 26. Igloo 27. Slalom 28. Elects. DOWN:2. Idled 3. Anchorman 4. Somme 5. Crossover 6. Aisle 7. Skintight 8. Trowel 9. Wearer 15. Inaugural 16. Transform 17. Proscribe 18. Priddy 20. Yellow 22. Excel 23. Maybe 24. Aglet

Dogs lead the way to fitness

THE Wessex Canicross Club slogan says it all: “Chase the tail – run the trail”.

It’s a simple idea – cross country running with your dog, hopefully with it in front and not in tow – and a sport which is open to people and dogs of all levels of fitness.

Some Wessex Canicross members compete internationally whilst others prefer to go at a slower pace. Members come from Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset and usually meet at weekends with faster and slower groups and a range of distances.

Dogs and runners are joined by long or short elasticated lines attached to special harnesses around the dogs’ bodies and connected to belts around the runners’ waists – the sport developed out of offseason training for sledding and is probably the most common of the sled dogs sports.

Dogs must be in good health but size and breed count for nothing; the Wessex club has had everything from Jack Russells to German Shepherd Dogs!

The Wessex Canicross season usually runs from September to May but is weather-dependent, especially if it too hot. Some runs take place at night with runners using head torches.

Wessex Canicross chair Sarah Elliott said: “It’s an absolutely brilliant sport for people of all levels, whether walking or sprinting. Most importantly, it helps owners develop a huge bond with their dog.”

Club members and visitors at an open event to launch the season near Frome

By Mark Adler

Marie Stott and Vesper

Canicross develops a strong bond between runner and dog

Sarah Ward Leon Ward (left) has competed for Great Britain; it’s not unusual for some people to run with two dogs!

Chew Valley 10k is back

WITHno 2020 race due to Covid-19, the Chew Valley 10k took place on a sunny Sunday September morning with just 245 runners and sadly without the usual children’s Chew Valley 1k companion race.

Near perfect conditions saw previous winners David Eagon (34:58), from Bishop Sutton and Victoria Ratcliffe (40:15), from Radstock, winning the men’s and women’s categories.

Local running groups were out in force alongside many club runners. Bishop Sutton nurse Jane Wookey ran the 10k for the first time with friends and family in memory of her husband Mark Wookey, local builder and family man, raising funds for the Lymphoma Research Trust.

For those unable to enter the event due to reduced numbers, the Virtual Chew Valley 10k is open until the end of October.

The event raised funds for Bishop Sutton Primary School Society, Chew Valley School Society, NICU Support and the Lymphoma Research Trust.

Jane Wookey and supporters Men's winner Dave Eagon

Oldest runner Des Gillingham, aged 83

Details: www.chewvalley10k.co.uk

Women's winner Victoria Ratcliffe

Youngest runner Anna Streatfield James, aged 15, with dad Doug

Rugby club reunion

FORMER players, along with friends, benefactors, sponsors and supporters are being invited to a reunion buffet lunch at Midsomer Norton RFC on Saturday, October 9th.

The event, ahead of Norton’s scheduled home game against Gordano, will offer visitors the chance to see the many changes which have taken place at the club whilst competive fixtures were unable to go ahead due to the pandemic.

There is a new-look club and bar room, which has been completely revamped by volunteers, led by Alex Davis and Martin Blackmore, and overseen by Martin Cook. New furniture has been purchased with the help of a grant from Midsomer Norton Town Council.

On the pitch, the club continues to field three senior teams, with Tom Fear continuing the captaincy of the 1st XV with coach Martin Blackmore in charge of development throughout.

Off the pitch, long-standing chairman Neil Denning has stood down after 19 years. Alex Davis succeeds him and the committee has also welcomed a number of new faces.

Club president Nigel Rowles said: “As the season gets going it will be interesting to see how clubs and teams have weathered the pandemic.” l The reunion at Norton Down takes place at 12.30pm. The club ask that anyone wanting to attend contacts them in advance. Email Nigel at: nigel.rowles48@outlook.com

Championship contender

kIERANWigley aged 11, a pupil at Elmhurst Junior School, in Street has qualified for this year's British School's Biathlon championships. They are being held at Bath University in October. The format is to swim 50m before running 800m. The school says it is extremely proud of Year 6 pupil kieran who is a great all-round sportsman.

Because of Covid kieran had to qualify through a virtual competition that was verified by his athletic and swimming clubs. By doing this he earned himself enough points to qualify for the finals and race against other pupils from all over the country.

Golf winners Netball club celebrates 70th anniversary

THIS year’s annual charity golf day, held by the Rotary Club of Chelwood Bridge, raised money for their chosen charity, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

The winners of the Rose bowl were John Butler, kirk Bizley, Mel Fielding and Roger Stone. The overall individual winner was Steve Ball and the ladies winner Cynthia Miller.

June Barnes (left) with old netballing friends Mollie and Colin Gray, from Bridgwater. In the 1970s, Colin became the first man to qualify in England as a netball coach

FROME Netball Club hosted an open day at its base at Oakfield Academy to mark the 70th anniversary of it being formed.

The club was born when the leader of Frome Youth Club handed member June Barnes a ball and told her to form a netball team. June is still actively involved in the club and was awarded an MBE seven years ago, for her services to the sport and to the community in Both seniors and juniors put on a demonstration of their skills Frome. June recalled: “We started with seven girls but the club grew to four senior sides in the Somerset County league and three junior sides. It meant travelling to places like Bridgwater in the back of a milk van. We sat on churns with blankets on top!”

Today, Frome boasts four senior sides – Diamonds, Stars, Aces and Hearts – in the Wiltshire-based Moonraker league; the season starts in October.

The club has three junior sides and there are hopes more clubs will join to create a Somerset league. Frome itself always welcomes new players.

Some of the 70 senior and junior players at the open day

New director’s first concert

CongrESBurYSingers are once again rehearsing on tuesday evenings, 8-9.30pm, at St andrew’s Church, with their new musical director, graham Coatman. graham enjoys a multi-faceted career as musical director, piano accompanist, continuo player and composer, encompassing work in theatre and Graham Coatman concert hall. He has recently relocated to the South West for family reasons, after 25 successful years in Yorkshire. there he was senior lecturer at Leeds College of Music, also working at Huddersfield and Leeds universities. graham has been equally involved in theatre, contemporary dance, musical theatre, and community choir work.

More recently, as director of 20,000 Voices, a small charity founded in northumberland to promote the benefits of singing for all, graham has set up and led community choirs, children’s choirs, staff choirs, prison choirs, and projects involving russell Watson and robson green.

He now directs a number of choirs in the South West and looks forward to exciting times reviving Congresbury Singers in the post-Covid return to choral singing. the choir is working towards a concert on Saturday, november 20th, at St andrew’s, 7.30pm, called the Show Must go on, reflecting the last two difficult years.

Comeback tour

MagnaJazz played a garden concert in Chew Magna as part of its “comeback tour” following lockdown. the band of local musicians, led by Dr ray Montague, was raising money for Valley arts, which hopes to build an arts centre at Chew Valley School, and the music charity Brass for africa.

Autumn season

YattonMusic Society’s autumn concert season continues with an evening of musical excellence from the ISax saxophone quartet, a local and much appreciated group led by David James. the concert starts at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Yatton on Saturday, october 23rd, tickets price £10, half price for children and students.

Group seeks new members

CoSMiC (Centre of Somerset Music Club) is a fun and friendly club where musicians of all ages and abilities learn to play together in ensembles to develop their talents. groups include senior and junior orchestra, folk, choir, rock bands and music theory. the club is run as a charity, based at Crispin School, in Street, meeting on Saturday mornings in term time for the last 48 years. It is excellent value for money –just £30 for a term of acoustic guitar – only £3 a session. they have lost members during the Covid crisis and are looking for support to secure the club’s future.

Club organiser, Louise Caulfield, said: “If you or your child play an instrument or like to sing, please come and try a session!”

Details: infocosmicmusic@gmail.com

Music festival’s new venue

tHE free not Mells Irish Music Festival – organised by Mendip-based anthony “Pru” Comer –returned after the pandemic at a new venue, the tucker’s grave Inn at Faulkland.

All’s well that ends well

Abby and Richard Young play rival attractions in a fantasty Georgian pleasure gardens

SHEPton Mallet’s tall tails theatre company brought the curtain down on a summer of free family events funded by the town council with an afternoon show in the art Bank Café. the madcap production of the adventures of Madame Carol Sell and Mr Popsy had been due to be staged in Collett Park but poor weather forced the change of venue.

Van’s still the man as extravaganza hits 25

Photography by Mark adler

LEgEnDarY musician Van Morrison once again headlined the glastonbury Extravaganza on its 25th anniversary night. around 6,000 people gathered in the grounds of glastonbury abbey for the evening of live music which was opened by the glastonbury Male Voice Choir – who later returned to the stage to accompany singer tanita tikaram and her band. the Staves then took to the stage. the evening ended with the traditional spectacular fireworks display.

Two of the Staves – usually a three sisters trio

Time to party at the abbey Van Morrison had the crowd dancing to a string of his classic numbers

Food and drink ranged from extravagantly-set tables to picnic blankets

Fireworks over the stage – a traditional end to the event