17 minute read
Sport
BMX goes big at the Bath and West
YOU would be right in assuming that music and cycling are not a natural pairing. There are only even a handful of songs linked to cycling – the best-known being “Bicycle Race” by Queen or “Tour de France” by Kraftwerk. Other than that, the only tenuous connection is to think of songs that have a cycling reference in them like road, track, or mountain (try it, there is a lot!)
So, at first sight it might seem odd that a music festival would take place at the same time as a cycling competition.
But that’s what happened when the NASS festival returned to the Bath & West showground combining three days of headlining music acts with the UK’s biggest celebration of BMX freestyle riding (and skateboarding).
BMX freestyle cycling has a uniquely distinctive character compared to other cycling disciplines. For many, one of the main attractions is its alternative culture and lifestyle and by being unconventional, without too many rules.
This year there were three freestyle events at the festival. The inside of the main arena had been turned into a giant BMX course for the “Park” and “Street” competitions.
“Park” has an emphasis on large jumps and was included for the first time in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “Street” makes use of features found in urban and public spaces where tricks are performed on kerbs, handrails, stairs, ledges, banks, and other obstacles.
After the last time I wrote about BMX riding in the Mendip Times someone said to me “what’s the point there are no BMX riders around here”. But there are – you just need to know where to look.
You’ll find BMX Park riders at skateparks. There aren’t that many skateparks across Mendip but that’s down to how rural it is. So it’s worth giving some recognition to Ride Mendip who after three years of hard work opened the new Cheddar pump track earlier this year.
BMX street riders will be found making use of the architecture to be found in towns and cities. There was a time when authorities would try and restrict BMX riders and skateboarders in public spaces. Nowadays, I sense there is more acceptance to share public space and recognise the skill and mastery required to perform tricks.
Not too far from the main music stage at the festival, a series of half-pipes were in place for the BMX mini ramp where riders perform tricks in mid-air.
In all disciplines, points are awarded for the technical difficulty
CYCLING with EDMUND LODITE
and execution of a trick, or combination of tricks. Creativity and style are also rewarded and final results are based on the highest score from two timed rides.
Higher scores can be gained from more rotations and the increased complexity of tricks but there is a downside from being too ambitious.
A fall will disrupt the flow of the ride and lead to a low score. So, it’s better to make the first ride a clear one with enough content to score well and use the second ride to be riskier if needed.
The sport also comes with its own unique terminology for tricks where one or two words are used to define a complex series of movements e.g. Flare: a backflip and 180-degree rotation in the same motion.
BMX freestyle cycling originated in the USA. The earliest photographic evidence is from the 1970s where riders used makeshift vertical ramps. From there, riders started to make use of the urban landscape and it wasn’t long before BMX riders also began using skateboarding parks.
In the UK, BMX took off in the early 1980s when it became the "must have" bicycle for children and teenagers. The explosion in demand was triggered by the iconic use of a BMX bike in Steven Spielberg’s classic movie ET.
It was therefore not surprising that it would implode with similar speed, when the children who rode the bikes left school and went to work. Nowadays, BMX bikes belong to the freestylers and racers.
Back at the festival, GB’s Declan Brooks Olympic BMX freestyle bronze medal winner (Tokyo 2020) showed off his skill on the Ramp and the Park. Charlotte Worthington GB’s BMX freestyle gold medal winner also turned up just to enjoy and spectate.
Where BMX cyclists riding along rails or steps outside an office building were once chased off by security guards, they now win gold!
The mini-ramp
AUGUSTCROSSWORDSOLUTION
ACROSS: 1. Zimbabwean 6. Ibis 9. Gargantuan 10. Et al 12. Bath and Wells 15. Quartet 16. Tuesday 17. Auteurs 19. Seagate 20. Skeleton keys 23. Lilt 24. Atkins diet 25. Spry 26. Prime mover DOWN:1. Zags 2. Mark 3. Agapanthuses 4. Watchet 5. Against 7. Bottled gas 8. Self-styled 11. Sweet Alyssum 13. Aquae Sulis 14. Salt cellar 18. Shooter 19. Sikhism 21. Kiev 22. Star
Rugby shows its fun side at 7s tournament
Organiser Mike Rutt (third from right) Frome RFC
MORE than 50 teams took part in the annual Frome 7s tournament, one of the biggest in the South West, after a two-year Covid lay-off.
From the ultra-competitive men’s and women’s open competitions to a “super social” men’s run-about, the emphasis over the weekend was about having fun.
Many of the 56 sides came from all over the UK and even further afield. There was some local success with the Friji 7s (containing some familiar faces from Frome RFC) winning the Social Bowl. The Shredded Ducks were crowned champions.
Organiser Mike Rutt said: “It was great to see how excited everyone was about the return of the 7s festival and having not been able to hold it over the last two years due to Covid restrictions it was great to see it return bigger and better than ever.”
Bath Spa Spartans 2 (in blue) in action in the ladies social Friji 7s (in white)
Izzy’s big European chance
A TEENAGE motocross rider from Frome is off to Belgium in August to compete for Team GB in the second round of the IMBA European Ladies Championship.
Izzy Neale, a member of the Rikki Priest MX Academy Raceteam, will join seven other riders in the competition on August 7th. The 17-year-old Frome College student is now appealing for support to finance the trip where she will ride in the 250cc class. A keen sportswoman, Izzy was inspired to take up motocross by her dad who competed when he was younger and attending the Weston-super-Mare beach races. She got her first 50cc bike aged seven and hasn’t looked back since.
Izzy has been supported by Nicola and Nick from X Rutted Media and Ben Smith, from Smiths-Engine-Services who helps maintain and service her bike.
Izzy with coach Rikki Priest at last year’s UK girls nationals
Brother and sister represent GB
A BROTHERand sister from Shipham have been selected to represent GB in the Europeans this year in their respective sports.
Previously we have featured Jens Hullah’s success at rowing. Now his sister, Maja, has been selected for her riding.
Their younger brother, Joachim, trains and plays for Bristol Bears U-18s academy.
Jens trained from the age of 14 to 18 at Bath University on the GB Development Squad and Minerva Rowing Club in Jens Bath. He was scouted by the GB rowing programme and went on to represent GB in the U18s in France. He then moved to London after his Alevels and rowed professionally for Molsey Rowing Club where he was a winner at Henley in 2019. He won again at Henley this year rowing for Oxford Brookes.
He has now been selected to row for GB at the U23s Europeans in Belgium at the end of August.
Maja, aged 20, has worked and trained with local event rider, Dani Evans, in Pensford, since leaving Churchill Academy after A-levels.
After a series of trials and competitions around the UK this year she has been selected to represent GB for the Young Riders at the Europeans on her own horse, Articus, which she has produced up through the eventing levels.
The Europeans are being held at Hartpury University, in Gloucestershire.
Terrace named in memory of “Porge”
Club chairman, Shane Cameron (left) with members of Porge's family
CHEW Valley RFC has named a new terrace at its ground in memory of Georgia “Porge” Bryant, a former Valley Cats player, who died from leukaemia in 2018, despite a huge fundraising appeal for experimental treatment.
Club chairman, Shane Cameron, said it was a wonderful space which would be a lasting memorial to Porge for many years to come.
Porge’s mother, Jane, said they had decided the rugby club should benefit from the appeal adding: “She would be over the moon with this terrace.”
Rotary golf day
MEMBERSand friends of the Rotary Club of Mendip are celebrating the success of the recent charity golf day at Wedmore which raised £2,900 for the Alzheimer’s Charity. A total of 19 teams took part in the day, starting with coffee and bacon rolls, followed by a “shotgun” start across all 18 holes simultaneously.
The winning team Taunton Boys (pictured) achieved 90 points, and two local teams from Worle Glass took second and fourth places.
Rotary president, Jim Skinner, said: “We had a wonderful, happy day, and our thanks go to the Isle of Wedmore Golf Club who made it possible, together with all our sponsors.
“The Rotary Club of Mendip has been fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Society during the past year and the golf day proceeds will enable us to donate £4,000 to this worthy cause.
“Mendip Rotary is always looking for volunteers from the local community to support its work. We have a great deal of fun, carry out worthwhile projects locally, and make new friends.”
Shepton gymnasts in national finals
THREE members of Shepton Mallet Gymnastic Club have been selected to represent their club and the South West at the National and Regional Team Finals in September in Sheffield.
The club’s efforts at the regional championships at the beginning of July started with Alfie McCulloch completing his runs with a new personal best. Teammate Nathaniel Halls competed at Regional Level 3 with three clean runs. Nathanial took home a silver medal and has gained a place in the final.
Next on the track were the girls. Teammates Calla Scott and Lily Hoddinott both had outstanding performances which secured them both a finals place. Calla was awarded a well-deserved silver medal at Regional Level 2. Lily Hoddinott was on top form tumbling her way to being crowned South West champion.
The club trains at Shepton Mallet Prison but still doesn’t have a competition-standard track to use. The club is about to launch a £13,000 fundraising drive towards one.
Back (l:r): Florence White, Millie Rood, Nathaniel Halls, Calla Scott and Lily Hoddinott. Front: Alfie McCulloch
For details, visit: www.sheptonmalletgymnasticsclub.co.uk
“Inspirational” runner goes the extra mile
ULTRAMARATHON charity runner John Reynolds has put pen to paper to document his remarkable achievements since he was struck down in 2004 aged 42 with a severe thyroid condition that left him with seizures and barely able to walk.
From setting himself the challenge to walk to the end of his garden in Westfield – it took him more than an hour to cover the 60 metres – John realised that the key to his physical and mental wellbeing was to walk a little further each day before deciding to enter the Midsomer Norton Half Marathon.
John’s book – Angel on my Shoulder – tells how his running not only seemingly kept the seizures at bay but he could raise money at the same time for Children’s Hospice South West.
Distances increased as John took on more and more challenges and the book ends in 2012 with him setting a Guinness World Record distance of running 426 miles in just under seven days and carrying the Olympic torch.
A lot more has happened in the last decade – including the formation of the 800-strong Westfield TT running group – and John is now writing a sequel.
John said: “Many people have told me I’m an inspiration to them, including some young runners, because of my determination. You have to find the good out of the bad.” l Angel on my Shoulder is published by Bristol Books and £1 from each sale goes to CHSW. For details, visit: www.bristolbooks.org or find the book on Amazon.
John (front centre) with wife Jo (front right) at some Westfield TT runners John at a book signing session at Midsomer Norton Town Fayre
Warming-up around Westhill playing field in Westfield before a Tuesday evening run
Pageant preparations
MOREthan 300 residents of Axbridge are now in rehearsals every week for the town’s pageant being staged from August 27th-29th.
Phil Saunders, chairman of the pageant, said: “There’s a real buzz in the town as the pageant approaches – ticket sales are good, rehearsals are well attended and the feedback we are getting is really positive.
“And with the evening music events from Friday to Monday there is a festival feel to the weekend.”
Details: https://axbridgepageant.com
Big band is busy
The band at Barton St David carnival
SHEPTON Mallet Big Band is having a busy summer. It was established more than 30 years ago, when what started as a local saxophone jazz quartet specialising in music from the 30s, 40s and 50s, grew into a big band.
The band today is a vibrant group of players of all ages and backgrounds, living or working in the mid-Somerset area. Their repertoire includes music from the golden big band era of the 1940s, including Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Louis, Ella and Sinatra and also contemporary funk and soul style music such as pieces by Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, and Imelda May.
Following on from a super busy jubilee period, playing in Holcombe, Wells, Shepton Mallet and the Bath and West show, the band recently played at Barton St David’s Carnival and Shepton Mallet church fete.
Details: Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/smbb.SheptonMalletBigBand Info.sheptonbigband@yahoo.com
Panto with naughty bits!
TICKETS for Somerset’s only touring adult panto have gone on sale as the group behind it say they are about to bring a new slant to the county’s pantomime scene. The Glastonbury And Street Pottymouth Squad (GASPS) says its adult pantomimes will push the boundaries and be one step beyond the smutty humour of the beloved Carry On movies with all the naughty bits left in.
The newly-launched group will tour its adult production of Sinders at seven Somerset venues, with all proceeds from ticket sales going to the Glastonbury and Street Musical Comedy Society (GSMCS) to secure the future of amateur musical theatre in mid-Somerset.
The idea to launch the new group came from members of GSMCS who realised that the possibility of staging a family panto in Street or Glastonbury was looking less likely, while also recognising they needed to think outside the box to raise funds for their annual musicals.
The pantos will be performed between January 19th and 28th and the show is packed with lots of familiar local faces both on and off stage, with decades of stage experience under their belts, including its director, theatre stalwart Brian Epps from Street, who has been treading the boards for 60 years.
Laura Vernoum, who is producing GASPS’ first adult panto and will perform as one of “the girls”, said: “We’re really excited to be bringing panto to Somerset – but not a panto like most have come to expect. This will have the smut, rudeness and cheekiness that you simply can’t perform in a family show.”
Tickets cost £15 and include a welcome drink.
Details: www.gspottymouth.co.uk Facebook and Instagram: @GSPottyMouth
Jazz in the paddock
AFTERthree years’ absence due to Covid, The Friends of St James' Church, Winscombe were happy to welcome back Rich Ritchie and his 16-piece Big R Band for an evening of traditional jazz and swing from the 30s, 40s, and 50s.
In spite of the rain earlier in the day more than 100 people came with their chairs and picnics to enjoy a glorious evening of music and some could not resist the urge to dance. This annual event, which started in 2014, has become increasingly popular attracting support from a wide area.
New singers welcome
DID you sing in a music-reading choir at school or in the past and would like to try singing again? Trinity Singers based around Churchill are welcoming new members.
They meet on Tuesday evenings “to delight in making music, have fun and enjoy the company of like-minded people”. Their aim is the making of high-quality music for their own pleasure and that of their audiences in their three or so concerts a year.
They perform a varied repertoire incorporating both sacred and secular music from Tallis to Bernstein, madrigals to Abba and the Beatles. Concerts and other events are principally in the area local to Churchill and extending to Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare.
Tenors and basses would be especially welcome.
Details: Bob Shapland 07769 813489 www.trinitysingers.co.uk
Outdoor theatre
THEaward winning Quantum Theatre Group will be returning to Timsbury with The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter on Saturday, August 20th supporting St. Mary’s Church, Timsbury.
It will be held in the grounds of Parish’s House, Timsbury BA2 0ND, so take your own picnic, chairs and rugs. Light refreshments will be available. Gates will be open from 3pm for a 4pm start, with free car parking.
Details: quantumtheatre.co.uk 08454 505157
New members welcome
BRUTON Choral Society will resume rehearsals in September and are keen to recruit new members with some choral experience.
They are a well-established and friendly group with a wideranging and eclectic repertoire including Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart, Schubert and Fauré as well as Rutter, Scott Joplin, George Shearing, spirituals, jazz and arrangements from musicals.
They have an exciting programme of events coming up: in 2023 they are celebrating their 30th anniversary with two concerts planned for March and May and then a Christmas concert to round off the year. They rehearse in Bruton on Wednesday evenings.
Details: www.brutonchoralsociety.org.uk Barbara 01749 812708
First class act
TIMOTHYDean, Brent Knoll’s singing postman, will perform his Songs of Somerset showcase at Burnhamon-Sea’s Princess Theatre in aid of the Somerset Crisis Fund which helps village agents support people in need.
This one-night event will be staged at 7.30pm on Wednesday, September 21st. Tickets are priced at just £13 and can be booked
online via The Princess website.
David Sturgess, the promoter of the event, said: “Timothy Dean has been a well known folk singer on the Somerset scene for some years.
“What is less well known is that he has spent those years in researching the county’s many stories, myths, and legends –spanning prehistoric ‘Cheddar Man’, Jesus, pirates, murders, and mysteries.”
Timothy was the unanimous choice to do the official opening of Brent Knoll’s new community shop. It was also in Brent Knoll that he recently premiered his Songs of Somerset programme to a sell-out audience.
It was the success of this event that led to the plan for this programme to be presented to a wider audience at The Princess Theatre.
Shanty festival returns
THESteepholmers shanty band are promising an even bigger and better music festival in Weston-super-Mare this summer, with more than 55 bands playing across the town from Friday, August 5th to Sunday, August 7th.
Last year £5,000 was donated to Weston RNLI and Weston Lions Club and this year they’re hoping to raise even more for these charities.
The festival is now a major event in the South West music calendar, with bands from all over the UK and beyond set to appear. And admission to all venues will be free of charge, except for standard entry to the Grand Pier.
The bands are performing for free in support of the charities and there will be many collection points at venues across the town for those who would like to donate.
