Sport

Twelve rides of Christmas

THEcolder weather and shorter hours of daylight tend to inspire hibernation rather than activity so heading out on a bike may not seem that attractive! For some inspiration to get outside on a bike here are 12 rides of Christmas to enjoy. 1Go for an organised ride. Take the stress out of trying to find a good route by joining a cycle club and take part in the “club run” at the weekend. It’s a great way to meet people and of course enjoy some coffee, cake and chat at the obligatory café stop. 2Be the postie and deliver your Christmas cards by bike. With a rucksack on your back you can choose how far you’re prepared to ride to lovingly deliver your Christmas greetings. 3Be a night rider. Take the opportunity to re-discover the routes you know in the hours of darkness. With reflective clothing and a good set of lights, night riding is an illuminating way to discover familiar lanes and trails. In the dark you’ll be more aware of sounds, particularly from wildlife. 4The Santa Ride. How about spreading a little joy dressed as jolly Saint Nick or in any Christmas themed outfit and head out for a bike ride. This is proven to give you as much pleasure as the smiling faces you will see. Don’t be late for the big day though! 5Get someone to take up cycling. In this time of goodwill why not get someone to start cycling again and go for a ride with them. The chances are they have a bike that may just need some light maintenance or if not let them use one of your bikes. 6Find the most spectacular outdoor decorations. For some households the annual display celebrating the season is a big deal that makes you go “wow”. Try and catch a glimpse of these sights by bike before they’re taken down until next year. 7Enjoy a family ride together. There are several traffic-free routes like the Strawberry Line and Colliers Way which are well-suited for families with younger children. Encouraging children to ride develops self-confidence and is good for their health and wellbeing. 8Find a route with a Christmas theme. According to the Royal Mail there are several thousand Christmas-themed street names in the UK. Holly Street is the most common one. Why not make it your mission to see if you can find some festive road-sign and house names. 9Take on a hill climb. A short sharp burst of energy is a good way to get warmed up on cold winter days. Across Mendip there are plenty of hills to choose from varying in length and difficulty – and it’s proved to be a breeding ground for success. The

women’s team from Bristol South Cycling Club recently triumphed by winning the team prize at the 2021 National Hill Climb Championships. It is the club’s first national team prize for 60 years and for the team probably the CYCLING with EDMUND LODITE best Christmas present they could have hoped for. 10A Boxing Day ride. Work off the excesses from Christmas and get a blast of fresh air with a morning spin along quiet roads. The chances are that you will spot other cyclists wearing or using a new piece of kit from a Christmas present – maybe even a new bike. 11Try a different type of riding. Maybe you enjoy the comfort of the road or are a downhill specialist who prefers the dirt and mud to Tarmac? How about putting those prejudices aside and taking a ride on the dark side to see how the other half live. 12And finally.... just enjoy a normal bike ride. Using two wheels rather than four is better for the environment and just as importantly improves your health and wellbeing. And if there is a mince pie left when you get home it will be well deserved. Wishing you a safe and happy Christmas.

DECEMBERCROSSWORDSOLUTION

ACROSS: 5 & 8. Buckland Dinham 10. Beetle 11. Elephant 12. Crownprinces 15. Bend 17. Orton 18. Yawn 19. Unfrequented 22. Continuo 24. Roller 25. Peanut 26. Leninism. DOWN: 1. Skitow 2. Waterproof 3. Idle 4. Onthesly 6. Unearned 7. Dyedinthewool 9. Acne 13. Concurrent 14. Tweezers 16. Doulting 20. Nyland 21. Tone 23. Nuts

Showground sponsors Shepton shirts

Jeremy and the U-11s with two of the showground team

TRAINING tops worn by the Shepton Mallet “Team Black” U-11s football team have been sponsored for this season by the Bath and West Showground.

Zoe Purcell, from the Bath and West, said: “We are so pleased that we have been able support the Shepton Mallet ‘Team Black’ U11s Football Team by sponsoring their training kit.

“This is such a great opportunity for us to develop our relationship with the local community, whilst supporting this young team of superstars! We look forward to continuing to support them in the future and seeing the team grow!”

Jeremy Watch, Team Black coach said: “On behalf of the whole team we are very grateful to be sponsored by the Bath and West Showground. They are a great organisation and to have them support our local grass roots football team is totally amazing. The squad are super proud of their tops and really looking forward to wearing them this season.”

Bowls competition organisers retire

THREE bowlers who set up an end-of-season floodlit tournament for charity more than 15 years ago have announced their retirement. Trevor Francis, Eric Obern and Bryn Hawkins have helped to raise more than £30,000 since the first tournament took place involving Purnells, Norwest and Frome Selwood bowls clubs which have floodlit rinks. Other clubs which Bryn Hawkins (left) presenting a cheque to John Saunders, from the Parkinson’s Society took part included Paulton, Frome Park and Prattens. Bryn said: “Three bowlers from three different bowls clubs decided to organise an end of season competition at a time when things go a little flat after all club and county competitions have finished.”

The three have donated the remaining funds to the Parkinson’s Society Bath and SWALLOW. FROMETown AFC are looking to raise £500 to provide free soccer kit to 25 children in Frome in time for Christmas.

They are working with Kitmas, run by Paul Watson and Mark Watson, a TV comedian, which wants to help families who can’t afford Christmas presents this year.

It costs around £20 for a kit to be produced and Frome aim to see 25 children receive a Frome Town kit.

Marketing and Communications Director, Scott Fitzgibbon, said: “Kitmas is a truly wonderful idea. Their work enables children in low income environments to be able to receive a gift at Christmas. It's even better that Kitmas will look to supply shirts from our club to our local area as well.”

The club will be working with Fair Frome to distribute the kits.

Victory at last for Fosseway Golf Club

A TEAM from Fosseway Golf Club near Midsomer Norton has lifted the Somerset Rose Bowl trophy for the first time. Staged at Mendip Golf Club, Fosseway beat Isle of Wedmore GC – the 2013 winners – by 3.5 points to 1.5. En-route the eventual winners had travelled to Sham Castle Club captain Roger Parfitt receiving the Somerset Rose Bowl from county secretary Rob at Bath, Oake Manor at Taunton and Cricket St Thomas. Davies The final was decided by the final two games on the course after comfortable wins in the top two matches went to each side before match three put the eventual winners 2-1 up.

With John Fuller and Roger Parfitt level in the last game, it was down to the fourth game involving Fosseway’s Dave Josham and Lee Britten. In a very tight match, Lee holed a 20-foot putt on the 17th hole to win the game 2&1.

Fosseway’s winning team

Kicking off Christmas

Big crowd for raceday celebrations

THOUSANDS of horseracing enthusiasts packed Wincanton Racecourse for the Badger Beers Chase Day which saw a 40-1 outsider win the feature event.

Rocco, ridden by Jordan Nailor, took the honours in the 60th running of the Badger Beer Handicap Chase, sponsored by the brewers Hall and Woodhouse. It is the longest such sponsorship in the sport.

Wincanton ‘s next big fixture is its Boxing Day meeting.

Rocco (left) clears the last fence with Potterman alongside

Jordan Nailor with the trophy

The Paul Nicholls-trained Knappers Hill won the novices’ hurdle race

Earth Company, owned by Roger Penny and sponsored by the Penny Group, in the parade ring ahead of the novices’ hurdle race in which he finished third

Messiah at Wells Cathedral

WELLSCathedral Oratorio Society is singing again! And what better way to celebrate the new season than a performance of Handel's glorious Messiah.

The concert will feature a wonderful line-up of soloists: Natalie Clifton-Griffith (soprano); Simon Clulow (countertenor), Matthew Minter (tenor) and William Drakett (bass).

The choir will be accompanied by the Music for Awhile String Quintet, with the society's accompanist, Adam Wilson, playing continuo organ.

Jeremy Cole, musical director of WCOS, said: "The last 18 months have been trying and difficult for the Oratorio Society, and the members have been so patient in waiting to return to their singing. "I'm thrilled that we are back rehearsing together again and this afternoon performance of Messiah will be a wonderful way to return to the concert platform."

The concert is at Wells Cathedral on Saturday, December 4th, 1pm. Entrance is free with a retiring collection.

Organ project launched

THE Friends of Wells Cathedral have launched a £2million appeal to restore the cathedral’s organ, parts of which date back to 1857. They last stepped in in the 1970s providing funds for the exquisite gilded organ case.

They say: “Whilst the casing has survived in good condition, the same cannot be said for what lies behind. Fifty years on and the organ is once again in need of a major (and somewhat urgent) programme of repair, restoration and improvement.”

They expect the project to take five years.

Jazz supports village hall

IANMillar and Dominic Spencer are unique in the UK Jazz community, taking their blend of melodic jazz standards and original compositions to rural communities all over the UK.

They tell stories of their travels in their Tour Bus - an old converted Yorkshire Ambulance, in an entertaining evening of creative music and enthusiastic joy, just what is needed after months of isolation.

They will be performing at Leigh-on-Mendip Memorial Hall on Saturday, December 11th, 8pm, raising funds for the hall. Tickets are £10, accompanied U-16s free.

Details: Tickets from Rog 01373 812459 or Vicki 01373 813942 www.millarandspencer.co.uk

Christmas music at Draycott

Amy Carson

AFTER a gap of three years, St. Peter’s Church, Draycott will again be the setting for a special post-Christmas musical evening.

Over the past 24 years, former St. Paul’s Cathedral musician Barry Rose and his daughter Nicola have given around 20 Christmas concerts and this year they return to St. Peter’s on Wednesday, December 29th at 7pm with a varied programme of seasonal music to suit

all tastes.

They will be joined by guest artistes Amy Carson (soprano) and Tim Dickinson (baritone), husband and wife professional singers, now living in Bruton.

Amy was one the first girl choristers at Salisbury Cathedral in 1991 (together with Nicola) and after graduating from university had a starring role in Kenneth Branagh’s feature film of Mozart’s Magic Flute.

Now head of singing at Bryanston School, Amy has also been soprano soloist at many distinguished concert venues, including London’s Barbican and New York’s Carnegie Hall.

She also sings with some of best-known professional choirs, including The Sixteen and the Monteverdi Choir.

Tim and Amy were both choral scholars at Trinity College Cambridge and Tim is equally at home on the operatic stage (including Glyndebourne and Scottish Opera), on the concert platform, singing with professional groups such as the BBC Singers and The Sixteen, as well as in the lighter side of music.

With safety in mind, attendance this time is being limited to 80 and tickets, price £10, are obtainable from Draycott Community Shop, or from 01934 744838.

Mulled wine and other refreshments will be served during the interval and all proceeds will go towards the maintenance of St. Peter’s Church.

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