Elsecar Skelter Challenge Event
 |
|
|
The Elsecar Skelter Challenge Event will take place on Saturday 11th August 2012 and will start at the Market Hotel, Elsecar, Nr. Barnsley, South Yorkshire. 27 miles, 21 miles or 15 miles in 10 hours around a circular route from the Market Hotel, Elsecar (next to the Heritage Centre) south east of Barnsley GR 385 999. Come and experience some of the goodies that South Yorkshire has on offer. Historic houses,amazing follies, landscaped parkland, wonderfully varied countryside with some terrific views and of course warm Yorkshire hospitality are all included. Our route takes in Wentworth Woodhouse, Wentworth Village, Wharncliffe Crags, Wortley Hall and Tankersley Old Hall (where scenes from the film "Kes" where shot). A decision on which route to follow can be made on the day at the appropriate check point. Start 8.30 am. Entry £7.50 (£8.50 non LDWA) in advance - £10.00 on the day. A badge and certificate is included and will be offered to all finishers. Runners are welcome and dogs are allowed if kept on a lead and under control. Refreshments will be provided at most checkpoints and a pie and pea meal at the end of the walk is included (only guaranteed for entries prior to the day of the walk). We have to impose an entry limit of 150 due to the size of the car park which is currently free. Enties are welcomed on the standard entry form. We do aim to provide good value for a modest entry fee and we have been complimented on the amount and quality of the food that we provide. The Market Hotel is a great venue for meeting old friends at the end of the walk and relaxing over a drink. We look forward to meeting both old and new friends on the day. A Tribute received from Tim Glenn after the 2010 event! "All the fun of the fare! That is South Yorkshire’s premier challenge event, the Elsecar Skelter. The so-called poor relation of Yorkshire, when it comes to scenery, has to work hard to address the balance and prove that this part of England’s largest county is not all about coal tips, whippets and the M1. The Vermuyden LDWA Group, one of the Association’s stalwarts, know a thing or two when it comes to graft and entertainment. They also know how to feed folk properly. Vermuyden fully demonstrate experience and skill in putting on a brilliant day out for anyone who cares to turn up at the Market Hotel, Elsecar, on the second Saturday in August. The route, continually honed, has now reached its full potential. Delightful, varied countryside, full of interesting artefacts along the way and navigation friendly, thanks to Frank Lawson’s crafted description. Those on the 27 mile course are well rewarded, with a loop taking in Wharncliffe Crags. This is an unexpected gem, which never disappoints. The attitude, and therefore the atmosphere, on this event are absolutely superb. Challenge walking should be a bit of light relief from the rigours of domesticity and Vermuyden are masters when it comes to recognising that fact. The checkpoints are hardly worth mentioning. They are simply wonderful, offering quality, quantity and diversity. There happens to be a really good farm shop in Wortley village, but it would be pure greed to call in whilst on the Skelter. I honestly didn’t need the large sausage roll and cream filled ice bun, but they were lovely. They weren’t, though, quite as lovely as the cakes at checkpoint 4, in the grounds of Wortley Hall Hotel. Lemon drizzled to maximum effect, whilst jam tarts threw themselves at me, and crunchy, crumbly, homemade biscuits were compulsive. The highlight, however, were the cupcakes. Surreal, perfect wax models from an art exhibition or straight off a poster. Biting into them brought both the cakes and the taste buds to life. In the end, I virtually had to be rolled out of the checkpoint, but that didn’t stop someone throwing another wax model at me on the way out. I shared two happy miles with my newfound love, exchanging glances and whispering very sweet nothings along track and over stile. The affair, sadly, didn’t last. On entering woodland, and after tripping over an unobserved root, I went one way, my sweetie the other. Cherryless, with squashed fondant and a scuffed casing, I was now in possession of an item that was no longer poster perfect. Heartbroken, I carefully picked off the grit, grimaced and…was forced to devour little cupcake. Time to move on, and I turned my thoughts to pints of lime soda and a massive cheese pasty waiting for me at the end. Lovely!" Tim Glenn 06.09.10 |
                   |