As a new month begins, it's time to reflect on what a busy month April has been. Last Sunday 233 walkers and runners from all over the country took part in our own annual challenge event, the Pewsey Downsaround. A week earlier, a number of Wiltshire LDWA group members took charge of Checkpoint 2 of the Wye Forest 50 on behalf of the Bristol & West group. We have also managed to host a full programme of walks for the first time this year.

In this month's newsletter:

     Reaction from both the Pewsey Downsaround and the Wye Forest 50;

     It's time for walk leaders to submit their next offerings;

     Save the date in your diary in order to celebrate our 25th anniversary;

     Celebrating the walking achievements of the group's members;

     Details of this year's group 50;

     Some recommended reading from Tim James; and

     This month's walks in and around the county.

 

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Pewsey Downsaround (PDA)

 

Let's begin by congratulating everyone who took part and successfully completed this year's event. The results are now available by clicking HERE.

 

From Lesley:

"The 2018 Pewsey Downsaround was a great success from every angle.  We have received many compliments from the entrants and it is all down to our wonderful members who donated their time and bakes.  The food was fantastic with more than a few wanting recipes for the dishes served.  Of course the traditional LDWA Wiltshire veggie chilli recipe will remain a closely guarded secret. Andy’s electronic tagging system worked perfectly, saving marshals and entrants precious time.  So a very big thank you to all who helped, whether donating cakes and savouries, marshalling checkpoints, sweeping up waifs and strays, the kitchen staff who were on their feet for 12 hours and the registration crew.  All of you were marvellous ... and it was good fun too!"

 

From Carol:

"What a day! We all worked hard to make it a success, but on behalf of us all I would like to say thank you to Lesley, the person who worked hardest and drew it all together over many months of planning. She had a vision for the PDA and achieved it. She lets us all do our own thing in our own way, makes us all feel valuable but draws it all together: entries, kitchen, checkpoints, route and food (especially food!). Thanks Lesley! PS Do you want to start thinking about next year yet?

Now we have had two successful years using what we all call 'Andy's system' of electronic registration, I feel that Andy deserves huge thanks and respect. Widely acknowledged as being superior to the official LDWA way of logging entrants, we are very lucky to have it in Wiltshire. It is a very important part of the PDA, saves us a lot of money in Raynet costs and, most importantly, feels a very safe way of enabling 300 members of the public to wander around the Wiltshire countryside. Please, no one tell him as I know he could go global with it and make a fortune.

Finally from me, is anyone missing a large stainless steel bowl? I brought it home thinking it was mine, but I now have two, so it obviously isn't mine. If no one claims it I think it must belong to the scout hut and I will return it with apologies."

 

The reaction on the LDWA's Facebook page has been very positive:

Alan Warrington wrote: "Awesome challenge event organised by the Wiltshire group. Superb volunteers providing lots of encouragement on a rather warm day. Another day in paradise!"

Michelle Dyer commented: "Thank you everyone for all your hard work. Great organisation, refreshments and encouragement at the checkpoints, and yummy food at the end. Lovely to see a few familiar faces too."

Gary Allen said: "A huge thank you to Wiltshire LDWA for an amazing event today."

Olwen Rowlands wrote: "Thank you to all the lovely Wiltshire LDWA volunteers who looked after us on the Pewsey Downsaround today. Didn't beat last year's time but had a lovely day out, and seeing the paragliders over the white horse has a real treat! Amazing sausage rolls at CP2. They were the best I've ever had."

Joanne Johnstone commented: "A very big thank you to the Wiltshire LDWA for putting on a fabulous event. The food at the checkpoints went above and beyond and the volunteers were so friendly and encouraging."

Jannion Ireland remarked: "Huge thanks to all the helpers of the Wiltshire LDWA Pewsey Downsaround yesterday. Fantastic event and a wonderful day."

 

A few more comments:

Barry Cox messaged me saying: "Today was great. Many thanks for such a well organised event. Every checkpoint was so friendly. I was so well fed, I actually put weight on."

Stephen Cogbill e-mailed us saying: "Please pass on my thanks to all involved in planning and running this year's Downsaround. It was particularly well run. I think the addition of the Avebury indoor checkpoint was a big hit, and section of the walk along the Avenue and over Waden Hill definitely added something to it."

Alan and Margaret Emmott also e-mailed us saying: "Thank you for such a well organised event last Sunday. Please thank all of the support group and the welcoming, pleasant atmosphere they created. What feasts were laid out at the checkpoints and at the finish. We certainly had our fill of delicious cake! Alan and I had a very enjoyable day, a first LDWA walk for me. You even laid on the perfect weather! Well done all."

 

Finally, prior to the event on Friday 20th April, the PDA got a mention on the Chris Evans' Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2. If you go to the BBC Radio iPlayer, you will be able to hear it for about the next three weeks. The clip is around the 16-18 minute mark.

 

 

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Wye Forest 50

 

Congratulations first of all to Sheena Findlay on successfully completing this 52-mile event. The full results can be viewed by clicking HERE. Congratulations too, to Lucy Robins, Clare Staff and Andy Todd for successfully completing the marshalls' walk ... in the snow!

 

The Chair of the LDWA, David Morgan, posted the following on Facebook shortly after the event:

"The Wye Forest 50. An outstanding LDWA walk organised by the Bristol and West LDWA. Gwyneth Littlejohn, the chief organiser, did a fabulous job on her first event and the feedback that I was hearing from entrants was overwhelmingly positive. Wonderfully warm weather and the ankle deep mud that was present a week ago had been tamed to a sticky version making progress very simple.

This event could not take place if it were not for the hard work of the volunteers and the photos that accompany this post are a tribute to them. Thanks one and all!"

 

Clare added:

"As ever, Lesley ran a fantastic checkpoint. Andy and the boys did all the technical stuff effortlessly. Poor Lucy must ache from head to toe from hauling buckets of water to hot sweaty walkers at the cold drinks station. And me ... well they locked me in the kitchen and didn't let me out!"

 

The accompanying photograph shows Clare, the Wiltshire group's very own Letitia Cropley, hard at work in the St Briavels' checkpoint kitchen.

 

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Walk Leaders Needed

 

From Andy:

"To begin with, I urgently need someone to fill Thursday 20th September slot. Longer term, walk leaders are needed for 2019, with most dates still available. To volunteer, please contact me at andy@andytodd.org.uk.

Walks only happen if someone volunteers to lead them. If you attend group walks then please think about putting something back into the group and volunteering to lead a walk. It is not difficult and help/advice is always available. As always the committee is keen to support walks which could not happen without the support of the group. We have done well with a number of walks which have been supported by the group. It would be good to see this extended, including more weekday walks."

 

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Celebrating Our Silver Jubilee

 

From Lesley:

"As has been mentioned previously, this year is the 25th anniversary of our formation, and to celebrate this occasion we intend to hold a ceilidh on Friday 7th September at 7pm at the Selwyn Hall, Box.  Please keep this date free.  We hope you will bring your other half and a dish to share, plus what you would like to drink, though if the last ceilidh is any indication you won’t have time to drink.  I am currently looking into bands and callers and we will have a special celebration cake.  There will be a charge for the evening and will keep the costs down."

 

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Roll of Honour

 

With the above in mind, I am keen to create a page on our website to celebrate the walking achievements of our members over the last 25 years, in the hope that it will also inspire others to take part in one of the more extreme LDWA challenge events one day.

To get the page underway I'd like to hear from all of you who have completed a LDWA Hundred, meeting the following criteria:

• You must have completed the LDWA Hundred;
• It must have taken place on or after 1993; and
• You must have been a Wiltshire LDWA group member at the time of the event.

As the page grows I hope to add 50+ mile challenge events.

 

 

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Wiltshire Group 50

 

From Andy:

"Following on from the success of last year we will be organising another 50-mile group walk. The dates are the 13th/14th October based in the Upper Deverills.

This time the route will consist of 3 different, roughly equal rings looping out and back to the Upper Deverills, so walkers can do 1, 2 or 3 rings. This will be a group walk, however if individuals want to go at their own pace then that is not a problem, setting their own start times to match the opening hours of the hall. A GPX file will be available.

We have booked the hall in the village and will be operating a 'simple' level of catering. There will be a charge to cover the hall and food, numbers will be limited. For more information and to book a space, please contact me at andy@andytodd.org.uk."

 

 

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Recommended Reading

 

From Tim James:

Since you clearly enjoy walking in Wiltshire, you will no doubt be interested in the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's wonderful new book celebrating the wildlife, habitats and living landscapes of Wiltshire and Swindon. This book is the result of a two year collaboration between Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and thirteen Wiltshire photographers. The result is a collection of inspiring colour photographs which illustrates the great diversity of landscape, woodland, meadow, downland, plant and animal that can be found in this wonderful county.

It costs £20 and can be ordered directly from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust by clicking HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Forthcoming Walks

 

Finally, here's the usual look ahead to all the group walks and challenge events that are taking place this month within a 50-mile radius of the geographical centre of Wiltshire.

 

Date	Name	Type	Mileage	Organiser
Wed 2nd May 2018	Down Brean Down Way	Group	c14ml.	Bristol & West
Wed 2nd May 2018	May be bluebells	Group	17ml.	South Wales
Sun 6th May 2018	A Mere Walk	Group	20ml.	Wiltshire
Sun 6th May 2018	A Mere Walk	Group	20ml.	Bristol & West
Sat 12th May 2018	Mango Pickle Down River	Group	c20ml.	Bristol & West
Sat 12th May 2018	Ridgeway 40 Walk	Challenge	40ml.	(Non LDWA)
Sat 12th May 2018	Selborne Spring Saunter	Group	c20ml.	Wessex
Sun 13th May 2018	Over the Cotswolds and Back	Group	18ml.	Heart of England
Sun 13th May 2018	Watlington	Group	c20 or c15ml.	Thames Valley
Sun 13th May 2018	Wonlond Hill to Ceseburne. (Domesday Book ref)	Group	19ml.	Dorset
Wed 16th May 2018	Chiltern Views	Group	c15ml.	Thames Valley
Wed 16th May 2018	Cricklade & Thames Path walk - Evening Walk - Event Details Updated	Group	7ml.	Wiltshire
Thu 17th May 2018	Ride a White Horse	Group	15ml.	Wiltshire
Sat 19th May 2018	Ponthir and Llangibby Circular	Group	15ml.	South Wales
Sat 19th May 2018	Winchcombe Way ‘Challenge’	Challenge	21ml.	(Non LDWA)
Sun 20th May 2018	A Merry Dance	Group	c20ml.	Thames Valley
Sun 20th May 2018	Chips n Ham	Group	20ml.	Wiltshire
Sun 20th May 2018	In search of a King	Group	22ml.	Dorset

 

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That's it for another newsletter. If you have anything to contribute to future editions, please can you get it to me by the 20th of each month. I look forward to seeing you out on our group walks this month.

Warmest regards

Clive

Secretary of the Wiltshire LDWA
WiltshireLDWA@outlook.com