In the meantime, here are six things you may not know about the tower run:
Part of the route lies along the ancient road between Tewkesbury and the abbeys of Pershore and Evesham via the village of Westmancote. This would have been particularly important when periodic flooding made the lower roads of the vale impassable.
The village of Westmancote once had its own medieval church
2. Westmancote, where the route begins to ascend Bredon Hill, now has just a few really old buildings. But there was once a medieval village here with its own church. Both have now disappeared. The name ‘Westmancote’ was given by the invading Saxons to indicate a place where lived the native ‘western men’ of Britain.
The mysterious King and Queen Stones of Bredon Hill
3. Look out for the mysterious King and Queen Stones, which are actually three stones, on your left as you climb above Westmancote (on your right when you descend). They have for centuries been considered a place of healing. Close by them are the remains of stocks, and it is thought a whipping post and gibbet once stood here too. A creepy place!
4. Parson’s Folly, the 18th-century tower at the summit of Bredon Hill, was once the home of a hermit, according to local author John Moore. On Sundays and bank holidays, when visitors were to be expected on the hill, he dressed in an ancient black suit and led tourists up the steps to the top of the tower, charging them threepence to enjoy the view.
5. The Iron Age fort around the tower is much, much older. It dates to about 200BC, and its ditch-and-rampart defences were once substantial. The north-west inner entrance was the site of a massacre where the mutilated remains of about 50 people and various weapons were found.
6. One of the most popular landmarks on the hill is the Bambury Stone, close to the tower. It is better known as the Elephant Stone because of its distinctive shape. Kissing it on Good Friday is said to bring good luck. There is also a legend that the stone goes to drink from the river Avon when it hears the bells of Pershore Abbey strike midnight.
New sightscreens are now in place, but the nets renovation project has been delayed slightly
Main points of the April 2017 meeting of Bredon Cricket Club’s committee were: new sight screens in place, delay on nets project, search for new clubhouse furniture and Puckrup possible venue for golf day.
The club’s big quiz night was a resounding success.
There was a terrific turnout for the evening, which was held both as a tribute to the late club stalwart Dave Bettridge and to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
More than £130 was collected in entry fees, donations and from the sale of raffle tickets.
Highlight of the evening was possibly the round in which teams were required to make a model of an iconic place using a sheet of aluminium foil.
They were given just three minutes the complete the task. A team named ‘Glenn’s Dog Spot’ won the judge’s vote with their re-creation of Stonehenge.
Organiser Jennie Warren, who handled the quizmaster role with aplomb, said: “It was an amazing evening. I still had a buzz from the quiz at two in the morning!”
Jennie said she would like to thank both those who took part and those who donated raffle prizes.
Stonehenge: A task that stretched the teams’ artistic talents to the limit
Junior cricket registration for the 2017 season is at Bredon on Friday (April 21), and we are looking forward to welcoming parents and children back to Hill Close.
Registration forms
You can fill in your registration form and ask questions of our friendly coaches at the ground from 6.15pm, or you can download it here, print it out and drop it off when training starts the following week (6.15pm to 7.30pm on Friday, April 28).
All Stars Cricket
We are introducing a big change to the way we coach five to eight-year-olds this year.
They will be enrolled in the new ECB All Stars Cricket programme.
The high-profile eight-week course is being introduced at cricket clubs throughout the country, and aims to offer children their first experience of the sport.
Youngsters will receive a backpack of cricket goodies, including a bat, ball, water bottle, personalised shirt and cap to keep, and participating clubs are being given kit to deliver the programme and training for volunteers.
All Stars Cricket will provide children with all of the fundamental skills they need to play.
Through lively, fun games, they will learn about cricket and be better prepared to take part in all sports.
They will be taught how to:
Catch and throw a ball
Hit a moving ball
Bowl with a straight arm
Play a basic game of cricket
Work and communicate as a team
Have lots of fun with new friends
All Stars Cricket is also fantastic for parents. For an hour a week all mums and dads are invited to get involved and play cricket with their children.
We know this is a great way to spend time with your child and create memories that will last a lifetime.
We realise all this may not be straightforward for anyone new to the club, so our coaches will be on hand to answer any questions you have at registration evening on Friday (April 21).
They are:
U11s Sean Styles(school years 5-6)
07779 268604
U12s Glenn Buckley (school year 7)
07920 094688
U13s Mark Notley (school year 8)
O7843 209896
U15s Lawrence Simmonds (school years 9-10)
07843 328770
Can you help?
We are looking for someone to help with the running of our Under 9s group at Bredon, and support the current coaches.
This will help to improve the weekly sessions for this group of children and also give the opportunity to enter them into a number of Under 9s tournaments throughout the season.
Can all helpers from last season please contact the club if you are willing to lend a hand again. Your contribution is so important for children of this age group.
If your child/children require any cricket kit please buy it from club shop (the link is also on the page menu). We would like all players playing league cricket to wear our club shirt if possible in 2017.
Junior matches at Bredon
The club are running four junior cricket teams this season.
The under 11s, 12s, 13s and 15s are all entered into the Cotswold Hills League, as well as a Worcestershire knockout cup.
League fixtures start in early May on Sunday mornings (matches start at 10am). The under 15s also play on Tuesday evenings.
PS Get the lastest news from this website, including junior cricket updates, emailed direct to your inbox. Add your email address to the subscribe box on the left-hand menu.
Use the form below to contact us with any questions you have:
Bredon Cricket Club’s cheese and wine evening started the countdown to the new season at Hill Close.
There was a good turnout in the clubhouse, with people enjoying the last sunshine of a glorious spring day before heading inside for drinks and a superb spread put together by Lucy Washbourne.
The evening is the club’s traditional curtain-raiser to the season. A chance for old friends and new ones to meet, renew their memberships and look to the summer that lies ahead.
The cricket itself gets under way with a home league fixture for the First XI against Lye Cricket Club on April 22.
The Seconds take on Stourport-on-Severn Fourth XI at the Old Elizabethan School on the same day.
The Third XI’s league season starts on Saturday, May 20, when they host Ombersley Taverners at Hill Close.
Spectators are always welcome. All matches start at 1pm.
Do you know the capital of Mongolia, or the film in which Frank Sinatra won an Oscar, pictured above? Or who was the first black footballer to captain England, or the names of the three tunnels in The Great Escape?
If so, Bredon Cricket Club’s Big Quiz is for you!
It is a fun evening being held at our Hill Close clubhouse on Thursday, April 27.
Get a team together (maximum members is six), give yourselves a name, and enter by completing the form below. All we need is the name of the team captain, his or her email address, and your team name.
Entry is £2 per person, payable on the night.
Arrive at the clubhouse at 7pm in time for a 7.30pm start.
The bar will be open all evening, and a selection of nibbles will be served.
Proceeds from the quiz will go to Alzheimer’s Research UK, in memory of Dave Bettridge, former Bredon Cricket Club player, umpire, committee member and stalwart who died recently aged 76.
And, finally, for those desperate to know the answers to the questions in the opening paragraph, they are: Ulaanbaatar, From Here to Eternity, Paul Ince, and Tom, Dick and Harry.
There was a terrific turnout for CricketForce Day 2017, the club’s pre-season spruce-up of the pavilion and ground today.
Wonderful spring sunshine made it a pleasure to be at the club, and looking forward to another season.
The changing rooms and scorer’s box were given a lick of paint, patio area cleaned and hedges trimmed, among many other jobs.
The clubhouse is now looking particularly good, thanks in no small part to Mark Washbourne, who has done a fabulous job fitting our new kitchen and improving the bar surround.
Martyn Draper, who organised the work at Bredon, said: “I would like to thank everybody who came to CricketForce Day.
“We enjoyed another good turnout and got most of the jobs I had targeted done, which was great.
“Special thanks to Jenny and Lucy for doing the catering for the workers, and it was great to see our new first team captain in attendance during this difficult time for him and his family.
“Kevin, I am sure, can rely on the support of all of his teammates and friends throughout his first season at the helm.
“The ladies toilets and the changing rooms have now been painted and we painted the scorebox white, which looks great.
“Tim and Mark fixed the covers, so as soon as we get our new nets and refurbished sight screens we will be ready to roll.”
The hilltop is marked by an Iron Age fort and the 18th-century Parson’s Folly tower, and it boasts glorious views of the surrounding countryside.
Entry costs just £10 and includes a pre-race warm-up led by a qualified Zumba instructor.
After the run, participants and their families and friends can enjoy musical entertainment and a barbecue at the cricket club, where the fully licensed bar will be open. There will be a bouncy castle for younger children.
Entertainment is being provided by the Malvern Hillbillies, who specialise in old-time Americana music (see video).
The run, which starts at 10am, is open to just 200 and is expected to be oversubscribed.
Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Runners must be aged 16 to 75.
All entrants receive a finisher’s medal, and there will be trophies for first male finisher, first female finisher and first member of Bredon Cricket Club to finish.
Run organiser Jennie Warren said: “Our tower run promises to be one of the most exhilarating and rewarding challenges of the year.
“It is a fabulous route: tough but scenic, and we are laying on some wonderful entertainment for runners, their families and friends when they finish.
“We cannot wait to welcome run entrants to Bredon Cricket Club on May 28.”
Jennie said that although many entrants would be aiming to test themselves, the run is mainly about having fun.
“People should go at their own pace, and they can even walk it if they want to.”
Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 is in association with the Crown Inn, Kemerton.
Click on the link below to register and pay securely via EntryCentral, the secure sports event ticketing specialist.
Bredon Hill Tower Run 2017: Frequently asked questions
What is it?
A 10k trail run starting and finishing at Bredon Cricket Club and following pretty country lanes, tracks and paths to the 299m summit of Bredon Hill.
When is it?
Sunday, May 28, 2017
How much does it cost to enter?
£10 (entry includes booking fee and finisher’s medal).
How do I enter?
Follow this link to register and pay securely online at EntryCentral. This is the only method of payment. You will be emailed a receipt and should bring this with you as proof of entry.
Can I pay on behalf of more than one person?
Yes. Just complete the entry form for each runner. When all your registrations are complete you can move through to the checkout and pay for them on one card.
How many runners will there be?
Open to a maximum of 200.
Where is it?
Bredon Cricket Club, Hill Close, Westmancote, near Tewkesbury GL20 7EU.
What time does it start?
The run starts and finishes at Bredon Cricket Club. The first runners set off at 10am, but entrants must arrive at the cricket ground between 8.30am and 9.45am to collect their race number and warm-up.
Does everyone start at the same time?
Runners depart the cricket ground in three tranches in intervals of about 10 minutes. You will be given a chance when you register online to grade yourself as an expert, intermediate or beginner/fun runner. The expert runners start first.
Parking is in a field off Hill Close, just a few hundred metres from the cricket club. It will be signposted on the day.
Can I get a refund if I withdraw from the run before it starts?
Sorry, there are no refunds.
What happens if I do not turn up for the race?
Your place will remain unfilled, but you will not be given a refund. Neither will you receive your finisher’s medal. You are not required to inform us in advance.
Is there a place where I can safely store my stuff during the run?
No. Arrive in your gear. Leave a change of clothing in your car, or with a friend or relative who can meet you at the start/finish. We would like you to remain at the club after the run to enjoy our barbecue and post-race entertainment.
When do I get my race number? How do I fasten it?
Report to the chief marshal when you arrive at the cricket ground. You will be given your race number. Please bring your own safety pins to attach it to your shirt/vest.
I want to watch the race as a spectator. Where is the best place to go?
The route follows rights of way, but paths are narrow in places so choose where you watch with consideration. The best spot is the summit of Bredon Hill, where there is plenty of space. Please follow the Countryside Code on Bredon Hill.
Are there any toilet facilities?
Yes, we have just arranged some more facilities at the cricket ground due to the number of run entries we have received.
Is the route clearly marked?
Parts will be signposted, and there will be lots of marshals. You will not need a map or navigation aid.
Can disabled people take part in, or watch the race?
Sorry, we are unable to offer facilities for disabled people. Anyone taking part or watching does so at their own risk.
How difficult will it be?
It is a challenging run, with steep gradients on both the uphill and downhill stretches. The terrain encompasses metalled lanes, stony tracks, and paths through fields and woods that may be muddy. But this is a fun event, and you should enjoy it. Go at your own pace… even if that means walking.
Do I need special trail shoes?
Trail shoes may be beneficial, especially in wet weather, but ordinary running shoes will be adequate.
What happens if there is bad weather on the day of the run?
It will only be called off in the event of extreme weather. We will post a notice on www.bredoncricketclub.com the morning of the run ONLY if it is cancelled.
Will water be supplied along the route?
No. Runners are responsible for their own hydration. Bottled water and soft drinks will be on sale in our licensed clubhouse bar before, during and after the run. Please do not drop empty drinks bottles along the route.
What happens after the run?
Finishers will be handed their medals as soon as they arrive back at the cricket ground. Later, trophies will be presented for the first male finisher, first female finisher, and first finisher who is a member of Bredon Cricket Club. We hope runners, friends and family will remain at the cricket ground to enjoy our hospitality. There will be music, a bouncy castle for small children, and a barbecue. Our licensed bar will also be open. It will be a chance to relax and share run experiences.
What happens if all the places are gone when I try to register?
Please do not be too disappointed. We hope to make the Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run an annual event. You will be given the option to join the waiting list for next year’s run, and will be alerted by email before entries for the 2018 run go on sale. You will then be offered a limited period in which to register and pay before places are opened to everyone.
Can I be told the route in advance, and have a chance to run it?
No. Runners are not allowed to take dogs on the route for safety reasons.
Can I seek sponsorship and take part in aid of a charity?
Bredon Cricket Club is donating a share of proceeds from the run to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, but you are free to seek sponsorship for a charity of your choice.
