Category: Events

Review: What entrants said about the tower run 2017

Review: What they said about Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017
A fabulous effort from volunteers such as, from left, Martyn Draper, Sam Draper, Ian Fenney and Tim Fenney helped make the tower run a huge success

What a day! All those involved in making sure Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 was a huge success deserve all the praise they are getting.

And here is a brief review of what people have been saying about their day at Hill Close:

Such a great day! That route was amazing, tough but so beautiful. The entertainment after was perfect and the kids loved the bouncy castle… and I came away with a trophy ??????
Anna Midgley

Well, it was hot… but a great (steep) course and really well marshalled. Will be back next year, hopefully. Thanks to all involved in setting up and running the event.
James Graham

Really good event. Very well organised. Well done all.
Anne Sallis

Great day amazing route will definitely be back next year.
Andy Foden

Really enjoyed it, especially the down hill section! Will be back next year!
Laura Claire

Well done to the organisers. What a great atmosphere at the cricket club, and a fantastic route. DEFO do again next year!
Anderson Hirst

Blummin hot, but really enjoyed it. It was a great event, really well organised. Super proud I ran the whole thing ???? xx
Alice Clark

We just wanted to say what an amazing morning we had at Bredon!  Thoroughly enjoyed it (especially the downhill!) and we’ll spread the word and be back next year.
Kevin and Isobel McDowell

A massive well done and thank you to all who organised the first tower run. A great course and an even better social after. Roll on next year ???
Darren Gamble


Matt Baumber

A big thanks to everyone who organised and marshalled the Bredon Cricket Club Tower run today. I really enjoyed it hope to see you next year with a few more members from Kenilworth runners. Thank you, enjoy ? the bank holiday.
Gail Bates

Travelled up from Cornwall for this event. Stayed with friends in Alderton. What a great run. Can’t believe it was the first time. It was so well organized, hats off to the team who put it together. A tough but excellent course. Would make a great winter headtorch race.
Paul Gwynne

I’ve just about recovered from your run. Thank you for such a well organised event. See you next year ?
David Jones

Local press coverage of  Bredon Cricket Cricket Club Tower Run 2017

Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 press coverage: Evesham Journal
Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 press coverage: Evesham Journal
Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 press coverage: Malvern Gazette
Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 press coverage: Malvern Gazette
Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 press coverage: Worcester News
Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 press coverage: Worcester News

Pictures that tell story of tower run’s big success

Heading for the top: Runners tackling the Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017
Aiming high: Runners tackling the Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017. Picture by Martin Humby

Both organisers and entrants voted today’s first Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run a huge success.

Ninety runners took up the challenge to run from the cricket club to Parson’s Folly on the 299m summit of Bredon Hill and back.

Blue skies and brilliant sunshine meant the conditions were ideal for spectators, but tough for the runners.

Nevertheless, Rob Bowery set a blistering pace, finishing the 10k run first with a time of 42 minutes.

First female runner across the line was Anna Midgeley, first male member of Bredon Cricket Club was Simon Booth, and first female member of Bredon Cricket Club was Laura Spence.

Organiser Jennie Warren said: “This is our first tower run, and we are delighted how well it went and with the complimentary remarks we have had from the runners.

“I want to thank everyone who helped set it up, and all those who took part.”

Everyone who finished the run received a finisher’s medal, and many stayed on after the run to enjoy an afternoon party at the cricket ground.

There was a barbecue, bouncy castle for younger children and first-class musical entertainment from the Malvern Hillbillies.

The clubhouse bar was open and a friendly cricket game was being played between Bredon and Alcester and Ragley.

Next year’s tower run is on May 27, 2018. Make a note in your diary!

The run picture gallery is on our Facebook page. Photos by Martin Humby: www.martinhumbyphotography.com

Do you have any pictures of the run to share? Add the hashtag #TowerRun2017 to your posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and we’ll find them (see foot of this post for your pictures).

Special thanks to Overbury Estate and the Crown Inn, Kemerton.

How they finished (place followed by race number)

  1. 1106
  2. 1114
  3. 1126
  4. 1103
  5. 1129
  6. 1151
  7. 1153
  8. 1144
  9. 1130
  10. 1147
  11. 1186
  12. 1173
  13. 1111
  14. 1168
  15. 1167
  16. 1118
  17. 1163
  18. 1162
  19. 1171
  20. 1142
  21. 1109
  22. 1159
  23. 1189
  24. 1169
  25. 1102
  26. 1145
  27. 1149
  28. 1175
  29. 1165
  30. 1132
  31. 1119
  32. 1178
  33. 1104
  34. 1193
  35. 1136
  36. 1110
  37. 1188
  38. 1187
  39. 1113
  40. 1134
  41. 1161
  42. 1135
  43. 1158
  44. 1172
  45. 1189
  46. 1192
  47. 1124
  48. 1157
  49. 1190
  50. 1156
  51. 1121
  52. 1160
  53. 1191
  54. 1140
  55. 1137
  56. 1138
  57. 1107
  58. 1108
  59. 1116
  60. 1117
  61. 1170
  62. 1182
  63. 1139
  64. 1154
  65. 1155
  66. 1141
  67. 1143
  68. 1179
  69. 1166
  70. 1148
  71. 1177
  72. 1180
  73. 1181
  74. 1133
  75. 1146
  76. 1183
  77. 1120
  78. 1105
  79. 1176
  80. 1112
  81. 1150
  82. 1115
  83. 1152
  84. 1185
  85. 1174
  86. 1164
  87. 1128
  88. 1125
  89. 1122
  90. 1101

 


The best thing you’ll do this summer

It is three weeks today until Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 (Sunday, May 28, 2017), the best thing you’ll do this summer.

Here’s why:

1. It’s a challenge!

Let’s face it. If it was easy you wouldn’t get that fabulous feeling of achievement afterwards. It entails a 299m climb, but you will feel much greater satisfaction at completing the run than from a flat 10k. And remember you don’t have to break any records. Take your time, walk if you need to, and just enjoy an amazing running experience.

2. The views are breathtaking

best thing you'll do this summer
Runners will enjoy stunning views on the tower run course

Few people reach the top of Bredon Hill and are disappointed by what they find there. The iconic 18th-century tower (Parson’s Folly) and the atmospheric Iron Age fort are fascinating in themselves, but the biggest treat lies in the sweeping views across the Vale of Evesham, south to the Cotswold Hills and west to the Malverns. It is countryside that inspired the poetry of A E Housman, and it is simply breathtaking.

 3. The entertainment is terrific

Completing the tower run isn’t the end of your day at Bredon; we are laying on a big party for all our runners. There will be a barbecue and cake stall, and Americana music from the Malvern Hillbillies band. Our fully licensed bar will be open, and there will be a bouncy castle for younger children. Our cricket ground at the foot of Bredon Hill is the perfect place for friends and families to watch the runners cross the finish line and help them celebrate their achievement.

4. It’s a bargain

Entry to the tower run costs just £10. That compares extremely well with other trail runs of similar length. Parking is free too, and there is no charge for guests who simply want to enjoy the hospitality and music at our picturesque cricket ground and soak up the atmosphere of the run.

5. It’s so good for you

Trail running works your muscles, tendons and ligaments differently than running on the road or treadmill. And running trails uphill or down not only builds your cardiovascular engine, it strengthens quads, glutes, calves, and core, according to Men’s Fitness. Tackling the tower run will also improve your balance and proprioception (your body’s ability to know where it is in space), a benefit that carries over into all the other sports and activities you do.

6. You’ll be helping two very good causes

best thing you'll do this summer
Part of your entrance fee will go towards the Midlands Air Ambulance. Photo: Midlands Air Ambulance

We are not asking people who enter the tower run to seek sponsorship, but their entry fees will go towards what we think are two very good causes. One is the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.  It receives no government or National Lottery funding, and more than £7 million is needed each year to keep its three air ambulances operational. The other beneficiary of your entrance fee is us, Bredon Cricket Club. We are a community asset, and we field three adult teams and several junior teams in local leagues. We are proud of our record of introducing scores of youngsters to the national game of the English summer.

Six things you may not know about Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017

It is four weeks today until Bredon Cricket Club Tower Run 2017 (Sunday, May 28, 2017).

If you have not yet done any training, now might be a good time to start!

You can download the route to your device from our Strava group event page and share it with your friends here.

In the meantime, here are six things you may not know about the tower run:

  1. 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.
westmancote
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!

Parson's Folly

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.

Volunteers’ fabulous effort for CricketForce Day 2017

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.”

More photos on our Facebook page.

The next big event at the club is our cheese and wine evening on Saturday, April 8.

Worcester News coverage of CricketForce Day
Coverage of CricketForce Day in the Worcester News on April 4, 2017

What are you wearing at our Saturday night disco?

pop disco band spandau ballet
Looking for inspiration? Eighties band Spandau Ballet at the height of their popularity

Don’t forget that Bredon Cricket Club is turning back the clock to revisit those fabulous songs from the Eighties and Nineties on Saturday night (July 23).

We’ll be playing some of the biggest hits of the two decades at our school disco retro night.

But it won’t be just the music from the past you’ll be enjoying… we’ll be selling selected drinks at 90s prices too (though we can’t guarantee to have Hooch, Lambrini, or Skol lager in stock).

Why not really let your hair down and come in fancy dress? The theme is 1980s and 1990s school disco, and there’ll be a prize for the best male and female outfits.

On a warm night in July it’s the perfect place to remember those uh, oh, summer nights!

Tickets cost £5 on the door, and the bar opens at 7.30pm.

A few dates for your diaries

general view of bredon cricket club
It’s summertime and there’s a packed programme of games and social events at Bredon Cricket Club

It is shaping up to be a very busy summer at Bredon Cricket Club.

As well as our usual schedule of league senior and junior matches, we have several Sunday friendly matches.

Sunday games are always popular with spectators, and our bar at Hill Close is open whenever we play at home. There is a warm welcome for anyone who wants to come along to spend a relaxing afternoon watching a game.

A couple of derby games have just been added to our Sunday home fixtures. On July 24 we play a team from the Crown Inn at Kemerton, then take on Bredon Star Rugby Club on August 7. Better make sure the bar is well stocked for that one!

Nearer at hand, some of our younger players are taking part in an Under 9s Festival on Sunday (June 19).

There are also some exciting social events planned.

On Saturday, July 2, we have a Charity Race Night. All the fun of the racecourse without leaving the comfort of the clubhouse!

Then on Saturday, July 23, it’s our Eighties and Nineties School Disco Night. Roll back the years, enjoy all those old tunes, and buy selected drinks at 1990s prices.

Other dates for your social diary include our Family Fun Day on Sunday, July 31 (more details soon), and annual club dinner on Saturday, September 24.

As well as all that, we welcome some sides for mid-week games at Hill Close in July.

On Tuesday, July 19, Worcestershire Over 60s will play Gloucestershire Over 60s at our ground (start 1pm), while on Tuesday, July 26, we will put out a team against Stanton-by-Dale (start 2pm).

Oh, and don’t forget we now have a wide-screen TV in our clubhouse. It’s a terrific place to watch the Euro 2016 football (we’re open Thursday and Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons, and most Sunday afternoons throughout the summer).

 

Bredon to host under 9s cricket festival

Decent first game of the season for the under 9s, who were only narrowly beaten by Dumbleton
Bredon Cricket Club is hosting a festival of Under 9s cricket on Father’s Day

It’s the turn of some of Bredon Cricket Club’s youngest players to demonstrate how much they’ve learned about the game in a short space of time.

We are hosting an Under 9s cricket festival for six teams on Sunday, June 19, 2016.

It happens to be Father’s Day, so bring your dad along to the festival. It’ll be an ideal treat!

Parents, other juniors, club members and guests are also invited to what is sure to be a wonderful family day out. The cricket at Hill Close gets under way at 1.30pm.

Our fully licensed clubhouse bar will be open, and there will be a barbecue.

Tea, coffee and cakes will be on sale too.

We also have a terrific competition lined up.

See how many times you can hit the wicket with six balls. The top bowler wins tickets to watch the Worcestershire versus Northamptonshire one-day match at New Road on July 27.

 

Join us for the Bredon Cricket Club charity golf day

golf club and ball
Tee off with Bredon Cricket Club’s charity golf day

Catch up with friends and enjoy a relaxing day out at our charity golf day.

It is being held at the Tewkesbury Park Hotel on Friday, August 12, and proceeds will be split between our club and the Midlands Air Ambulance.

The day starts with coffee and bacon baps at reception, and ends with prize-giving (and perhaps refreshments).

There will be teams of three, and the competition will be an 18-hole Bowmaker with full handicaps (best single Stableford over the first six holes, best two over the second six, and all three scores count over the last six).

A nearest-to-the-pin prize will add a little extra interest to the day, which is being organised by Gareth Allen.

Cost is £75 a team (£25 a person).

To reserve a place email Gareth, as soon as possible and let him know sharing names, handicaps and team names.

If you wish to reserve a particular tee time (they run between 10am and noon) let him know and he will do his best to sort it out.

Good luck to all taking part!

New date for cheese and wine evening

bottles of wine
Keep the cork in! Our cheese and wine evening has been moved to April 23. Picture: Jane Vogel

Apologies to everyone eager to catch up with old friends and hear the latest news about the club at our cheese and wine evening.

The annual social curtain-raiser for the season was to have been held at Hill Close on Saturday (April 16).

Unfortunately, due to some technical problems we have had to delay the event by one week.

It will now be held on Saturday, April 23.

Earlier in the day the first XI will play their first league match of the season at home to Feckenham, so there will be a chance watch some cricket before socialising in the evening.

The cheese and wine begins at 7pm in the clubhouse and includes the 200 Club draw, for which there will be two £100 prizes.

Existing members are invited to come along for a chat and to renew their memberships.

It is also a chance for anyone who is considering joining as either a playing member or social member to meet us, enjoy a drink and find out more about the club.

Our bar, now under the management of Will Rollett, will be open all evening.

There is a map showing you where to find the club here.