Report of the Ridgeway Walk on Saturday, 8th May 2004 by Alan Smith

It was a cruel twist of fate that in a period of, admittedly, changeable weather it was sunny on the 7^th May and on the 9^th but overcast and wet on the 8^th.  In fact, the 8^th was the last wet day for some time in this part of the world!  It seemed to be spitting with rain from the word go and got steadier as the morning wore on.  The rain did not stop until the afternoon.  Fortunately, it was not particularly cold, though it was cooler on the top of the Ridgeway than lower down.  However, it was not the weather that concerned Ridgeway walkers most but the MUDDY CONDITIONS UNDERFOOT.  Carl Roe, who completed his 30^th crossing of the Ridgeway this year, said that the mud was the worst that he had ever seen.  However, unlike 2003, when the dry hard ground caused lots of problems with sore feet and blisters, many people found the soft going helped to keep their feet in good condition.  Walkers found progress was better where the surface of the Ridgeway had been repaired, though Dave Wright commented that in some places flints had been put down which could cause difficulties if walkers had sore or blistered feet.

Marshals too had to contend with the mud.  The approach to checkpoint (CP) 4 was a very slithery drive and the muddy interior of the tent at CP 6 lead to a tongue in cheek call for some matting to be put down in the future.  But the most challenging location was CP 9.  Marshals have to reach this CP along a very long track.  Emma Haile found on arrival at the CP that she could not reverse due to the bad state of the ground.  She had to drive further on until she could turn right onto a parallel track and then back to the CP.  When it came to drive off the mud later in the day, she felt like a rally driver; the mud shot over the top of her car at one point as she slewed from side to side into the puddles.

In view of the conditions, it is a tribute to the determination of so many walkers that they did complete the walk, the sort of determination displayed by the last walker to arrive at CP 8 just before 21.00 hours.  The marshals there had tremendous difficulty persuading her to retire in view of the darkness and the particularly atrocious conditions between CP 8 and CP 9.  

In spite of the weather and the mud, the number of retirements was not higher than usual.  Seven retirements by members of the Marlborough Brandt Group were planned and they arranged their own transport home.  Friends or relatives collected many retirees and this contributed to the feeling that the number of retirements was low.  However, 28 walkers had finishing times over 14 hours, with 7 of these over 15 hours; this is a record!  It is no surprise that Karen and Henry Winsor, the last walkers to arrive at the finish, said that the walk was the toughest thing they had ever done, adding “Never again!”  Karen and Henry’s finishing times of 15 hrs 43mins were not the longest.  Steve Piltz finished in 15 hrs 50 mins but he, along with John Bell, Steve Doone and Ian Ritchie, had started at 06.00.  Three other walkers, Stuart Gibbons, Trevor Greenaway and Richard Preece started at 07.30.

An unusual, but welcome, feature of this year’s walk was that more ladies took part.  Out of 56 ladies who entered, 46 started.  Amongst these were the youngest walkers in this year’s 40 mile walk, Victoria Gregson (18), Catherine Hingley (17) and Rosie Ore (18).  Catherine and Rosie said that they had never walked more than 20 miles before.  Having youth on your side is an advantage though older walkers have experience on which to draw.  But that is not always the case as John Mountain points out about one of his walking companions (see letters).

At least two dogs took part in the walk; Caroline Easterbrooke’s Old English Sheepdog (short-haired) named Molly Mansell completed the walk in 12 hrs 21 mins while Pine Dog Harrison, a black Labrador crossed with a greyhound, retired at 28 miles with his owner, Alice Harrison.

STATE OF THE PATH - I recall from my own years doing the walk (1973 to 1996) that the Ridgeway was always rutted to some extent and, in wet conditions, the chalky surface was slippery.  But I only remember once (on Hackpen Hill in 1978) when I had to negotiate a wide or deep muddy section.  So, more general mud is a phenomenon that has arisen recently.  Although some damage to the surface of the path may be attributed to farm vehicles, they have always used the Ridgeway.  But, in recent years, 4x4 vehicles and trail riders (motorbikes) have increasingly used the Ridgeway.  The Ridgeway is high profile sufferer from damage caused to tracks all over the country by off road vehicles.  Indeed, the reason for the diversion after CP 1 was because part of Gypsy Lane was badly damaged.  Gypsy Lane is not part of the Ridgeway National Trail but it is a byway open to all traffic.  In the words of the Wilts Rights of Way warden, Gypsy Lane had been wrecked by a gang of off roaders!  Beginning in October 2004, vulnerable parts of the Ridgeway (if not all of it) are to be closed to all non-essential motor vehicles for the winter months.  Whether this will be enough to restore the surface of the path to a reasonable condition remains to be seen.  But if you feel that the Ridgeway should be closed permanently to non-essential motor vehicles you should join the Friends of the Ridgeway (see accompanying leaflet).

TIMINGS  The three coaches arrived at the start at 07.48, 07.52 and 07.57 respectively.  I have adjusted the starting times for walkers on the coaches to 07.53, 07.57 and 08.02 respectively, apart from those who asked on the day for their exact time of departure to be recorded.  This broad-brush approach cuts down on the administration at the start, allowing walkers to set off as soon as they disembark from their coaches.

STATISTICS   40 mile walk - 191 entrants; 161 starters; 123 finishers; first walker home Ken Fancett in 6 hrs 45 mins; last walker Steve Piltz in 15 hrs 50 mins.

40 mile run – 10 entrants; 9 starters (one from CP 1); 7 finishers; first runners home Steve Bienkowski and Debbie Smit in 7 hrs 22 mins; last runners Angus Davidson and David Moreland in 7 hrs 50 mins.

20 mile walk – 77 starters; 75 finishers; first walkers home identical twins, Ben and Jon Hall in 5 hrs 18 mins; last walkers Laura Swain and Alison Thorpe in 10 hrs 34 mins.

GLITCHES  Not many, though the worst one was the unscheduled early start by the 20 milers which meant they arrived in force at CP 6 before the marshals there had set up their checkpoint.  There was also time wasted worrying over a missing walker who, apparently, went home without informing a marshal that he was retiring: but that was the walker’s glitch, not ours!

CONGRATULATIONS to Pete Clegg and Carl Roe who have each completed 30 Ridgeway Walks.  They each receive a suitably inscribed clock.  In addition, 13 green badges were awarded for 2^nd crossings, 2 red badges for 5^th crossings and 2 black badges for 10^th crossings.     

LOST AND FOUND - If you are having trouble reading this report, it may be because you haven’t got you spectacles.  A pair of glasses was handed to me on Sunday morning after the walk by a marshal.  If they are yours, please contact me.

NEXT YEAR’S WALK will be on SATURDAY, 7th MAY 2005.  Entry forms should be available early in 2005 and copies will be sent to this year’s entrants.  Otherwise, you can download the entry form for the 40 mile events from the web site at ridgeway 40.org.uk or ask for the forms to be sent to you by email by contacting me at jungledrums@waitrose.com or send an SAE (4” x  9”)

for the Ridgeway Walk to  Alan Smith, 3 Harlington Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 4AS   (Tel: 020 8301 3829)

for the Ridgeway 40 to Mike Sandford, 22 Stevenson Drive, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 1SN  (Tel: 01235 532207).

for the Ridgeway 20 contact Ron Cutler on 01235 850578.

ALL LEAVE CANCELLED FOR 7^th MAY 2005  I knew that, in a year when two veteran marshals (Mike and Mary Newland )‘retired’ and another stalwart, Richard Killick, moved away from Reading, finding replacements would be difficult.  But it came as a further blow to find several marshals were on holiday on the 8^th May.  The line-up of volunteers was looking very threadbare by mid-March when it is usually complete.

After all my concerns about how to fill all the gaps, it is a wonder to me how, in the end, we turned out to be so well staffed on the day of the walk.  We were helped by the fact that several group members rushed back a bit early from their holidays in France to help out.  And walker Andy Mansfield gave hours of assistance directly after returning from the 40 mile walk at 17.59.  Other volunteers seemed to come out of the woodwork and the low number of retirees needing transport made us appear on occasions to be over-staffed!  We even had some welcome help with tea making at the finish from two members of St John Ambulance.  

Walter Cullis, a veteran Ridgeway Walker, who was marshalling for the first time was astonished by the facilities provided at CP 6.  He commented that he could see in the eyes of the walkers the will to continue was draining away!  However, the results prove the last point incorrect!

Where do all our marshals come from?  Well, in addition to members of Reading Outdoor Group there has been substantial help from members of the Vanguards Rambling Club (mainly from London) both in this year and in the previous six years.  Several former Ridgeway Walkers are also volunteers. These include Tim Ardill, who did the walk about thirty years

ago - he turns up every year to run CP 1 (7 miles); Mike Sandford, a veteran Ridgeway Walker, who has been associated with marshalling the walk and organising the Ridgeway 40 run since 1997; and Chris Hayward, a Ridgeway Walker who has volunteered for the past three years.

Several volunteers not only give their time but also supply other resources.  Mike Sandford supplies the food at CP 4; for CP 6, Pam Deverill bakes ginger cake and flapjacks while Linda Wright supplies her bread pudding.  Keith Rix and the Deverills provided the tents for CP 4 and CP 6 respectively and other marshals have used petrol or provided cups or other small items of food without charging Ridgeway Walk funds.  Our thanks go to all of them.

We also thank St John Ambulance personnel and members of Raynet who provided medical and radio communication respectively and Nick Crivich and his staff at Streatley hostel who have bent over backwards to help make the Ridgeway Walk a successful event.  This year, we moved CP 3 to The Shepherds Rest and our thanks go to Brenda and Steve, the landlady and landlord, who allowed us to use the car park and opened the toilets before the pub’s usual opening time.

MARSHALS

Coach                                  Abigail and John Elrick, Carl Roe and Ken Royce and Dave Young

Start at Overton Hill              Ken Brooks, Ian Mitchell, and Alan Smith (Walk); Mike Sandford (Run)

CP1 Burderop Down            Tim Ardill, Ken Brooks and Ian Mitchell

CP2 Whitefield Hill               Angela and Brian Bellwood

CP3 Shepherds Rest            Walter Cullis, Veronica Hope, Ian Mitchell and Colin Saunders

CP4 Uffington Castle            Nick Lamb, Keith Rix, Mike Sandford and Lesley Secker

Ridgeway 20 start                Christine Cogger and Ron Cutler

CP5 Eastmanton Down        Chris Hayward and Jackie

CP6 Yew Down                  Walter Cullis, Pam and Steve Deverill, Ian Mitchell, Colin Saunders and Linda Wright

CP7 Bury Down         Alyssa Rowlandson, Norman Willis, and Helen Walker (afternoon); Frances Passey, Tom Stagles and son Ben (early evening to close)

CP8 Compton Down             Sue Arnold and Peter Dziwior

CP9 Starveall Turn         Douglas Chester, Emma Haile and (from about 16.00) Nick Lamb

Finish         Ian Briggs, Vanessa Brown, Christine Cogger, Ron Cutler, Sarah Feneck, Alex Heap, Christine Lord, Andy Mansfield, Lesley Secker and Peter Smith

Certificates                            Christine Cogger and Alan Smith

Fold up marshals                   Ken Brooks (to 18.00), Alan Smith and (from 18.00) Stuart Walker

Roving Marshals                                (1) Stuart Walker and (2) Alyssa Rowlandson and Helen Walkers

LETTERS & EMAILS

I would like to say thanks to yourself and all the other volunteers who organised the 40 mile walk on Saturday. The hot food and drink at the CPs was very welcoming and so was the portaloo at CP 6. I entered the walk as a couple of my friends were doing it, I did not expect to finish the full 40 miles or even 30 miles. I was in a slight state of shock (& pain!) when we finished just after 10 pm, completely surprised that I could walk 40 miles in one go! I had a fantastic day.’                    Louise Acreman

‘I write to thank you for your efforts in organising and running the Ridgeway Walk.  In spite of the wet conditions both overhead and underfoot, I enjoyed the walk.  The checkpoint helpers were pleasant and supportive in spite of having to spend hours outside in the cold and wind and rain most of the day.  Their efforts were appreciated.  Please pass my gratitude to those involved in a successful event.’            Gerald Bateman

Please extend my thanks to everybody that worked to ensure the Ridgeway 2004 was a success.  I enjoyed my annual ‘fix’ of hedgerows and fragrance of the blossoms sufficient to get me through to the next Ridgeway.  You must have been chuffed by the good turnout.  Well done!’          Sue Clements

‘Dear Alan and the fantastic team,         Thank you all so very much for all of your hard work, pleasantness etc last Saturday on the Ridgeway.  Considering the conditions both overhead and on the ground I think you all deserve a medal.  All your dedication etc helped me so very much to complete the walk.  Please pass on my regards to St John who do such a fantastic job and also to Nick and staff at the hostel.’              John Leather

‘Thank you once again for arranging a really superb Ridgeway experience.  They do get better from year to year and this was an absolute peach.  The weather did not detract and greatly added to the challenge  The checkpoints were staffed by cheery people (Oh to be walking rather than standing around).  The 28 mile Monument CP deserves a special mention for its bonhomie.  Indeed, the welcome was so warm in that cosy tent that we had a job tearing ourselves away.  Furthermore, they were so keen to fill all the seats of the getaway car that they mugged any walker who was faintly flirting with the notion of retirement (Mike [Cambray] being the unwitting victim from our group – we could not blame him for he was caught in a moment of weakness).

Conditions were greasy to say the least and I came a cropper on three occasions in spite of the walking pole.  On the last of these, I stood in 12 inches of water totally soaking trainers and socks.  As with previous walking in sodden weather, my feet were like a baby’s bum on completion with not a hint of a blister – there must be some water-cooling effect at work here.

The Ridgeway Walk really is a great tradition and I am indebted to you and your loyal staff for keeping it going and taking it from strength to strength.  It was great to see such a good entry.  Thank you also for allowing us the luxury of the Blewbury pick up which adds to the nostalgia as well as the convenience.  Next year will be the 30^th anniversary of standing in that lay-by and watching out for the coach coming over the hill.  A great event and one of the highlights of my year.’                                                                                                                                                                    Bob McGavin 

‘I think the walk could be described as “somewhat testing”.  I hope that everyone came through ok.  Once again your arrangements were superb and so a big thank you to you and your team from Anita, Mick and myself.  Michael Lane is 65, had never walked until 2 months ago, has done a few rambles and the Seven Dales Circular.  So his time was a terrific achievement.’                                 John Mountain

‘Just a quick message to congratulate you and your team for doing such a great job under adverse conditions on Saturday. I was amazed at how well organised everything was - a real tribute to you, I think.
My little group did the 40 miles - I am glad we started early (thanks again!) as three of us arrived at 7.30 (13.5 hours) but one did not arrive until nearer 10pm - 16 hours! The state of the surface of the Trail was a good advert for what we are campaigning to change - it really was a mess. I hope that a few of the walkers may decide to join us (i.e. the Friends of the Ridgeway)!
My partner Susan also sends thanks for allowing her group from the MBG charity to do the first 20 miles to Uffington. They all made it.  Collectively we think we have raised over £3000 for the charity.’                                             Ian Ritchie

THE RIDGEWAY WALK - TEAM LEAGUE TABLE 2004

Team Name	Successful Crossings	Years Entered
Vanguards Rambling Club	304	38
C.O.P.S.E. (Croydon YHA Group)	216	39
Hendon Hammers	117	22
Northampton Phoenix	115	33
West London Ramblers	111	36
Blewbury Local Ramblers	104	27
The 7th Ramblers	53	10
Aldbourne Road Runners	50	16
Abingdon Amblers AC	49	15
Thames Valley LDWA	48	16
LDWA Mercia	44	18