Wye Valley Bike Ride Sunday 2 August
July 27, 2009
Wye Valley Bikers
Wye Valley Bike Ride on Sunday 2nd August 2009. Meeting rowing club 10.00 AM.
Suggested route: To Bredwardine Back via Bell at Tillington.
My telephone number no is: 01432 358865 , mobile 0781 7768491
Will be steady and not the tour de France
From Dave Sherwood
July 26, 2009
Runner Attacked by Buzzard
July 26, 2009
Eleanor Dennis, 19, was jogging near the Helford River on Saturday evening when the bird of prey attacked.
The teenager from Hertfordshire, who is on holiday with her family, was not hurt, but was badly frightened.
Last week Stuart Urquhart from Bristol needed hospital treatment after a buzzard slashed his head while he was out jogging near the Helford River.
Mr Urquhart suffered three 6cm (2in) long gashes on his scalp from the bird’s talons.
The attack on Miss Dennis happened at about 1830 BST near Constantine.
“I was jogging along by the river when I suddenly heard this ’swishing’ noise behind me,” she told BBC News.
“When I looked round the bird was swooping down above my head, but it missed me by about 1m.
“I clapped my hands to scare it off, but it screeched at me and just kept following me for about 50m.”
Ciaran Nelson from the RSPB said it is likely the attacks were carried out by the same bird, whose behaviour indicates it is trying to protect its young.
“At this time of year if the buzzard has young preparing to fledge, it will see almost anything as a potential threat to its family and environment,” he said.
“Put simply it is doing what comes naturally.”
Mr Nelson said buzzards were normally extremely wary of humans after being persecuted and hunted almost to extinction, so the only other explanation could be the bird may have once been in captivity.
“It’s just possible it’s escaped and may be swooping down because its been trained to the lure for food,” he said.
In previous years there have been a number of buzzard attacks reported on cyclists near Holsworthy, north Devon.
If a buzzard is defending its young, Mr Nelson said its aggressive behaviour should only last until the chicks have fledged.
“It’s hard to say, without knowing what stage they’re at, but it shouldn’t be much more than a matter of days or a week until this one moves on,” he added.
Buzzards, which can weigh up to 1kg and have a 1m (39in) wingspan, are a protected species.
Wye Valley Runners – The early days
July 26, 2009
In 1983 Eric Acton and a few friends from Hereford decided to form a running club to help pursue their common interest in running. The club was named Wye Valley Road Runners and the blue and white club vests soon became a regular sight at races both local and further afield.
Some 23 years later the club has grown and evolved, and by the time of our 2006 AGM the club membership had reached 140. Along the way we have dropped the word “Road” from our name to reflect the fact that we run on any surface – fields, woodlands, track, wherever we can.
For more than 10 years our club has been based at Hereford Rowing Club, where our members enjoy the use of modern facilities including changing rooms, showers and bar. This riverside location gives us access to many great routes to run, with endless footpaths and country lanes on our doorstep.
OUR TRAINING RUNS
Throughout the year our training runs start from the Rowing Club at 6.15 PM every Monday and Wednesday evening.
For off-road running, a group usually meet at Haugh Wood, near Mordiford, on Sunday mornings at 8.00 AM.
During the summer months, nearby West Wood is the venue for a Friday night run starting at 6.00 PM.
OUR RACES
Our club organises two 10K road races each year. The New Year’s Day race has become a regular fixture for many runners, and the course, comprising country lanes, is reversed in the summer. Click here for a 10K entry form.
The Muddy Woody 6 was created from our Haugh Wood training runs, and has become so popular that in recent years the 350 runner entry limit has been reached several weeks before raceday.
OTHER RUNS
Wye Valley Runners field both men and women’s teams in the local cross country league and also race at National level.
In addition, many members take part in races throughout the country, and groups from the club have travelled abroad in recent years to take part in high profile events in places such as Ireland, New York, Amsterdam and Prague.
Running weekends are also organised and give everyone the opportunity to enjoy two or three days of relaxed running in places such as the Brecon Beacons and Scottish Highlands.
