Village News

Chipstead Village Olympics Funday

Report 3 from Chatterbox of Chipstead

Sunday 8th dawned and surprise surprise, it was raining stair rods!

It was an early start particularly for Kirstie Banham of Shabden who came along at 6am to start the Hog Roast! But not far behind were the CVO committee to direct all the concessions that were arriving and setting up. The Pimms tent was decorated and space hoppers inflated, football nets and golf chipping set up, basketball hoop erected and wellies lined up, soggy bunting bedecked and the BBQ fired up. A decision was taken not to put up the ‘Picnic Here’ signs!!!

The first truck onto The Meads was stuck in the mud!!! A call was put out to our local farmer for a tractor. The roundabout man felt it was also too difficult for him to enter the quagmire as did the land train driver. The Archery team were building their enclosure. Not surprising, as it had not stopped raining all night and it was still falling in torrents and now only about an hour to opening time!! The first of the vast team of volunteers to man the parking, ticket office and all the games started to arrive.

Soon some brave families ventured out and the races began. Thankfully, not slipping and sliding too much with the children not caring how wet they were getting. They were scrambling onto the 5 inflatables – some quite challenging especially the climb and down the giant slide. To their delight this was even faster in the rain. And landing in a mud puddle was a child’s dream.

At 1 o’clock a miracle, the sun came out. The games went on and more people came and to each and everyone, the CVO committee are extremely grateful.

The Gladiator, Human Football table and the Bungee Run could now be used and some very competitive challenges began. But there was further competition to come, the tennis was about to start at Wimbledon and it was assumed that many had decided now to stay at home and see Murray hopefully break the 76 year British ‘dry spell’.

The archery which was very professional and very popular with all ages. There were 4 targets and the team gave helpful tuition with very good equipment. An individual sport but you could hear the competition in 'what was your score?'.

The inter-road relay was run in 2 heats due to the great response. With 5 runners in each team conformity was not the order of the day. Some ran in trainers, some bare feet, there was football boots, walking boots and even wellies! The teams were the Doghurst Dashers, High Road Hotshots, Hollymead Hot Rods, Highwold Handful, Lucky Lissoms, Rickmanhill Road Rockets, Stagbury Stragglers, Starrock Lane Streakers, Walpole Waddlers and Walpole Wanderers. There were only 2 members of another High Road team who were quite prepared to run twice and three times respectively. Not wanting to call upon the services of the St John’s Ambulance we asked for volunteers and 3 extra runners stepped up. They became the High Road Hotchpotch and made it to the final!

The winners of the Gold medal were the Walpole Waddlers who raced to glory ahead of the Hollymead Hot Rods who collected the Silver. A member of the Bronze winning team, the Starrock Streakers was heard to say ‘was I standing still??’

The award ceremony for all the races was held with Chloe Bean presenting the medals. Chloe has been selected as a Lloyds TSB Local Heroes trainee. She is a 16 year old swimmer with ambitions to get a National title and get on GB team. This involves a lot of hard work – swimming at least 16 hours a week with extra strength and conditioning work. This is on top of studying for 4AS levels!! There were many very proud children who climbed the dais to receive their Chipstead Village Olympic 2012 medal from Chloe.

Those wonderful people who came were now having a fantastic time. Most children by then had muddy bare feet and ice cream caked faces and unbelievably many people were sunburned.

A Swing band was setting up under one of the gazebos. Unfortunately, it was too muddy for the valuable instruments so everything had to be moved to the clubhouse. Even more unfortunate was the very black cloud that was heading towards the Meads. This sent everyone scuttling off to bring in tables and chairs and take down gazebos. By the time a very tired bedraggled team adjourned to the bar the band were playing to an empty clubhouse. They were great sports and entertained the weary troups. They were excellent and promised they will come again.

It had been a long day and not as well attended as the committee had hoped but still a success with many people saying ‘when is the next one’. There are so many people to be thanked beginning with our sponsors, road wardens who sold programmes, the guides for their colourful posters, Kiru for his leaflets in the papers and those who lent so many different and eclectic items. A huge thanks to the team of people who came and help set up and dismantle. Finally thanks to the unbelievable number of volunteers (over 150) on the day who manned all the events.

Some anecdotes and comments from the day:

‘Couldn't get over the fact that most people turned up (including the concessions) for the set up - what an amazing community spirit there is in Chipstead - rain / lightening / snow no problem the 'show will go on'.

‘I loved seeing the races they were hilarious especially the space hoppers and the children (& adults) loved them’.

‘I didn't see my nephew all day as he was on the 'bouncies'. He came back completely covered in mud, which quite frankly added to the experience for him!

Overheard, a story of a little boy running up to his Dad crying his eyes out - the Dad asked him what was wrong and in between wracked sobs he said ' they ..are ..taking the bouncies down' A nice little touch with a 3 year old who had missed out on the space hopper final - she was very disappointed, bottom lip quivering. She was given one of those Mandeville cuddly Olympian toys given by Lloyds - she clutched it to her chest, all disappointments forgotten.

Go Chipstead Village.