Wiveton Annual Sports 2004 .

Continuing our quest to become a Quality Parish Council

Wiveton Parish Council’s report this month comes from our sports correspondent

Gladys Smutts.

Wiveton’s Village Sports 2004.

Rather badly delayed I’m afraid owing to the struggle to find words to describe them.

The day was fine and sunny and all assembled on a sloping field by the Glaven River. The events in Wiveton’s annual sports are of an unusually eclectic variety chosen to make the best of the particular talents of its inhabitants.

The first event, the high jump was expected to be won by Peter Comins, a great athlete in his youth who arrived late and wearing First World War shorts. Thinking perhaps that the event had already started he made a rush at the bar which was at rest at 14 inches; he cleared this easily. Clearly heartened by this he was very ready when the event began in earnest and the bar was lifted to its starting height of 4 ft 6 ins. He made a long and very spirited run in but the bar broke across his chest; he continued running until he was no longer visible.

Air Vice Marshall Sir Roy Austen Smith was the winner of the ‘pretending to be an aeroplane’ race with arms spread wide he came in last but was unanimously declared the winner on account of his very convincing Spitfire noises, so convincing in fact that several German guests ran for cover.

The ladies shot put was less successful Janet Harcourt being disqualified for dropping the shot on Anna Welbourns foot, twice. This left Liz Ford the winner by default there being only three competitors with a roll of 5ft 8 ins.

All the distance events were won simultaneously by Ronald Beresford Dew, by far the fittest man in the village, although we expect a serious challenge this year from his son-in-law who has just been issued with a new electric leg.

The chicken chase was won by Paul Veitch catching a leg with a spectacular and obviously well practiced dive that left Roger Wood trailing badly, although he did stop to pick up eggs. .

The highlight of the afternoon was the drag hunt organised by Annett Grundy, the hare ‘as usual’ was John Ramm who gave a wonderful performance despite a very voluminous frock, the event was won by John Ratclifff who competing as Marlene Dietrich brought him down long before he could get back to the village.

The only competitors not to win anything were the Parish Council Chairman who was talking when it was his turn to run, and his wife who when competing in the egg and spoon race and who suffers from compulsive Bed & Breakfast disorder succumbed to an irresistible urge to run home an plunge hers into a pan of boiling water.

It was a wonderful day of great high sprits and fun and each year it gets bigger, as do the Health & Safety Manuals which in the evening provide the closing bonfire. We hope that this year it will be even better as we intend to introduce several new events, some of a more eccentric nature.

G.S.