Bikedock Belles

The event consisted of orienteering, space hopper racing, inflatable assault course, archery, a mechanical rodeo bull and kayaking.

At the start we all headed off together for some orienteering markers, with Andrea taking the lead (who does she think she is? Miss Adventure or someone?!) followed closely by Alison, Gillian, Debbie, Jenny, Tracy, Jacqueline and Lucinda. A splinter group (joke!) of June, Florence and Caroline set off in a different direction, but would meet up later at the archery zone and assault course zone – where Caroline would lay down the challenge of a race to Andrea!

Anyway, the first few orienteering markers were found with little difficulty (??!!) – well apart from the difficulty of making sure that we didn't give into temptation and hide some competitors' bags, that had been left lying by a bush while they went off in hunt of the marker!

Gradually the group of 8 then split into 2, with most wisely following Andrea (LOL) and just Debbie, Jenny and Tracy in the other group. The three went via the scenic route (ahem!!) to get to the first zone and when they eventually reached the Spacehopper zone, they were told they would get bonus points for singing an 80s song as they hopped their way around the triangular course. How hard could it be they thought??  The answer very hard!!!

June's group went to the Spacehopping first and earned their bonus points with a hearty rendition of The Lion Sleeps Tonight (ha! you're all doing "a wimba way a wimba way" right now, arent you?!)

Andrea's group went through this zone before Debbie's, the wailing and noise being all that Debbie's group needed to find their way to the right location on the map! Never mind the actual singing, there was the raucous laughter at Jacqueline bouncing onto her hopper with such gusto at the start that she bounced straight back off it and splat on the ground! Then there was also the noise caused by one of the girls simulating giving birth to a giant spacehopper – and yes, there is photographic evidence! (in case you haven't laughed at it already!).

Debbie's group (is three a group?!) saw Jenny belt out 99 red balloons and Tracy and Debbie do a wonderful version of Wake Me Up Before You Go Go as they all bounced round the set course in good time. All the while marvelling at how much effort it took just physically, but moreso while gritting teeth due to burning thighs and trying to sing while gasping heavily. This is one hardcore exercise. We all need a spacehopper at home! In hindsight, Tracy (the birthday girl!) should have been singing Its My Party And I'll Cry If I Want To !!

After the spacehopping, it was a quick run (spurred on by Jenny, who has been living on Hill Road, next door to Andrea, for way too long and seems to be infected with the deadly Harrower enthusiasm!!), down to the next few orienteering points. Then it was Archery, which we have all decided we’ll not leave our day jobs for (apart from Florence, who got top marks of the day and thinks that is probably due to spear throwing in her past! Please note the creativity of this group, who asked for bonus points if they let Florence shoot for the bullseye without a bow! LOL). Here we regrouped with Andrea and the gang.

Even Jenny, with her magic feather/ Pocahontas look, couldn’t hit a barn door with a bow and arrow. Lucinda was worse than useless – but very amusing with it ! – and top of this pile was definitely Alison, who must have been practicing on moving targets, yes multitasking as she pedals along now at pace in her newfound love of cycling. There were no signs of sibling rivalry between Gillian and Alison, in fact quite the contrary given that although Alison scored more points than Gillian in archery, at the next challenge which was a race around an inflatable obstacle course, Gillian waited for Alison at the top to help her. All say awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!! There was no such grace from Andrea, who paired up with Caroline and was so determined to be first that she didn't even take time to swivel around at the top of the slide, but just dived head first over the top from the cargo net! Oh yeah, it's the taking part than counts! But Andrea wasn't the only one, Jenny even got one of Andrea's "badges of honour" when she skinned her elbow in her efforts to beat Debbie to the finish. And June promptly leapt off fallen Florence's back like a monkey to spring up onto the climbing net. All's fair in love and sport!

The inflatable assault course was hilarious and much harder than it looked, but also much more fun than it looked.

From there it was onto the Rodeo Bull. Oh what a hoot!! Tracy went first and despite nearly wetting herself laughing, not being used to having a beast between her legs!, she managed to cling on for a respectable time. Then Debbie had a go after falling out of the ring before even getting onto the bull! She stayed on for a good time while singing "I Want To Ride My Bicycle", and then completing her turn by falling out of the ring! Never mind Miss Adventure, if there’s a Miss Clumsy Clampit she would be a real contender.

Jenny was next and she too did well at this one (we must have a  talent for dealing with awkward cows??!!). Jenny and Tracy (also a neighbour of Andrea's who has recently become infected with Harrower disease) were reportedly a little lacking in concentration for the Bull task because all they could think of was the fact that for 3 months now, Andrea has been threatening that when the two girls get their pet pigs next spring, there is going to be a Hill Rd pig rodeo competition! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!

After the rodeo it was a dash down to the kayaking, where Debbie paired up with Andrea and most definitely did not live up to her normal paddling partner Jen’s talents. Especially when it came to paddling backwards, for a bonus lap, as apparently Jen paddles backwards in her sleep – even when she's meant to be paddling forwards! It must be hearsay, I tell ya!!

There were some wacky comedy moments in the kayaks, as well as some great sibling paddling by Gillian and Alison (well, apart from their 1^st lap!!), but everyone stayed upright in the boats (although we don't know how Lucinda and jenny did??!!) and completed the task. Some got bonuses for everything other than their actual paddling!!! Florence and her partner nearly blagged double points for doing so much distance, which resulted in the instructor shouting after them that if they just kept going a wee bit then they'd be in Lisburn and could get a bus back!

We had completed the event in super fast time, without actually being fast at all!!, so went to Lockkeepers Inn for coffee and coke......and just a few more giggles!! How Alison’s heart rate monitor was quite so amusing really did bemuse those at tables next to us! Boy did you have to be there! Having expelled sufficient laughter energy, it was up to the Ramada for the finish and prize giving.

It was a pleasant surprise of a clean sweep for the Belles/Monthlies with Jenny and Alison taking joint 3^rd, Debbie taking 2^nd and Belle Andrea being crowned Miss Adventure 2011 (who would have thought that she's adventurous eh??!!).

A really great day, with fab activities for any age and fitness ability, and all for a very worthy cause. Girls, make sure this is in your diary for 2012. Maybe our sore muscles will have recovered by then! But oh it is so worth feeling like you have been run over by a giant spacehopper! (or have given birth to one!!)

NB report by DEBBIE IRVINE (who used to relish always being last, but is now building a trophy cabinet after her 2^nd place on Saturday and her 1^st place at Bull Raid in August. Bull? Hmmmmm. There's a running theme!!!)

Ding Dong

ps pics can be viewed on our facebook page even if you DO NOT actually use facebook. please see

http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150328004638077.367705.128284588076&type=1

Andrea