Stockton Races June 2008
It was a 7am start for the band of merry pink women heading up north with the guidance of the trusty TOM TOM and Brenda the navigator as back up with a boot full of home made cakes.
First stop Burtonwood to meet more pink ladies and then our journey began. A convoy up the motorway to Teesside. Lost our convoy on the way but carried on regardless, arriving at Teesside on the wrong side of the river. We went around in circles trying to get to the other side, following a couple of Amathus boys who were lost as well. Our leader then guided the band of pink women via her mobile phone to the correct side of the river. We had ARRIVED and missed the managers' meeting - gutted not!!
Excitement as the new gazebo arrived in pristine condition. It towered above all the rest - we had arrived at our domain. With the 'Pool of Life' pink ribbon riding high on the wind we would certainly be noticed! Cakes to sell - but we had to race our first 200m as that was what we were there for, wasn't it? Time to delegate, Marion to do warm ups and young Kate boat numbers, Gill in charge of cakes when POL were on the water and I nearly forgot Gerald - "general dog's body".
12 teams took to the water in the beautiful northern weather - no rain, hurrah, although it did not matter as we were warm and dry under our gleaming white GAZEBO.
On the start line with Typhoon Tigers and Thames Raging Dragons the first race of the day, paddles buried, focusing in, eyes in our boat only, down and ready, were off riding on the wind or it might have been the wash from the other two boats far ahead in the distance. A respectable time for our first race with new pink ladies in the boat who had never paddled in a race before. WELL DONE girl power.
We focused on selling our cakes and having a good time, leaflets were passed around to all teams to come and buy our home-made cakes, beautiful strawberry and cream scones, lemon cake, dairy free, fat free, everything free fruit cake, carrot cake, chocolate brownies, sugar free rock buns (only because Ann forgot to put the sugar in) and flapjacks. I have left the best until last - Wendy's Pool of Life fairy cakes (see photo) - say no more! I think the reason why they were not selling was because no one wanted to spoil the message of 'Pool of Life' written in lovely pink icing. That is my story and I am sticking to it!
We decided to end the day with a cake sale with whatever cakes we had left. Thelma (who has senile dementia) thought we meant cake sale NOW and went around the other teams telling them we were selling our cakes at a knock-down price of 10p! We swiftly pulled Thelma back into the gazebo, sat her down and gave her a cup of tea while we explained to the customers they had to pay 50p and not 10p. We nearly had a riot on our hands! Still on the subject of Thelma, she did wear her life jacket all day, we were camped at least 400 meters from the waters edge up hill. Maybe she felt she was going to fall and roll down the hill into the water?! Anyway, when I questioned her she said "It keeps me warm". Fair enough!
The races went much the same all day - 'Pool of Life' coming in third on the wash of the other boats. The 200m felt more like 350m races but who cares when you are having fun. Kate was doing a marvellous job reporting to boat marshalling, but the boat marshal was hounded by Gerald who was like an echo trying to do Kate's job, which she was doing very well on her own - that's men for you!
A good day was had by all. We raised £70 from the cake stall and Wendy took her cakes home for the birds. We hope to do it again at Nottingham - our next league race venue.
Well done to all the girls and boys who joined us as Amathus Pool of Life on another glorious day of spreading the word about breast cancer awareness. THANK YOU!
Gail X
