Race Day with a twist... and a stroll to boot!
IN NORMAL times, the first team players of Widnes RUFC would already have played a couple of pre-season friendlies and a Lancashire Cup game, and would now be looking forward to their first ADM Premier Division League game of the new campaign.
This time last year, they had played West Park and Sefton in two pre-season games as well as beating highflying Burnage in the Lancashire Cup.
Instead, because of the continuing Covid–19 pandemic, the long period of inactivity on the field continues – and whilst training has stepped up a pace recently, it seems unlikely that there will be a return to action perhaps this side of Christmas.
What form that will take is anybody’s guess at this stage, but both the players and coaching staff continue to monitor the situation in the hope things will become clearer sooner rather than later.
In the meantime – whilst action on the pitch remains out of bounds, the club are redoubling their efforts on improving their off the field facilities at their Heath Road HQ to further enhance the Wids offer as a ‘venue of choice’ as people begin to plan ahead for the future.
Part of that important work is being carried by another team – this time it is the Tuesday DIY Club, who are working hard in an effort to keep the club in tip-top condition both inside and out.
The unimaginatively named Tuesday DIY Group was set up back in 2016 by ex-club president Stephen Morris, with the remit of keeping the club in tip-top condition inside and out.
From humble beginnings, the group has continued to grow in popularity over the years, and they now have a keen group of mainly retired club members who have some free time to give in order to get all of those outstanding jobs completed.
And their aim? To prevent all those niggling little jobs from becoming expensive, major repair and replacement jobs in the future.
Whatever the task, whether it be a leaky tap, a blocked drain, a lick of paint here and there, cleaning out the changing rooms – then the Tuesday DIY Club will get the job done!
Some of the jobs completed include, a new floor to the upper level in the Club room, along with new skirting boards and redecoration of the Club throughout. Outside, there have tarmac repairs to the potholes on the car park, floodlights on the training area, and ongoing improvements in the shower room.
So, who are these willing band of volunteers who come together each week?
The current list of active DIY members includes the following regular participants: Sam Cook, Graham McLean, Graham Riley, Les Whitfield Geoff Council, Billy Wheeler, Darryl Harper and Tony George. Recent additions include Club President Martin Griffiths, John Loughnane, Ste Hodgson and Gary Steel.
And, their reward after a hard morning’s graft? It consists of a welldeserved hot cup of tea and the obligatory round of cold toast provided by honorary group member Jenny Riley – delicious!
Meanwhile, the Wids held their Annual Race Day earlier this month.
It was their 36th year in succession that the event had been held, only this year, it was an event with a difference!
In normal circumstances, attendees would have been saving hard throughout the year for their annual trip, before jumping on a coach to a well-known racecourse somewhere in the country, followed by a posh meal and plenty of drinks all round.
But, because of the pandemic and current ban on attending sports events, organiser Mark Cross had to come up with a new, alternative plan if the show was to go on!
The solution was found based around the recently revived and popular ITV Seven format – with attendees watching the races on the big screen instead of on the racecourse.
Despite being held closer to home, the socially distanced event was well attended – including six current and past presidents, and a great time was had by all. The club also benefited by receiving some well-earned bar revenue in lieu of an absence of rugby action on the field.
Earlier in the day, a group of 12 Club members – and a dog – completed a five-mile circular walk as part of the Heritage Open Days promoted by Halton Borough Council.
Led by club president Martin Griffiths, the completed walk took place in pleasant sunny conditions and is the first of three, with the longer 10 and 20 mile trips still to come.
The Heritage Open Days theme of Hidden Nature is easy to embrace. The club’s 14 acres provide a fine example, taking advantage of green space. Many of the local housing estates were built on farmland so hikers don’t have to venture too far to find themselves on a rural footpath.
Details of future walks will be announced on the club website.