March Winds and March Showers

"Puff, pant..."

So there I was charging down the final hill at the British Masters Cross Country Champs at Rhug in Denbighshire. Just look at that lovely close cropped green sward that I'm floating across. The photo doesn't do it justice - 90% of it was a muddy quagmire and I felt as if I'd been running through treacle for the last half an hour! It seemed to be worth it as some time later, revived by a cup of tea and a large picnic lunch, I found that our over 65 team had come third to win some nice shiny bronze medals. Oh the memories will come flooding back in years to come when I show them to the great grandchildren. 

Put that bow and arrow away!

  The venue for this    years race was the  Rhug Estate which is a  12,000 acre farm and  manor house right by  the A5 on its way to  Holyhead. Travellers  flashing by on their way  to catch the Irish ferry  are likely to look twice  as they pass the  spreading pastures for,  having sailed past  plenty  of flocks of  sheep on the Welsh  hillsides, they are likely  to suddenly get a glimpse of a herd of American bison! The current Lord Newborough (a runner himself) has played host to national cross country events several times now and he enjoys welcoming runners and supporters who gather at the estate farm shop and cafe where the farm's organic produce can be purchased. Yes maybe I should have bought a couple of their bison steaks - maybe next time!

The Brewers House.

One week later we  were off to Northern Ireland to take part in the Hillsborough parkrun accompanied and cheered on by our Irish side of the family. Rather a chilly morning it was but over the weekend we were well entertained and fed and watered to a high degree. The pub in the photo is The Brewers House at Donaghmore. This place is over 200 years old and originally brewed ales for the locals, over the years it fell into decline and became a run down boozer. A few years ago it was revived as a pub/restaurant and now serves fine food as we can testify - we chased in convoy down twisty back lanes to find it and then we tucked into a grand family lunch. (I did hear a rumour that they were considering dabbling in the noble art of brewing once more but there was no evidence of this on our visit.)

Before the feed at The Brewers House - working up an appetite.