Page 21 - Cadet Review Autumn 2023

team's area, put up the gazebo for our soft drinks stall, and generally help the organisers get the place ready before all the beds start to arrive. Within a short space of time, the sleepiness of the putting green is shattered by the arrival of 90 teams, their supporters, and a plethora of spectators. The atmosphere builds towards the parade of decorated beds at 1300. Watched by estimated crowds of around 30,000 in a town with a normal population of under 16,000, the beds head down the high street to Conyngham Hall by the river side. The normally busy A59 through town is wall to wall spectators with our cadets at both the head and tail of the parade,
Once down to Conyngham Hall, all the decorations are hastily removed and preparations begin for the race.
This year it was one of those early summer days where we arrived with coats and jumpers, all of which had been well and truly discarded by about 9am. From there on in, it was a case of taking shade and water where we could, whilst doing our bit to make the day a success and soaking up the
Community spirit is the order of the day and as a squadron, we are pleased to be an integral part of it.
atmosphere of so many people just having fun. This is the biggest event in the district calendar.
It is free to view with the route going through the town centre and only a nominal £3 fee if you want to enter the grounds of Conygnham Hall. Community spirit is the order of the day and as a squadron, we are pleased to be an integral part of it. Why not put Saturday 8 June 2024 in your calendar now and plan a trip to Knaresborough? We'll look forward to seeing you there.
BED RACE 2023
– a participant’s perspective
By Corporal Jeannot Gantier-Houston
The whistle blew, and the first few beds set off. Everyone waited in anticipation to get going on the event they had
been training so hard for over the past few months. Our team, made up of
4 cadets and 2 corporals from 1953 Knaresborough squadron were 73rd to set off out of around 90 teams. When
we were finally able to set off across the start line, the adrenaline kicked in within seconds. Crowds lined the side of the road and were cheering wildly, some in support of family or friends that were running, others purely there to enjoy the race. After getting out of the starting area it was straight onto the waterfront of the River Nidd. The sound of crowds screaming and horns attached to the beds blaring was all we could hear. People who lived along the waterfront enjoyed the view from their balconies and sprayed the runners with hosepipes and water guns. Even though this may sound to you like a nightmare, it was possibly the most refreshing part of the race on a day as hot as this.
However, this was only the beginning. The real challenge was just ahead and in came in the form of Castle Ings Road.
This road is a narrow and winding hill that requires the two back runners to push
as hard as possible to make it up. It is the most difficult part of the race for all teams and takes so much effort, but with the support of the crowd and our amazing team we made it to the top and powered through the windy market square and onto the high-street.
There we were greeted by thousands of cheering people; it was an amazing feeling and helped us power through the next section. Next, we raced down the A59 towards the bottom of the hill. Once we reached the bridge, we crossed and made out way towards the river, where the final challenge awaited us.
The river crossing is notoriously difficult and we found that on the day,
it lived up to it’s reputation. Once it was our turn to lower our bed into the water, we reshuffled our team (just like in practice) to be prepared to take on the
challenge. With 2 strong swimmers at the back, and myself along with Cpl Vic Greathead at the front, pulling the bed via ropes we entered the water. The freezing cold water of the River Nidd was more than welcome on a day as hot as this,
but after having run all the way through Knaresborough we were all already
so tired, making the swim even more difficult. After a swim that felt like it lasted forever, we finally reached the river bank and started our last push to the finish line. We climbed the muddy banking, using every last bit of strength we had, and made our way over the finish line.
Overall, I could not be prouder of the team, who despite many challenges on the way, powered through and reached the end. Their determination and hard work, attending practices and helping construct the float proved essential in making a fantastic day even better.
CADET REVIEW AUTUMN 2023 21