THE COVENTRY WAY by Bob Brandon
July 1997
To be read in
conjunction with 'A Coventry Way' booklet or the O.S. Land-ranger
map 140.
Those that know
me as a 'part-time' Sphinx runner will be aware that I am a
'full-time' orienteer and have been for some thirty years. Along the
way I have met many people with an interest in running or walking
through the country-side. One such chap is Cyril Bean, who has
recently been promoting a forty-mile footpath circuit of Coventry.
The route remains approximately five miles from the city centre,
following mostly footpaths with the occasional short stretch of
road.
As a result of
Cyril's friendly persuasion I found myself at 10 o'clock one
Saturday morning late in July setting off from the Queen's Head at
Meriden on a clockwise circuit. I had a six-hour schedule and a
seven-hour schedule, nothing scientific just pro-rata. I had offers
of support from Cyril & Iris and Keith & Greta & Sue
Hallett plus promises of company along the way. I set off with Brian
Roberts up the road through Eaves Green leaving a group of
well-wishers behind.
Soon the route
took us through Meriden Shafts Wood. In the fields the other side I
stopped for a pee whilst waiting for Brian to catch up. At this
point I was I was determined to stick with the six-hour schedule for
as long as possible. Birchley Hay Wood was reached and
circum-navigated. We attracted the attention of children near to
Birchley Hall Farm, who spotting my map, reckoned we were delivering
newspapers.
At Corley Moor
Sue Bicknell had run up Windmill Lane to meet us. The rest of the
support team were ready with a supply of water at the main road.
Refreshed, Brian and I set off across the common and over the M6.
This leg I had only done in the dark before (and going the other
way). In daylight we found the way quite easily and were able to
give some heifers a wide berth. Soon we were on the Fillongley Road
along which we trotted to find Cyril (and Iris) with
water.
Here the
footpath goes through someone's back garden. The next bit was quite
an adventure, the route took us through crops that were way above
our heads. Three days before there had been no obvious way through,
however just like the Red Sea a pathway had appeared as if by divine
intervention. Nice one Cyril. We soon arrived at the fishing pool at
Savage's Square (5.3m). More water from the support team. At this
point Brian was fed-up with the six-hour schedule and took a break,
travelling the next leg by car. The route I took from here was by
running the road to Breach End Farm. Cyril and Bob Carey have since
installed a couple of stiles enabling the corner here to be cut in
future.
I experienced
more bullocks at Breach End plus more crops (more crops - less
footpath). But I soon arrived at the next road near to the site of
the old Newdigate colliery for more water. Why was my watch display
blank? Brian joined in again for the half a mile of road before we
set off over the last fields before Bedworth. We were running well
together now. Soon we passed under the A444 (9.1m). In Bedworth the
route passes the front door of Maureen & Jim Chapman who were
ready with refreshments on the garden table. With all the water I
had taken on board already, I was more interested in their
loo.
Bedworth was the
10 mile point, I had taken about 86 minutes, down on the six-hour
but well ahead on the 7 hour schedule. Brian had stashed his car at
Bedworth and was on his way home as I went on my way leaving
Bedworth behind. As I came over the hill at Hollyhurst farm (11.1m),
I set off for the farm track, I knew from experience that the
footpath would be under the crop. Soon I spied a lad waving from the
track. I waved back thinking it was Simon Wright, but upon reaching
the track I found a local lad who had been warning me of the sign he
could see requesting to keep to the edge of the field.
Oops!
At the road Bob
Carey and his Dad had joined the support team. More water then over
the road and on to Barnacle. Working my way through the footpaths
which riddle the village I came across the two Bobs nettle bashing,
a role they took on for most of the day. As I set off out of the
village I fell over whilst running beside a particularly rough field
of rape. This gave me quite a jolt, though I was able to pick myself
up and run on through more crops before passing under the M69
(13.1m). Sue Bicknell was at Ansty to open the gate and join me on
the run. We were on the narrow footpath about to cross over the
canal, when Sue started to tell a man as we approached to get out of
our way. Upon closer inspection we found it was Bob Carey so intent
on his nettle bashing that he didn't hear us coming. I must
apologise to Sue for I soon left her behind at the golf club as I
set off along the tow-path. Sue asked a narrow-boat skipper to keep
an eye on me, but I was able to outrun the boat! I wasn't expecting
to see anyone for a bit, so I was surprised to notice Bob C lurking
in the bushes at Nettle Hill (15.2m). Keith Greenall was there too
with his video-camera plus water.
The canal was
not as boring as I had been anticipating, though I felt a bit lonely
as I had been expecting to see people at Coombe Abbey Farm.
Nevertheless I trotted down to Pedlars Bridge and over the fields
towards Brinklow (17.7m). It was beginning to rain a little and I
was beginning to feel a bit knackered and had a little walk. Cyril
& Iris and the video man were at the playing fields where I was
persuaded to eat a banana and have a pot of my beloved custard. I
noticed that the women & children had departed the support team,
presumably gone on to the other Queen's Head at Bretford for lunch.
As I ate Cyril told me that Bob C was bashing the nettles at the
exit to Brinklow. Cyril also suggested that I needn't do the tour of
Brinklow castle, I told him that I hadn't come all this way to miss
out on the sights, besides my trek up the hill behind the church
would give Bob more time to deal with the nettles.
I eventually
caught up with Bob who hadn't done a bad job, but we're talking
serious nettles here. I took my time up the hill before Bretford
(you won't notice one on the map) not just because the path was
muddy but I was suffering (the wall?). As I ran down into the
village (19.9m) the two Bobs were again at the nettles. The
video-man had bolted his pub-meal and the support team were
complete. Greta allowed me some more custard and Sue escorted me
along the road, this time I couldn't keep up with her! Sue was
saying all sorts positive things which didn't coincide with any of
my current thinking. However she left me to cross the fields on my
own to Wolston Priory where I met Cyril & Iris and the two Bob's
looking disappointed that there were no nettles here. With more
water and a pocket-full of raisins, I set off through the village,
catching sight of the Bobs driving past as I crossed the main
road.
The footpath
from Wolston (21.9m) is practically all through the crops. At this
time of year the rape is particularly unkempt. Unfortunately the
reaction of the raisins hitting the two cartons of custard already
in my stomach now took my attention. I decided to settle the matter
by pausing in the wilderness of the rape for a few minutes. Feeling
much better I trotted on to reach the A45 near to Ryton. As I was
walked up the hill to the underpass (23.8m), Sue came running down
to meet me and I raised a run, walking again once we had passed
video-man.
Irene Rogers was
to accompany me from here, but not before Colin had offered me the
biggest tub of custard - I managed two spoons. We passed through the
colourful underpass to be given water by Greta. Soon we were passing
between two large 'tarmac' fields where the local farmer here
cultivates Peugeot cars. Across the Oxford Road we met Cyril with
some water, and round the corner the two Bobs were hard at work on
the nettles. I don't remember much running along the way to
Bubbenhall. Irene was able to confuse me quite easily as to what the
time was, I hadn't a clue whether I was on a schedule and had little
control of the matter. On the outskirts of the village (25.8m) the
video shows me walking and Greta comes to meet me with the
water.
The route takes
a detour via the village church. The field beyond was strewn with
new mown grass. The going felt comfortable so we start running
passing the two Bobs hard at work before meeting up with Sue who
lead us round a small loop I had planned to miss out. We passed the
Bobs again before crossing the road and passing through someone
else's back garden. After this point the route crosses a fence into
the nettles only to cross back 50 metres further on. I decided to
run in the nice grassy field, but we were spotted by the two Bobs
who had turned up to do their business. Bob's Dad has to go now, I
guessed he was off for a well earned night on the tiles.
Irene and I made
good progress running across the fields to the road near Tantara
Lodge. Colin plus the two Bobs (?) were here. I walked on quickly
whilst Irene stayed to gossip. Irene soon caught me up and we walked
on to Stareton (28.5m) where Greta and the video-man meet us. I tell
Greta that I have arranged to meet Andrew Skinner at the A46 at
half-past two. Greta tells me that it is now three o'clock. At last
knowing the time, I felt a little disappointed, but ran on through
the Stoneleigh estate passing Megan on the little footbridge over
the Avon. As we passed through Stoneleigh village I allowed a myself
a smile as we disappeared up a footpath, I had caught sight of the
arriving support car out of the corner of my eye. We were we were
speeding up? Greta got her revenge, this time as we ran up the hill
towards the A46 she ran away from me with the water.
Andrew Skinner
was patiently waiting at the A45 (30m) idly talking to Colin. Irene
handed me over to Andrew, who seemed surprised to find me setting
off straight away. The weather had got better, the sun was
threatening to shine. The next section includes several potato
fields with their deep furrows. Prior to the worst field, Cyril
& Iris were supplying water. The fields were not too bad, I
suspect Cyril had spent the previous day walking it. Next Andrew
& I crossed the Kenilworth golf course in boy-scout fashion with
bursts of running. As we left the course we found more nettles, but
no two Bobs. We climbed up Common Lane, the big hill of the
day.
Everyone seemed
to be at Crackley (32.4m). From here Pete Guillaume on his bike was
to accompany Andrew and myself along the disused railway track to
Burton Green and beyond. I set off on this 4 mile section at a run,
but soon settled for a fast walk. Pete and Andrew chatted away
whilst I drank regularly from the bottle Pete offered. Occasionally
we would go under a road bridge. Sue Hallett and Irene would descend
to offer me a banana. At the next bridge I would hand Sue the empty
skin. Bob C junior was back.
As we left the
track Pete turned back to Kenilworth. The grass field felt good and
I ran for a while. When we arrived at the road near the Beechwood
railway tunnel (36.5) everyone seemed to be there. Here I was
chastised for not having eaten much all day. I was sent off with a
mouth and a pocket full of mint-cake. It tasted good, I had
forgotten all about it. Greta joined me and Andrew, she had been
stretching as we had approached, Greta meant business. Andrew then
produced a mobile 'phone from his bum-bag and 'phoned Dilys asking
her to meet him at Meriden, he was going all the way. Well, if
Andrew was....
The three of us
progressed well, I even received complaints of running too fast! The
final field prior to Benton Green had no path through the crops, so
we made one until Bob C guided us from the far side by pointing out
the best line. Here Keith replaced Greta, and I took off my helly as
it was turning into quite a hot afternoon. Along the next bit Keith
was quite chatty, recognising features from his foray two days
earlier. At Back Lane Sue Bicknell was waiting to join in for the
final section of just over a mile. Perhaps she could keep up with me
after 39 miles.
The reception at
Meriden was quite wonderful, nearly everyone who I had met during
the day was there plus some others. Greta produced a bottle of
champagne, Barry King a pint of bitter. I had taken 7 hours 27
minutes.
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