The Bradley Stoke Journal

Poor weather failed to dampen the spirits of runners in yesterday’s Bradley Stoke 10k Run, with hundreds turning out despite the incessant heavy rain that had started in the early hours of the morning.

In contrast to previous years, there were few friendly chats and warm ups on Jubilee Green prior to the race, with most runners choosing to remain inside the Jubilee Centre or under the shelter of its canopy until just minutes before the start.

Town Mayor Ben Walker set the field off promptly at 9:30am – ironically, the start time had been brought forward by half-an-hour from previous years in the hope of allowing the runners to compete in cooler conditions.

The men’s race saw Peter Morton, third in the 2009 Bradley Stoke 10k, claim a pillar to post victory in of time of 35:26. Second place went to Nick Taviner (Devon and Somerset Rescue Service), nearly two minutes behind in 37:09, with Michael O’Donnell a close third in 37:17.

Victory in the women’s race went to Jessie Sanzo, who completed the course in an impressive 39:53, just seven seconds ahead of Elizabeth Smith (Westbury Harriers). Third prize went to Kelly Cripps, who completed the course in 46:21.

Special prizes for the first Bradley Stoke residents over the line went to Robin Phillips (37:24) and Jane Colman (46:30).

Organising club Sole Sisters estimates that around half of the runners came from the local community. Full race results are expected to appear on the club’s website later today (Monday).

Read on for links to hundreds of photos from the race »

Fine weather once again drew a big crowd to Bradley Stoke’s Jubilee Centre for the main day of the annual Community Festival.

The action got underway at 10:30am when the first matches in the Schools Football Tournament kicked off on the upper pitch. Youngsters from local schools battled it out in a competition where marks for fair play were the deciding factor rather than the number of goals scored.

Music and dance acts in the main arena started at 11:30am, with the action alternating between the main stage in the car park and a dance floor that had been set up in the arena.

Headline act the Counterfeit Bee Gees performed two sets, with four local bands – Doing Time, Trouble on The Green , Cassette and Tundra providing support.

Over on the Jubilee Green, Professor Panic’s Circus and traditional fairground rides entertained the younger children, while a mini-arena hosted demonstrations by local martial arts clubs.

Technical problems with the sound system saw the schedule slip throughout the afternoon, meaning that the final act (Egyptian Dancers) finished nearly an hour later than planned at 6:25pm.

Continue reading for details of Sunday’s Festival events »

The 2011 Bradley Stoke Community Festival gets underway at 9:30am today (Friday) with a coffee morning, stalls and children’s entertainment at the Jubilee Centre in Savages Wood Road.

The annual pre-school Picnic in the Park runs alongside the coffee morning – with entertainment from Professor Panic’s Circus and the Bubbleman.

Saturday (11th June) sees a packed programme of music and dance events at the Jubilee Centre playing fields, with the action starting at 11:30am and running through to 6pm.

The band line up is headed by the Counterfeit Bee Gees, with support from a number of local bands that include Cassette, winners of the 2010 Bradley Stoke Battle of the Bands competition.

Dance groups performing in between the bands this year include the South Gloucestershire Chinese Association demonstrating Tai Chi routines along with the Bollywood dancers, the popular Egyptian Nights and the superb Annette’s Academy Dancers.

A special children’s zone will be created on the Jubilee Green, with Professor Panic’s Big Top providing the centre piece along with fairground rides, inflatables and the Spiderman bungee trampoline.

Bristol Zoo is bringing along some interesting animals and insects for people to see and for the children to interact with in their Zoo to You facility.

Around 55 community, local business, information and food stalls will form the annual Community Fair in the Jubilee Centre Arena and on Jubilee Green, while a schools football tournament for Year 1 boys / Year 3-4 girls, will take place on the upper pitch from 10:30am.

Also taking place on Saturday is a free guided walk in the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve, starting from outside the Leisure Centre at 10am.

Sunday (12th June) kicks off with the Bradley Stoke 10k Run at 9:30am (from the Jubilee Centre), followed by a series of events at Baileys Court Activity Centre – starting with an open-air church service at 11am.

Continue reading for more details of Sunday’s events »

Did you know that there is a nature reserve in the heart of Bradley Stoke, home to an astonishing variety of wildlife and right on your doorstep?

A local nature conservation group is inviting residents to join them on a guided walk around the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve this coming Saturday (11th June), as part of the Bradley Stoke Community Festival celebrations.

The walk will be led by a professional ecologist who will introduce you to the different habitats on the reserve and to the wildlife that depends on them.  By the end of it you will be able to tell your cinnabar caterpillars from a cabbage white, learn why teasels are important to both goldfinches and billiard tables, and know why you shouldn’t eat anything with purple spots.

The group says it can’t predict in advance exactly what you will see (or hear) but promises a fascinating insight into the natural world.

The walk, which is free and open to everyone, commences from outside the Leisure Centre at 10am and will finish by 1pm, in plenty of time for you to join in the festival fun at the Jubilee Centre.

It will be conducted at a “fairly leisurely pace” and will mainly take place on surfaced paths, but please be aware that it will also take in the reserve’s woodlands and grasslands so terrain will be uneven and suitable footwear should be worn.

Related link: Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group

Entries for the Bradley Stoke 10k Run, which forms part of next weekend’s Community Festival, have passed the 400 mark, leaving less than a hundred places to be filled before the runners cross the start line on Sunday morning (12th June).

Penny Greenwood of organising club Sole Sisters says the race is gearing up to be a predominantly local affair:

“More than 50% of all of our current entries are from ‘Stokes’ residents, with another 30% from other parts of Bristol.”

“We do also have runners coming from outer Bristol regions and other parts of the South of England, including Portsmouth, Devon, Plymouth, Berkshire etc., which is great.”

“The entries are predominantly non-club runners and range in age across the whole spectrum.”

Entries for the race can still be made by post (race packs for entrants in Bradley Stoke will be hand-delivered later in the week) and it will also be possible to enter at the Community Festival on Saturday (11th June), where the Sole Sisters stand will open at 10am.

Entries on the day of the race will also be accepted, subject to the entry limit of 500 not being reached.

The start time for this year’s race has been brought forward by half-an-hour to 9:30am, in an effort to minimise disruption for local residents and provide cooler conditions for the participants. The organisers ask anyone without a prior entry to arrive by 8:30am.

Read on for details of the race route and best spectator points »

Local runners, joggers and walkers are being encouraged to get their entries in for the 2011 renewal of the Bradley Stoke 10k Run, to be held on Sunday 12th June as part of the town’s Community Festival.

Entries for the increasingly popular event have been open since March and banners advertising the race have appeared around town over the last few days.

Organised by local ladies-only running club Sole Sisters, the race starts and finishes at the Jubilee Centre in Savages Wood Road.

The race route [map] takes in much of the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve as well as including stretches along Brook Way and Bradley Stoke Way.

Last year’s winner was Will New of Cheltenham & County Harriers, who completed the course in a time of 35:26, while local lady Rozanne de Villiers was the first woman home in 48:09.

The entry limit for this year’s race remains at 500, having last year been raised from 350. Entry fees are £13 (affiliated)/£15 (unaffiliated) and all finishers will receive a free technical t-shirt and goody bag.

Read on for more information and entry form for the BS 10k Run »