Omagh Charity Run 28th July 2012 Report
22 cars and nearly 50 people attended the Omagh Charity Run on Saturday 28th July. This is a unique event as the ladies do all the catering and it is based at our member Des Ballantine’s museum.
Cars started arriving from 10.00am and everyone was treated to tea, sandwiches and tray bakes. After we all had a good browse around the museum we left for our road run just after 11.30am, travelling across country on those small quiet country roads in the general direction of the Clogher valley, experiencing some lovely views of Knockmany Forest, eventually arriving at our refreshment stop, Fardross Caravan site, just off the Clogher Fivemiletown road. Here we were treated to Tea/Coffee and a freshly baked scone. Some people even managed to get more than one, such was the kindness of our hosts, Neil and Sandra Somerville. Many thanks to them for how well we were treated. They even had organised someone to help park the cars.
Suitably refreshed and having enjoyed a good bit of banter we headed off again along a beautiful scenic route past Fardross Forest, getting to within a few 100 yards of County Monaghan. After passing Lough More we stopped at St Patrick’s well and chair set in Altadaven Forest. This magnificent chair and well is carved from stone. Reputably built for St. Patrick on his journey through the Clogher Valley, the site attracts visitors throughout the year. The attraction is reputed to have mystical powers. Godfrey’s route instructions had said it was only 150 yards walk through the forest to this, so we all set off to follow him. It was a lovely path right down into the valley and up the steps, eventually 350 yards later arriving at the well and chair. Maybe the club should consider buying him a tape measure for Christmas !! It was well worth the walk and we all really enjoyed seeing this and hopefully with the passing of time Godfrey will be forgiven for being economical with the truth regards the distance.
Everyone managed to make it back to the cars and we set off again in the direction of Augher where Des’s car refused to pass the ice cream sign without stopping. By now the sun was shining so a lot more gossiping took place in the main street. Back on the move again we were now on the homeward journey travelling over Tullanafoile Hill where we could see for miles looking over Seskinore, eventually arriving back at our base at 4.30pm for a beautiful chicken salad with all the trimmings, apple tart and massive helpings of ice cream followed by tea and tray bakes.
Great thanks must go to Ella and Anna who stayed at our base to help prepare all of this and to Alan Brown who helped them out. Once again thank you to Vincent Howe who brought his classic ice cream van and supplied as much ice cream as we could all eat. Also thanks to his wife Ann who owns Culmore diner in Omagh for supplying all the Potato Salad and Coleslaw. Special thanks to all the other ladies who helped out on Friday night and on Saturday and to those who brought food.
After most of us eating too much we had our raffle and it was great to see the generosity in the support for this with the real winner on the day being our 2012 chosen Charity - PRAXIS CARE. Thanks to all who brought prizes and to those who couldn’t attend but sent donations. The whole event raised over £1,100. All in the UPWAC deserve to feel rightly proud at this achievement. We may be doing it a different way but it looks like we will still achieve the same result.
Finally the biggest thanks must go to Des Ballantine who for the 7th year provided us with a fantastic base and put a lot of work into getting everything ready for this event.
