Cheltenham Gold Cup Races 2018

Hannah’s really good at organising, and some time ago she put out a APB to anyone who fancied a day trip to the races, to see the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Using the excuse of Josh’s birthday, (which is also in March), this mammoth day out was planned and booked for a whopping 28 of us.

The day itself started early as not only were there the planned races, but a whole separate itinerary of food and drink to keep everyone refreshed, which all needed to be sorted, and ready for the coach arriving at our house at eight o’clock in the morning. And so it was I found myself warming assorted pastries at 7.30 am – not something that plays to my strengths, (mornings that is, not pastries – I’m pretty good with those!)

En masse, we cut a very well dressed dash, all suited and booted, hatted and gloved and with more tweed than you could shake a stick at!

Our journey was pretty straightforward, we had a stop to pick up the New Forest contingency, and then a halfway ‘comfort break’, to fuel ourselves with caffeine of choice. It all went really quickly as we spent time chatting and catching up with friends on-board. The longest bit was the queue into the races itself, although it was fun people-watching as hoards swarmed up to the entrance, and as members of our party hopped on and off the crawling coach for loo breaks, or to nab freebies from all the various Bookmakers trying to drum up business.

We were dropped directly to the entrance; with our Club Enclosure tickets swinging from our tweed lapels, we were off!

We immediately lost each other as the arena itself was absolutely packed to the gunnels, so the little micro group that I’d managed to keep sight of, headed straight to the bar. This was no mean feat – to say it was heaving would be understatement! I wasn’t keen, so decided to head out and look for tea – yes still dieting- yes still being good (even on days out).

Tea was back out of the club enclosure and a battle of pushing and shoving, so I got two whilst I was there, and headed back to the bar. By now, impossibly, the crowd seemed to have quadrupled, there was no sign of anyone at all familiar and the only bit of clear space I could just about see was track-side – so teas in hand, I wove my way precariously through, (sometimes disgruntled), folk, who had staked their viewing positions and didn’t want to give an inch, all the way to the bottom.

By now the clear spot had disappeared and the first race was about to start – having rarely been to the races and never before to Cheltenham – I had little idea of what was really going on, and it was at this point that realising I couldn’t read the mega sized viewing screen, even with my glasses on, I not only needed to book the opticians, but also needed someone to explain! The race finished in a roar of mixed whoops and groans, (winners and losers), and the tide of people turned back to the bars from the terraces. With this backward surge a bench came free and I planted myself on it!

This, it turned out, was the rhythm of the day, a tidal mass of be-suited beings, inexorably pulled by the force of the race between bar and viewing and back again. I soon realised that if I did the opposite I was assured of a seat, service at the bar and loos with no queues!

In between all this movement I bumped into different pockets of our group and had lots of fun chatting and congratulating on wins, or commiserating over losses, until quite suddenly it was the final race of the day and time to (try) to round up our posse from all the various corners of the enclosure. This, as they say, proved to be like herding cats – and that was all before the obligatory pre-journey loo stops!

This is when the fun really began!

You might remember at the start of the day we were thoughtfully dropped at the gate by our driver, who then undoubtedly proceeded to wherever coaches go to for the day.

This was problem number one. We had absolutely no idea where our coach was parked, and our driver, (who was after all just parked in a field), didn’t know where he was in relation to us either!

Problem number two, tired feet – 52 of them to be precise (4 were gong home with another party)

Problem number three – 25 out of 26 had been drinking all day and weren’t necessarily on ‘top form’ for taking instructions, (especially wrong ones).

Problem number four – not only had it suddenly become night, but it was now raining; torrentially; with intermittent hail.

Problem number five – mud.

Problem number six – I wasn’t invited to the election, but somehow I’d been elected leader! I didn’t want the job!

And so started the very popular game of ‘hunt the coach’, in the rain, with sore feet, and no clues, (or even no clue!).

Needless to say, after wrong turns, misdirection, a long hike and two hours later, everyone was delighted , (especially the driver), to finally start the homeward journey.

Still, after handing out the on-board buffet and refreshments, the mood lifted, and everybody agreed they’d had a wonderful time!

Lessons learned are that another time we should at least stay-over night; they can all go to the races, and I can explore the beautiful Regency Spa town of Cheltenham!