NCVS try for a World Scything Record
This week the NCVs were taken completely by surprise when it was announced that, instead of planting wild flowers as expected. Liz had entered them into a bid to break the World scything record. She had booked one of the adjudicators from the Guinness Book of Records (none other than Stan Stopwatch - yes, I know, amazing!!) to
join them, at the verge on the Glasshouses to Bewerly road, to oversee
proceedings and ensure that the time taken for them to complete the job
was measured to the nano-second.
Stan Stopwatch
The aim was to beat the previous World record, set in the Somerset Levels, in 1713, by 14 members of the Jethro Tull society. They had managed an impressive scything time of 4.5 hours to scythe a field identical in size to the Glasshouses verge, but Liz felt that the same number of NCVs could easily smash that time. At 9:30 am the group gathered at the NCV barn to assemble their scythes. There was some consternation within the group that the short notice of the event meant that they hadn't been able to do any training.
"Don't worry," said Liz.
"All the balsam pulling and bracken bashing
of late will have developed your arm
muscles sufficiently. Just give it your best!!"
The group set off for the verge, not, it has to be said, with hopes set high.
The going didn't look as if it was going
to be easy, thanks to the height of the
vegetation and the previous day's rain.
Hopes fell a bit further.
When Stan Stopwatch blew his whistle, scything began...
...with Tim first into the area at one end...
...and Osian cutting a swathe at the other.
After the first verse of 'One man went to
mow' the next in line got started.
Swish, swish went the scythes.
9 year old, honorary NCV Harry did brilliantly,
given it was hs first sything experience.
Scrape, scrape went the rakes.....
"Heave!" cried those with pitch forks.
Bit by bit the long vegetation was cut
and the resulting windrows cleared.into haystacks.
Stan Stopwatch blew the whistle at coffee
time and stopped the clock whilst
everyone had a well earned rest
and a team talk from Liz.
Mick had thoughtfully provided the
healthiest of snack bars (thanks Mick!),
so, energy levels restored, the bid to beat
the record continued.
Some members of the group got side-tracked with clearing the bridleway of overhanging branches.
When he saw this, Stan Stopwatch tutted loudly
and looked at his watch meaningfully.
Was this a wise time to be doing this job?
There was also some seed collection going on.
"Well really," said Stan S. "This is most unadvisable."
Stan tutted even more loudly when he caught Tim having a sneaky sit behind a haystack.
"I don't think that you are taking this event
seriously, young man", he said.
Slowly, but surely, the two teams worked towards each other...
...and, slowly, but surely, the grass was cut down...
...and removed.
Eventually the teams from
each end met in the middle and fought over
who would get to cut the final blade of grass.
Stan Stopwatch blew a whistle
and stopped the clock.
Everyone gthered around to hear the result.
Stan S. cleared his throat and announced the time.
"4.45 hours!"
The NCVs rejoiced - 0.05 hours less
than the previous record!!.
Stan Stopwatch then gave them a withering glance and reminded them that they had another half of the verge to cut, something that the NCVs had forgotten.
The NCVs looked at each other and gazed at the remaining length of verge to be cut."Never mind everyone", Liz cried breezily, " it's all in the trying!! We can finish next time." Stan Stopwatch just shook his head - it was clear that his expectations had not been as high as Liz's from the start. He packed up his stop watch and waved farewell.
Brilliant Ros!
ReplyDeleteThat's Rachael by the way
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