Beer-dazzled
Date published: 31 May 2010
It may have suffered a soggy start but that didn’t stop the biggest ever crowd taking to the Saddleworth streets to make the 37th annual beer walk a record breaker.
A bumper 2,400 walkers braved Saturday drizzle at the “Lord of the ring pulls” for a large dose of fancy dress frolics.
Members of the Saddleworth Round Table, who organise the famous day, were left stunned as crowds turned up despite the downpour to kick-start the event an hour earlier than usual.
Organiser Malcolm Kilpatrick said: “It just seems to get bigger and better year after year. It all came together and ran so smoothly.
“It’s become more recognised as a true event and this was shown by the amount of people who braved the bad weather at the start, it did not put anyone off with their fantastic costumes.
“The police, council and all our sponsors have done a brilliant job in making it go perfectly for another successful year.”
Malcolm says that a cap on entry may now have to be considered to stop the event becoming unmanageable.
A total of 1,900 walkers had already signed up in advance on the internet for the 11-mile charity trek which started from Churchill playing fields in Greenfield.
It was the culmination of four months of hard work for Link4Pink fund-raisers Cath and Phil Barker, as their 10-man team wheeled out their giant pink Rolls Royce in homage to all things “Thunderbirds”.
Six Thunderbirds and four Lady Penelopes helped Parker push the 17ft car to victory, claiming first prize in the contest as well as raising funds for the Oldham Victoria Breast Care Unit.
Cath said: “We had such a good reaction from everyone and everybody loved getting in at each stop and having their photo taken.
“We had two punctures en-route but luckily we had spare tyres. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 before chemotherapy so helping push the car the whole way was a challenge, but I overcame it and the day was brilliant.”
Volcanic Ash Airways, a group of friends from Dobcross, caused a real stir with their bright red matching uniforms, duty free trolley and sassy airport routine: “We’re flying nowhere”. Air steward for the day, Carol Bell, said: “The camaraderie, banter and spirit between everyone is fantastic and the event bands the community together. It doesn’t matter how old you are or where you’re from.
“Everyone thought we were actually cabin crew, and of course people were asking for something from the trolley.
“People were so generous on the streets, and our Christies’ money boxes were full after doing our routine at each stop, we’re already thinking of ideas for next year.”
An absence of trouble was welcomed by organisers with no arrests made on the day.
Help the pink parade winners reach their target at www.justgiving.com/chunderburps.
