All about racing and not racing!

Last weekend saw the final outing of the season for members of the Norfolk Punt Club. Those members of the club who actually own or borrow Norfolk Punts were able to take part in “the Athene Cup.”

It’s all a bit different. For one thing it doesn’t take place on Barton Broad – where the club race throughout the summer. The origin of the event seems a little shrouded in mystery.

The cup – presented to the winner was given by Mrs Byron V Noel for “the winner of the Autumn River Race”. (Mrs BVN was the wife of the commodore of the club from 1931 – 1936). In those days the Punt Club seem to have raced in different parts of the broads area so perhaps not surprising that this race was located at Thurne Mouth.

The race always begins at the confluence of the rivers Thurne and Bure and it follows a 3 leg course set by the race committee. The race officer this year, as usual was Val Khambatta. She, in conjunction with three marker boats determined the length of each river section.

This may seem a bit unusual but it ensured that the entire race was roughly two hours in length. Last Saturday there was very little wind and if the distances had been fixed some boats could have been on the river until nightfall!

Food as regular followers of the Norfolk Punt Club will know was also an important part of the proceedings and no one would want the tea to go cold.

Last year some readers may remember that those taking part in the race were buzzed by a passing aircraft -the story is still there if you didn’t read it. This year a peculiar craft passed by called a Pedelorean

– and as soon as the owner of this beastie gets in touch with me, I will bring you more of that story.

Well done to the winners of the race (whoever they were)

In the meantime – stay warm and after next Sunday – stay dry.

There are in fact many more pictures on this event click here to see them