The quietness of ‘Rowley Mile’ race course was shattered on the morning of 3rd July, not by the usual Thunder of hooves of thorough bred race horses and cheering spectators, but by the arrival of 20 coaches from all over the county bringing over 1700 excited Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Senior Section members of the Guiding Association, to a R.A.C.E. Day 100, unlike any other race day that the ‘Rowley Mile’ has ever seen!
This was ‘RACECOURSE ADVENTURE for CAMBRIDGESHIRE EAST (R.A.C.E.). One of the events to celebrate the Centenary of the Guiding Association.
Over 100 activities had been organised for the girls to try out. There were Cheerleader routines to take part in, archery to try to strike gold, climbing wall to master, and girls were able to take ferrets for walkies and cuddle lovely furry animals. In some of the activities the girls were awarded points that they could put towards their ‘Adventure 100’ badge. In other activities they were able to collect ‘jigsaw pieces’ which they would use in a Wide game called DECADES, in which they took part in activities starting with ‘learning semaphore’ in 1910 to ‘Guiding today messages on Memory Net’ in 2010 and other things associated with each decade including Cat’s Cradle and Hula Hoops 1950 and 1970 Space Hoppers which included a Derby Hopper Race.
Derby Hopper Space Race
In the Grandstand there was a range of crafts that the girls could choose from which included make up sessions, hair wrapping, drumming workshops and face painting.
The girls were able to play Human Table Football and Beach Volley Ball. An Assault Course was another challenge and Blowing Giant Bubbles was as popular as ever.
Human Table Football
Assult Course
Giant Bubbles
Entertainment was provided on the main stage all day. ‘Jezo’ gave performances of Magic and did balloon modelling in between his shows. ‘Doodys Circus’ is where the girls tried stilts, unicycles, tight rope walking and pogo sticks. They learnt juggling, diabolo and plate spinning with Steve.
For the Grand Finale at 5 o’clock everyone young and older gathered to watch a production called ‘Something For The Girls! Now and Then’. This involved girls from each Division presenting a scene from the First 100 Years of Guiding. This started with the Historical and pivotal day in 1910 when girls gate crashed the ‘Scouting for Boys’ Rally at Crystal Palace and asked Robert Baden-Powell for ‘SOMETHING FOR THE GIRLS!’. This was followed by girls acting out various scenes depicting Guiding through the Century finishing with girls on stage holding pictures of flags of the 145 different countries who are part of the Guide Association today. During this performance traditional campfire songs were sung. Then it was time for coaches and we wearily made our way home with a host of Happy Memories to Treasure of our R.A.C.E. Day.
Old Guide Uniform
Old Brownie Uniform
