Sunday 20th April 2008 The route from the club took our fab 46 fundraisers and a couple of dogs along Slaymaker Lane when the farm track over to Far Highfield offered the first taste of the mud that the recent rains have spawned. Safely across the trekkers had already become strung out as they entered the upper reaches of Moor Pond and many a play spot for Oakworth youngsters over the years. Sight of the Third XI ground at Bronte Fields surrounded by the Sunday morning footballers quickened the step before Cackleshaw hamlet and East Royd proved an easy touch on into Station Road. The slippery track across Ginger added significantly to the mud on boots volume as the fast flowing River Worth was passed and the lonely profile of the still un-demolished mill chimney was reached.
	We left this the low point behind and started the ascent to Lodge Farm. The path through the yard and garden fooled the early leaders but the climb towards Tim Lane also quickened the breath. It got suddenly tougher with yet further uphill trajectory towards Colliers' Farm and the second obstacle of thick, this time, smelly mud!! It was too tempting for Hartles to resist and his aquaplane brought the cheer of the day! On across some of the poor boggy land with an indistinct path and an annoyingly fastened gate led the ramblers towards Green Well Farm, this week seemingly bereft of the usual pot-bellied pigs which normally patrol it's borders. The path to the rear led straight to a field of very nosy long horned cattle much to the consternation of the young lasses at the front! Despite some menace in their looks all passed well onto Covey Wood and an idyllic set of ducks and geese and a sighting of a stoat in as beautiful a spot as can be found.
A brief rest was followed by a level path onto Higher Scholes, civilisation and at Lower Scholes a very welcome rest spot at Mr & Mrs Batty's domicile and more importantly a most welcome drink of refreshing Yorkshire Water, some with Tea or Coffee added. The youthful travellers took on the Mars and the Milky Ways whilst the older contingent sampled the delights of the Battys' magnificent garden. The resumption came in slight drizzle as an added tester for our fearless band. We filed up the recently planted wooded meadow to the rear of Street Head Farm with its memorial bench to Catherine Scurrah, a long-time supporter of the Oaks, for whom son James (Siu) graced the juniors and Second XI.
	Oldfield Lane and the distant Grouse Inn PH now in sight was welcome knowledge the high point was now close and only a mile or so remained before respite and the grub at the club! It was a short pull but again slippery with mud. Amazingly not a walker deserted for the prospect of a Taylor's noggin and all pressed on towards the Canadian Air Force Memorial at Tewitt Woods. Jeff Hobson provided the last gulp of Yorkshire Water as the last group started the downhill and last section. Turnshaw Lane was as mud-bedecked as any thus far and the call of White Lane, The Crem and the cricket club grew louder as the drizzle turned to more steady rain to soak the weary legs.
Finally the goal was reached, 5 and a half miles were logged up and the pile of boots at the club doorway showed all were safely back albeit damper, more tired and most definitely muddier. There was a warm cheer for Evie Rankin who completed the walk despite the doubts of both Mum and Dad although Grandad and Grandma had faith. The grub was scrumptious and the tales of derring-do proved as elaborate as ever. We toasted the Third XI, sitting pretty at the top of Division Five and rued the weather which favoured the western side of the Craven patch.
	Finally President Wilfrid Scarborough took stock of the sponsorship levels and a rough and ready tally showed that over £1,000 had hung on completion of the Oakworth Orbiter!!  Some had managed over £100 and others more modest sums but all-in-all the total was incredible, once again showing the love and commitment our players and supporters have for our abiding village institution. Marvellous just marvellous!!

FUNDRAISING 2008

Our revised itinerary!! The walk circumnavigates the village of Oakworth taking in Slaymaker Lane, Near Highfield, Moor Pond, Cackleshaw, East Royd, Ginger, Providence, Tim Lane, Lower Scholes, Oldfield, The Grouse PH, Tewitt Memorial, Turnshaw Lane and White Lane. Should be a doddle in 2hours. There's a drinks stop at Lower Scholes too! The Sponsored Walk form is attached CLICK HERE and can be downloaded but copies will be available at the club.

Oakworth CC is delighted to announce that the magnificent sum of £666 was raised by the pre-season sponsored walk. The money has been used to complete the purchase of the new club 'Bola' machine which is already proving useful at all practices.

The contributions from the following people are hereby very gratefully acknowledged: Emma Cooper, Terry Thompson, Gordon Ingham, Lewis Wrathall, Alex Whitehead, Ben Howell, M Lofthouse, Jane Davison, Wilf Scarborough, Ray Senior, Georgia Hollingsworth, Lee Hollingsworth, Julie & Sharon Ward, Steve Hartley, Joe Bottomley and the Oakworth six. Many thanks for your considerable efforts.

Oakworth CC bid to purchase a 'Bola' bowling machine is almost complete thanks to the generosity of Keighley Town Council. Committee and Players are grateful indeed for a most generous Grant from the Keighley Town Council Oak fund. Chairman Ray Senior praised the Council for its support and speed with which they dealt with the application.

Combined with monies already provided by Royal Bank of Scotland and with sponsorship from the sponsored walk the funding required is now available. The only issue now is managing the queue of potential users!!!

The new 'Bola' bowling machine may already have arrived but the project wasn't gonna be complete until it was paid for. So on Saturday 2nd April over 40 Oakworth cricket club members set off on their sponsored 10 kilometre (6 miles) trek to Keighley Moor reservoir and back to raise the remaining funds to complete the purchase. As luck had it, it was the warmest, nicest day so far this year as the mixture of committee, players,

 juniors and supporters set off towards Newsholme village.

The intrepid party climbed the style to ascend the small hill towards nearby Newsholme village and walked on past the tiny rarely-used Church-Farm of St Johns and on through the village. Crossing the main Slippery Ford Road to walk up the steady incline of Broadhead Lane was warm work, past the Cattery towards the Moor. At Moorcock Farm we left the tarmacadam behind and continued onto Clough Hey.

The property was in the process of renovation by local builder Mick Cox. At this point the track was somewhat indistinct but taking a 90 degree turn to the right immediately to the rear of the property we hit the mud. Big style!!!

Gentleman Nigel couldn't resist the scrabbling around trying to recover Jake's lost trainer whilst everyone else fell about before we headed over the obstacle course (gate) towards the beck. We crossed the beck in groups by some dodgy stepping stones but not many got wet we think.

We all managed the steep climb up to the keepers lodge and continued up the private road to the half way point at Keighley Moor Reservoir, where free water (not from the Res) was served chilled by barman Lee Hollingsworth, courtesy of ABV. Looking back towards Keighley from the 1,350ft elevation of the embankment we should have been able to pick out just about every local landmark but the misty heat haze scuppered that.

After a short break we left the reservoir to the Canada geese and set off back towards distant Oakworth

After negotiating plenty of bog we set off along 'Flank' path towards Oakworth and the warm tea. The walk took us past the grouse shooting butts and a protected bird sanctuary situated in a small copse, Returning back to Moorcock Farm, the path down to the Grouse PH soon appeared and many a step quickened only to find the Pub still shut !!! Along Turnshaw Lane and the Canadian Air-force memorial were soon tackled and the last leg along White Lane led to the the descent towards Newsholme again and onto the welcome sight of the clubhouse and the much needed refreshment.

All that remained now was to thank all the participants for their worthy efforts and then count the cash over the next few days.