Newsboard

This is the place for any news relevant to the Hoplite Association, including members’ activities, milestones, anniversaries and special occasions, and any events, articles or upcoming publications that may be of interest. Please email us if you have a news item you'd like to share.

06/05/11

Spartan Race in 2011

Dates for the Spartan Race in 2011 are published on their website. There are four UK events:

24th July – Cambridge
13th August – Exeter
4th September – Yorkshire
16th October – London

If any members would like to go along in kit to provide support and represent the HA, please get in touch with Ash. For more information, see www.spartanrace.com.

12/04/11

Proposed changes to Cosmeston Mediaeval Village

The Vale Council has proposed to change Cosmeston Village to a free entry site, which will entail the loss of staff and an end to the annual multi period event the HA has always attended in May. For more information, you can read the article in the Penarth Times. 

19/09/10

Intrepid HA members brave the elements to attend the Spartan Race in support of Help for Heroes

On Sunday 19th September, Aeschylus of Elusis (Ash Holt) and Theolytas of Koronta (Jeff Tribe) braved a very cold and windy Bassingbourn Barracks in Cambridgeshire to support ‘Help for Heroes’ via The Spartan Race event.

The HA had been approached to attend in order to add some colour to this event, which is marketed as a fun but tough run of approximately 5 miles. Contestants, many in fancy dress, run a military obstacle course with additional burning oil pits to jump, thorn bushes to squeeze though, press ups, pull ups, water filled tunnels (over 100m long), and runs through flooded ditches. The race finishes with a dash through a geodesic dome guarded by two ‘Spartans’ (see 300 for authenticity notes) armed with large foam sticks which they used to pummel the runners.

Many runners wanted their photo taken with ‘real’ hoplites, so it was nice that the HA’s authenticity was recognised. And despite the many muddy, sweating competitors, Aeschylus and Theo stoically ‘embraced’ their duty and consented to be hugged and photographed. Had they charged per photo, they would have been able to dedicate a small statue to Nike at Olympia.

Full details of the event are available on the website: www.spartanrace.com. The organisers are anticipating 8 events around the country next year and have asked if the Hoplite Association would be interested in supporting again. Watch this space for details.

Ash and Jeff also took the opportunity to pay their respects at Paul Allens’ grave, which was nearby. It has a very attractive carved wooden marker, very much in keeping with Paul’s ethos. It remains a beautiful and peaceful place.

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