Good Eggs
This page is dedicated to everyone who was kind enough to help us during our Muddy Marathon. Whether they taught us something new so we could write about it in our blog, helped us put on a party, offered us some respite from November/December motorhome living or just put the kettle on, we are truly grateful. Thank you!
GENERAL
Shooting Times, our media sponsor for the Muddy Marathon. They have a great website, which not only has all the latest field sports and shooting news, but also features our Marathon blog. www.shootingtimes.co.uk
Pasante Healthcare, who gave us some - err- 'resources' for our Muddy Matches Pulling Packs.
www.pasante.comJake Eastham - a wonderful countryside photographer who gave us a cheeky discount on some notelets we could use for thank you cards (we needed hundreds!) www.jakeeastham.co.uk
WEEK ONE - EAST
St John Arms - a friendly and relaxed pub in Bedfordshire, where we held our first Muddy Pub Quiz night. Claire and John, who run the place, are lovely. St John Arms, Knotting Road, Melchbourne, Bedford, MK44 1BG (01234 708238)
Sporting Targets - a fab shooting ground and gun shop that gave shooting lessons as a prize for the Muddy Pub Quiz. www.sportingtargets.co.uk
Bird of Prey Centre - thanks to Emma and Phil Gooden who run the centre and let us spend the day learning about hawking; Adam, who took us out; and our two lovely Harris hawks, Tetley and Romeo. www.birdsofpreycentre.co.uk
National Stud - thanks to Rachel Gowland, the Stud Secretary, who organised for us to come and visit the National Stud, and to Paddy the Stallion Man, who spent most of the day with us. www.nationalstud.co.uk
Essex Young Farmers - thanks to Rebecca Padfield and the rest of the Essex Young Farmers, who organised the Deer & Beer party at Parklands Farm. www.essexyoungfarmers.com
Sam Lowman - thanks to Sam, who helped us with loads of suggestions and put us in touch with the Essex Young Farmers. Check out his two websites, www.rusticoak.co.uk and www.orchard-furniture.co.uk.
Woodford Meats Farm Shop - thanks to Fiona and Mark Woodford, who let us come beating, fed us, introduced us to their friends and were just lovely in general. They also sent us off with some of their delicious meat - definitely worth a look! Also, thanks to Christina's Aunty Val, who introduced us to the Woodfords. www.woodfordmeats.co.uk
WEEK TWO - SOUTH EAST
Mark Gilchrist - Mark spent the day teaching us how to prepare and cook game. He's an amazing chef - check out his website www.gameforeverything.com
The Bell, Smarden - this pub is brilliant and the landlord was really kind to us while we were there, letting us plug into his electricity (if Lucy hadn't left the adaptor in Essex!) and cooking us breakfast in the morning. The Bell, Bell Lane, Smarden, Kent TN27 8PW (01233 770283)
Seddlescombe Organic Vineyard - thanks to Roy and Irma Cook for letting us potter around their vineyard on a gloriously sunny day. www.englishorganicwine.co.uk
Plumpton College - thanks to Shan Dexter, who organised our visit to the Plumpton Winery, and Chris Foss and Peter Morgan, who spent time with us explaining what they do. www.plumpton.ac.uk
BTCV - thanks to Tim Harris, who organised the training day we went on in Sussex to learn how to coppice trees and make charcoal. www.btcv.org.uk
Keith Colin - Keith works part time for the BTCV and got in touch to suggest we went along to the training day. He's always coming up with ideas for Muddy Matches to get involved with and has been a great help to us in the past. Check out his photography company - www.beeskneesphotography.co.uk
Farm and Countryside Watch - thanks to PC Pete, the Wildlife Crime Officer for Sussex Police, who spent time with us explaining what the Farm and Countryside Watch scheme was all about. www.sussex.police.uk/farmline
The Cottage Lodge - thanks to Christina Simons, who let us stay at her hotel and took time to talk to us about eco-friendly tourism. www.cottagehotel.org
E.J. Churchill Shooting Ground - thanks to Christine, who organised our visit; Adam, who gave us a shooting lesson; the girls in the clothing shop, who let us dress the mannequins; and Stretch and Jack, who gave us a tour of the West Wycombe Estate. www.wwsg.org.uk
Phillip Price - Phillip's the kennel-huntsman for his local beagle pack and invited us beagling to see what it was all about. He also lets us park up for the night, fed us whisky, cooked us Sunday lunch and let us play endlessly on his professional laser shooting game - a lot of fun! Check out his business www.corporategamehire.co.uk.
WEEK THREE - SOUTH WEST
Malmesbury Young Farmers - a friendly bunch of young farmers who let us gatecrash their bonfire night. Malmesbury Young Farmers
Widleys Farm Bed & Breakfast - thanks to the lovely Hibbard family (particularly Wally and Dippy) , who kindly let two random girls park up on their drive and generally ferried them around. They've got a brilliant B&B in Sherston, which is worth checking out if you're ever near Malmesbury. www.widleysfarm.co.uk
Hugh Elmes - Hugh is the Bailiff of the Wareham Court Leet and spent an evening in the pub with us explaining what it is all about. He also organised this brilliant old-fashioned bus for us to get there and invited half of Wareham - great fun! Court Leet
Purbeck Ice Cream - thanks to Hazel, who invited us to come and see how their ice cream is made (sadly we didn't have time :-( ), and her lovely son Joe who came down to the Court Leet night at the pub to say hello. www.purbeckicecream.co.uk
The Woolly Shepherd - thanks to wonderful Val Grainger who told us all about her business, made us a delicious lunch, ferried us about all day and came to the pub with us in the evening. The Woolly Shepherd Woolly Shepherd's Diary
Coldharbour Mill - thanks to the guys at the Coldharbour Mill in Uffculme, who showed us round and told us a bit about how a traditional mill works. http://www.coldharbourmill.org.uk/
The Royal Oak, Winsford - thanks to Ed and Kirsty, who let us park up and plug in; thanks also to all the friendly locals who kept Lucy company while Emma was dying of the lurgie. www.royaloakexmoor.co.uk
WEEK FOUR - WALES
Clerkenhill Frizbee Golf - thanks to Richard and Dawn Lewis for spending the morning with us playing frizbee golf, telling us about their business and giving us a yummy lunch. www.clerkenhillfrizbeegolf.co.uk
Gordon Miller - Gordie looked after us really well while we were in Pembrokeshire...letting us park up, plug in to his electricity and use his shower, as well as feeding us delicious food and keeping our alcohol levels topped up to the levels we soon became accustomed to! Check out his pub: The Picton Inn, Clarbeston Road, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA63 4UN (01437 731615); and his other business, Greenacre Racing Club.
Welsh Farm Organics - thanks to Jonathan and Sally Rees for giving us a tour of their farm, spending hours talking to us when they must have had a million and one other things to do, buying us supper and letting us watch TV! Buy their delicious organic meat online at www.welshfarmorganics.co.uk
Aled Owen - Aled is a bit of a legend and was kind enough to give up a whole day to look after, as well as giving us an amazing lunch. Check out his sheepdog training and quad biking/rally karting websites: www.aled-owen-sheepdogs.co.uk and www.adventure-mountain.co.uk.
Alex Hatton - Alex spent the day with us talking about his work with the BASC Green Shoots initiative, but also let us park up at his house, came out with us in the evening and even cooked a hangover breakfast the next day! Green Shoots
Sarah and Philip Hughes - thanks to Sarah and her husband Philip, who put us up for a couple of nights and let us use their washing machine and tumble dryer (don't think they knew what they'd let themselves in for!) Philip is estate manager at Rhug Estate, which is well worth checking out: www.rhug.co.uk
WEEK FIVE - WEST MIDLANDS
Fordhall Farm - thanks to Ben and Charlotte Hollins, who spent a lot of time talking to us about their amazing fight to hold onto their family farm www.fordhallfarm.com
Sue Bryan - thanks to Sue (the Harper Adams Student President) for organising the speed dating night at Harper, feeding us and letting us park up for the night. www.harper-adams.ac.uk
Red Lion Farm Ice Cream - thanks to Alison and her Mum for showing us round the farm, feeding us tea and biscuits and letting us park up for a while at their caravan site www.red-lion-farm.co.uk
The Darbishire Family - thanks to Hugh, Ed, Angela and Simon for looking after us so well when we randomly descended on them for our 'Day on a Mixed Farm'. They run a brilliant B&B on the Warwickshire/Northamptonshire border - www.stayathillfarm.co.uk
Wiggly Wigglers - thanks to Heather Gorringe for spending time with us talking about her business and for inviting us to be on her fabulous podcast. www.wigglywigglers.co.uk
Worcestershire Young Farmers - thanks to Christina for getting us involved in their Winter Wonder Ball and setting everything up. Thanks to all the other young farmers who helped us set up our chill-out area and bar...and then take it down again! www.worcsyfc.org.uk
Sporting Saint - thanks to Pip Kendrick for organising our gundog training day in Worcestershire and spending time talking to us about her business manufacturing and supplying gundog training equipment.
Jeremy Sharp - Jeremy fed us and Pip lots of tea to refresh our minds after the Winter Wonder Ball and then gave up most of his Saturday to tell us all about gundog training.
WEEK SIX - SCOTLAND
T.H. Carson - thanks to Scott Carson, and Kenny and John, who spent the morning teaching us how to make haggis and gave us some yummy supplies for the motorhome. www.thcarson.co.uk
Dave Boyle - Dave took time to show us round Kelburn Castle and tell us all about the Graffiti Project. He also took us to his local pub, where we did appallingly badly at their pub quiz! www.kelburncastle.com
Mudhook Restaurant & Village Inn - the landlady here is a legend and her food is delicious.
46 Bay Street, Fairlie, Largs, Ayrshire & Arran KA29 0AL (01475 568432)Craigbrae Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast - thanks to lovely, lovely Louise Westmacott, who made us a delicious dinner and let us stay the night at her brilliant B&B near Edinburgh. www.craigbrae.com
Hunter Boots - thanks to Managing Director, Malcolm Cannon, for taking time to talk to us about the company and show us round the factory. www.hunter-boots.com
WEEK SEVEN - NORTHERNMOST NORTH
James Burton - James was kind enough to take us stalking, rough shooting and duck flighting, as well as coming to the pub with us one night and cook us an amazing dinner the next.
RiverDeepMountainHigh - thanks to Emma and Johan Hoving for giving us brilliant day's abseiling in the Lake District. www.riverdeepmountainhigh.co.uk
SARDA Lakes - thanks to Les Telford and all the other volunteers for letting us get involved in their dog training weekend. www.sardalakes.org.uk
WEEK EIGHT - NORTH
Capra Products - thanks to Gill and Martin McManoman for telling us about their business and making dinner for us with their delicious goat meat. www.capraproducts.co.uk
Raygill Fisheries - thanks to Catherine Hopkins and the rest of her family for letting us park up, plug in, use their shower...and for feeding us bacon sarnies with lots of cups of tea. www.raygillfisheries.co.uk
Talon - thanks to Sarah Crookston for talking to us about her new clothing company and giving us one of her haf new shooting waistocats to try. www.talonshoots.co.uk
Ample Bosom - thanks to Sally Robinson for letting us stay at her house while we were there to learn a bit more about her online underwear business, for making yummy roast chicken and for letting us use her phone and internet. Thanks to her son Stuart as well for taking us down to the pub. www.amplebosom.com
Wilf and Lizzie Standeven - thanks to both of them for letting us stay at their house at a time when it was so cold in Yorkshire, we would have probably frozen in the motorhome! Check out Wilf's fencing business www.standevenfencing.co.uk and Lizzie's interior design business www.standeveninteriors.co.uk
RAF Leeming - thanks to Blythe and the boys at RAF Leeming for entertaining us RAF Leeming
WEEK NINE - EAST MIDLANDS
Arrow Farm Shop - thanks to Dinah, Richard and Katy Blagg for telling us all about their business and letting us stay in their house www.arrowfarmshop.co.uk
Flawborough Equine and Hydrotherapy Centre - thanks to Emma Hawthorne for warming us up with tea and telling us about her business www.flawboroughequine.co.uk
Mid UK Recycling Ltd - thanks to Simon and Chris Mountain for taking time out of their busiest period to tell us about their recycling businesses www.midukrecycling.co.uk and www.greenmountains.co.uk
Woodlands Organic Farm - thanks to Andrew Dennis for showing us round his farm and talking to us about the link between art and farming www.woodlandsfarm.co.uk
Farrington Oils - thanks to Duncan for taking the time to speak to us and showing us round www.farrington-oils.co.uk