Olympic Effort By Sports Club - posted 1 August 2012

Report by Joe Adhemar

On one of the many dreary wet days in May, Helmdon's Sports Club Committee convened to discuss how they were going to raise the thousands needed to keep the club running and repair the leaking roof.

Our chair, Karl Leitelmayer, came up with a cracker. A sports day for the kids with an Olympic theme. From this small spark, somehow in 9 weeks, Karl managed to organise an event that I think most would agree, was a resounding success.

So what happened at 6pm on Friday 27th of July?

There was a 'big screen' and a thunderous PA with a live feed from BBC HD showing Danny Boyle's astounding opening ceremony (constructed on Paul Duncombe's kindly donated lorry).

A Sports Day for the kids brilliantly shepherded by Andy Kirtland & Colin Wright, with the kids competing at Running Races, Backward Races, The Standing Jump, Helmdon Shotput (Welly Throwing) and Catherine Ruffley built and ran Gullivers Velodrome, over 60 children each won a special Helmdon 2012 Gold Medal.

5 hours of eye watering smoke for the Turnham and Stothard families manning the BBQ which needed more burgers at 9pm!

Helmdon's version of Statler and Waldorf, Eddie and Curly, running a bar that at 8:30 needed an emergency trip to Brackley to replenish the beer supply.

2 sets from Helmdon's band "The Autumn Buskers" and a great demonstration of Zumba Dance by Bryony.

And some great stalls run by local groups such as Friends of the Church, Acorns, Friends of Helmdon School and the Leitelmayer kids (all using equipment and marquees donated by The Carnival - Thanks to John Coatsworth and Bill England for their construction) as well as a couple of bouncy castles.

Perhaps the wind blew a little too hard as dusk drew in but after a few mercy runs to the fleece drawer back at the village, around 200 hardy souls stuck around to watch the start of the ceremony with events drawing to a close just after midnight.

Helmdon Sports Club would like to thank everyone for coming along. We really appreciated your support.

One final thank you for a couple of people who we hope you will agree are the most deserving of our thanks.

Firstly, David and Julia Toman who donated £1000 to help with the costs of setting up the event and Colin Hull at South Northants Council, who through the Community Games fund gave us a grant of £500. Thank you so much.

Finally, Karl Leitelmayer whose tireless efforts over the 9 weeks were really quite astounding. His committee mucked in, but without his guidance the event would have fallen well short of the mark. Thank you Karl (and you even sounded good on BBC Radio Northampton!).

Loads of other people helped to make this a great event and we hoped we thanked you all in the programme on the evening.

Thanks Everyone, see you at the next Sports Club event which will be our annual golf day, more information to follow.

Unclaimed Raffle Prizes From The Helmdon Olympics - posted 30 July 2012

Blue 178 – Bottle of Barcardi
Blue 215 – Kempton Park Races Tickets
Yellow 465 – Northants Cricket Tickets
White 65 – London 2012 Ticket Holder
Yellow 450 – Bulldog Skincare Products
Blue 161 – Bliss Voucher
White 34 – Bottle of Prosecco
Yellow 469 – PS3 Game
Yellow 453 – Michael Vaughan signed 2005 Ashes Poster
White 15 – Haircut and Blowdry

Karl Leitelmayer

Live Band At The Helmdon Olympic Opening Ceremony Carnival - posted 25 July 2012

Helmdon Olympic Opening Ceremony Carnival

Live Showing of the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics

Kids Fun Olympics with Medals

Live Band ' The Autumn Buskers'

Have your photo taken with a Real Olympic Torch

Bar

BBQ

Tea Room

Bouncy Castles & Games

Lots of Stalls suitable for all Ages

Tickets priced £3 Adults, £1 Kids or £5 for a Family ticket

                                            click for poster

Stalls Still Left For Olypmic Event - posted 09 July 2012

Enter The Draw For The Olympic Torch Ceremony Concert Tickets - posted 07 July 2012

The Olympic Torch is coming to our Area on Monday. Anyone buying a ticket to our opening ceremony event on Friday 27th July this weekend (before 5pm Sunday) will be entered into a draw to win a pair of tickets to the sold out Oxford Torch Relay Event on Monday which has Young Guns & Twist and Shout performing. Get your tickets at http://helmdonolympics.eventbrite.co.uk

Karl Leitelmayer

Tickets Now On Sale For The Helmdon Olympics Opening Ceremony - posted 18 June 2012

Plans for the Sports Clubs, London Olympic Opening Ceremony Carnival on Friday 27 July are progressing well, with the Autumn Buskers booked, the Kids Olympic races decided, commemorative gold medals ordered and our own Helmdon Olympic Flame purchased!

• Tombola
• Guess the weight of the cake
• Bric a Brac
• Catch the Rat
• Guess how many sweets in the jar
• Coconut Shy
• Beat the Keeper
• Skittles
• Plant Stall
• Book Stall
• And lots more (some of the games used at the carnival are available to be used).