The Many Joys of Spring
Whisper it quietly, but spring is just around the corner. The long dark nights of winter are slowly giving way to lighter mornings and fresh green shoots. It won’t be long before snowdrops and daffodils are brightening up roadsides and hedges all around the country.
And with the spring comes a host of social events and sporting occasions that are also guaranteed to lift the spirits. Whether it is something on a grand scale like the spectacular Cheltenham festival – the highlight of the racing calendar – or something more low key like a festival weekend in the lakes, the springtime brings sunshine, warmth and a sense of feel-good optimism.
Grand spectacles
The massed crowd around the famous old Cheltenham race course, set amidst the rolling green hills of the Gloucestershire countryside, are something to behold in their own right. But throw in the excitement, drama and glamour of the racing as well and you have a heady combination. Anyone considering Cheltenham bets will need to be careful not to get carried away on the roaring tide of emotion that sweeps across the course in mid-March. It is truly one of the great springtime spectacles. And if you can’t get to Cheltenham, remember there is always the Grand National in April!
A countryside welcome
In contrast, the rugged isolation of the Lake District could hardly be more tranquil. The delightful, idiosyncratic charms of the small towns that nestle amidst the grandeur of England’s most famous hills burst into life over the course of the early spring. As the hostility of the winter weather abates, the hills once again become accessible to all. A string of more than 500 events and festivals, not to mention the abundant local hospitality, ensure the warmest of countryside welcomes.
City celebrations
by Nick J Webb
If you are more interested in urban extravaganzas than any rural delights, there is surely no rival to the great festival of running and charity fund raising that is the Virgin London Marathon. April 26th is the date set for this year’s event. Once again the streets of the capital will be filled with runners and the countless millions of those who line the streets, cheering them though every one of those 26 miles, and contributing so much to charity as they do so. Surely, London in the springtime with that incredible bloom of good will is about as good as it gets.
Sport for all
And of course, it is not just London’s gargantuan event that takes place in the springtime. Wherever you are across the nation there will be races and events taking place. They will all be delighted to see you, either as a participant, as a spectator, or even as a volunteer. And what is true for running holds true for a welter of other active sports as well. Whether it is cycling, sailing, golf or gymkhanas, spring is the season when Britain’s amateur sportswomen dust off their gear – or even buy new! – and head out into the sunshine.
The bottom line is that springtime is not just about the conspicuous and formal events that mark the calendar. Its benefits touch us all in all sorts of quiet, easily overlooked ways. Warmer weather makes getting motivated to get active all the more easy. It makes entertaining the kids so much less demanding than it does when you’re all cooped up indoors. As the garden beckons and the great outdoors becomes great again, it is time to celebrate the return of spring and the glowing prospect of summer.
