Easter Roundup Report 08

 Hi there!

 I guess if you weren't at the Easter Roundup, and if you'd just have gone by the weather, you'd have thought that no one came – with all that snow and biting wind – but you'd have been wrong. Maybe the hard work Rusty and Dakota had done marking out the field for the Western Sports was all for nothing, (Winter Sports would have been spot on!) but the 'welcome' Dakota gave to visitors was indeed welcome as he showed them where to place their vans and administrated the new toilet block keys.

 The only casualty was the youngsters' new tent which would have needed to have rivalled Captain Scott's to have survived the conditions, which unfortunately it didn't. Still, it was great to have the youngsters on board during the weekend when some of them participated in the Fast Draw, and Desert Rose was Ladies Top Gun, with Short Fire as Ladies Runner Up. Let's hope that the Western sports can take place at the May Day Roundup Weekend so that we can provide more fun.

 Anyway, it was great to see some old friends arriving, like Sundance and Maureen, the Lichfield crowd and The Nuts whom Preacher calls 'the formation dancers' (or words to that effect!) as well as some new ones. And it's always nice to see some extra people dressed up. (On the Saturday evening we were blessed with three soldiers!)

 This time the food, including the Full English breakfasts, was provided by Mandy and it were all very tasty. It was good to see lots of people tucking in.

 The entertainment was provided by Donna Wylde on the Friday evening, the four piece band Indiana Rain on the Saturday evening and Jim Ryder and Adam James on the Sunday evening.

 Donna Wylde is the little lady with the big Country voice. She also has a guitar with which she accompanied some of her songs. I particularly enjoy it when she sings female Country songs like Joni Harms 'Could I Have This Dance?' Martina McBride's 'Pick Me Up On Your Way Down' and Gretchen Wilson's 'One Of The Boys.'

 She's also not behind in giving as good as she gets in the banter department – especially to Preacher, who thrives on it. This is just as well as she had to brave the male members of the Lichfield crew joining in with the action of seagulls flying during 'Under The Sun.' It's not difficult to identify what they were in a former life!

 Indiana Rain were new to us and arrived with loads of equipment. It is a testament to their organisation that they managed to get it all onto our comparatively small stage in an amazingly short time. Indiana Rain comprise Rob Fellows (Lead Guitarist and Vocals) Ron MacIntosh (Drummer and Vocals),David Clark (Pedal Steel, Guitar and Vocals) and Rob Beech (Lead Vocals and Bass Guitar). (I found this information on their website on the internet along with some nice pictures.)

 When you've got a four piece band you really get a great sound, and their programme was interesting too, keeping me on my toes as I tried to write it down. So they started with two songs that I didn't recognise, 'Round About Way' and 'I ain't Never' (I think), and also included Toby Keith's 'Who's Your Daddy?' and George Strait's 'Write This Down.' I particularly enjoyed watching Rob Beech who had an attractive stage presence.

 This band also had a great sense of humour, and so were quite happy to let the female Lichfielders stand their blow-up guitars on their instrument stand, and even join in the playing of one of their numbers. (Fortunately pneumatic guitars make a sound similar to that of air guitars, so not too many wrong notes were spotted.)

 We had seen Jim Ryder and Adam James before, but not for a bit, but they managed to find Sterndale Moor Social Club, where Rebels Retreat meets, eventually. Jim is very quick with his repartee, and he and Adam James make a great team. Adam James is a swell musician, and together they give some really good musical effects which add greatly to the songs.

 Again we heard some songs that I was unfamiliar with, such as 'Billy The Kid' and 'Smoke Rings In The Dark' and Joe Brown's 'Gallows Pole' as well as the more familiar 'The Thunder Rolls' all of which from these two are just awesome.

 We also had a chance to execute a pretty good hoe down and barn dance thanks to some medleys that gave everyone a go. The barn dance got quite exciting when it became progressive, and there were a few loose men floating around – where had the ladies gone, I wonder?

 On this evening I got the wooden spoon for organisation since I'd forgotten the certificates and messed up the afternoon Fast Draw scores. Fortunately everyone showed great forbearance. The scores were sorted out, with Frosty being Top Gun and Dark Wolf being Runner Up. The Lady Top Gun and Runner Up I've already mentioned.

 So, all in all, a truly successful Round Up despite the weather. The next one's on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of May

    See ya there!

    Mrs Rusty