What a difference a week makes in the fortunes of certain individual Moos, with Crock making up for last weeks embarrassment of winning the inaugural award for unorthodox behaviour, and the seemingly ‘untouchable’ Captain tarnishing his previously unblemished character irreparably.

But the night started on a high with our very own ‘City Boy’ Marty leading us off on another fantastic ride, although only a year into his Moos career, Marty proved that with a little bit of invention and thought, one is able to design a stimulating ride, and at the same time show a few more established Moos how it is done (Tom, Crock take note!!!).

With 16 Moos starting the ride it was the best turnout so far this year, Andrew Fallaize was out for the second week running and also the Moos ‘font of all knowledge’ Dez made a second consecutive appearance. With the ride taking the very familiar route of Turners Lane once more, we were soon at the top of the mountain contemplating which way Marty was going take us, the answer was straight over to Wyllie and across to Llanbradach, it was on top of the Wyllie that we encountered several couples in cars enjoying the ‘Views’ there must also have been a sudden temperature drop too, as the occupants of the vehicles started swiftly donning whatever items of clothing they could get hold of as obviously the wind created by the 16 of us as we whizzed past must of given them this unexpected chill!! It was just after this that we found that we had lost Scrippsy, when he finally caught up he said that he had had a problem with his bike and that he had stopped for 5 minutes to rectify it, as we careered off on the trail the cries of ‘Scrippsy the Dogger’ could be heard echoing down the valley!!

Marty’s choice of downhill was exemplary as we took a route that we hadn’t ridden for some time, most of the Moos were impressed especially Singlespeed who had said that he had not encountered this route before. This is also where things started to go downhill ‘literally’ for the Captain for as the track got narrower we came across several sheep with their new born lambs, but instead of following the lead of the rest of the Moos who had slowed down cautiously, the Captain decided to somewhat carelessly ride straight toward the woolly congregation, startled they started to stampede along the trail with the Captain pursuing them on his unrelenting foolish pursuit, but like the old saying goes ‘What goes around comes around’ one of the sheep suddenly veered off in front of the Captain causing him to take evasive action, with the result being him ending up on his backside with the sound of the Moos laughing, ringing in his ears!!!

With the ‘fool’ nursing his bruises and ego we carried on to Fern Mountain and another superb descent before making the important decision to visit our old friends at the Church House in Bedwas. Upon arriving it was strange to see Tom, Harty and the Captain ensconced in their own private huddle, little did we know what was to follow, for after a few swift halves it was decided to take the route through the old colliery site and onward toward HQ, this decision was agreed upon by 13 Moos, for 3 a totally different agenda was on the cards.

As we left, the Captain who had got a full pint was barking instructions on what route to take, and telling us that he would catch us up when he finished his drink, but as we know now this was never going to happen, for once we were in HQ it became increasingly evident that the wayward 3 were not going to be seen again that night.

With the boys contemplating a new Captain, the current vice Captain Ryan the Steam flew into immediate action and fulfilled the duties which were required of him, the Moos very glad that someone in authority was able to stand up and be counted, well done that man!!

Probably what hurt the Moos most was that instead of taking the inevitable flak on the chin of which he thoroughly deserves, the Captain proceeded to deflect the decision for staying behind toward Harty, this man is probably one of the nicest inoffensive members of the Moos, but the Captain told a few of us the next day that it was Harty who apparently said “I don’t fancy riding all the way back to Machen, stuff the rest of them we’ll stay here and have a couple of pints!!” We are certainly not going to digest this obvious piece of fabrication from the Captain, nobody for one minute would believe that Harty would say such a thing, and the fact that the Captain lives within spitting distance of the Church House makes it all the more believable that it was solely his decision to abandon his flock…..AGAIN!!!! Crock’s job of passing on his award at the end of the month, must surely now be a foregone conclusion??