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Rogers Blog
At Giles Landscapes we like to encourage camaraderie amongst the staff through sporting activities. Gary has played football locally summer and winter during the last four years alongside fellow team members from Giles Landscapes. Gary was originally left breathless during matches but the influence of his children Daisy and Poppy has ensured that his fitness levels have greatly improved.
Gary’s skating has been influenced by Michael Mclnerny who is one of the fastest man on in liners in Britain Gary was originally at school with him and is now training alongside him. Gary was asked by Michael in 2008 to join the Belotti Wisbech speed skating team and compete in the 5K relay event which he did and went on to win a bronze medal.
Giles Landscapes lineage with skating does not stop there Adam Giles son of present owner Roger Giles, is a direct descendant of Babs Horn a famous Fen speed skater and cyclist in the last century. Babs Horn went on to represent Britain in the Olympic Games.
Giles Landscapes are located in Welney, home of world speed skating in the late C18th, the governing body NISA was first established here too. Melton Morris the elder statesman of Fen skating was originally trained by Babs Horn, Melton has kept the Fen skating traditions alive with his in line facility and has helped Gary and his children tremendously.
If the present weather conditions hold out and we get some racing I hope that Gary will give some of our club members a run for their money.
Please see below some links to relevant websites.
www.classiclightweights.co.uk/riders/horn-bros.html
www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php
The curator at the Norris Museum in St Ives is very knowledgable on the history of the Smart family, the famous fen skaters. The museum often gives talks on the subject and runs skating exhibtions at the museum.
15.01.09
Some old chap stopped me in the street today and said if I knew that some of my employees were skating on the Welney Wash when they should have been at work and that he had seen them on the national news (our jackets are a big give away!) I said not to worry - I was with them on the ice! However nowadays I'm not so photogenic so they only showed my feet! He was amazed that I encouraged them - to which I replied - only if I can get out there with them! :)
20.01.09
Another bloke came up to me and said that we had really made it big time and proceeded to tell me that he had seen us on Watchdog. This concerned me greatly as you can imagine. When I got back to the office I asked Gary about it and he showed me a re-run on his computer and true enough there was Gary skating across the screen with the Giles landscapes logo loud and proud on his jacket. As it turned out, they used that bit of film from the BBC to highlight the cold weather - I breathed a big sigh of relief I can tell you! :)
