In April 2011 the Horseboating Society took part in the 200th Anniversary celebrations of the opening of Standedge Tunnel.
On Saturday 2nd April Boathorse Bilbo towed the historic wooden narrowboat Maria, built in 1854, up the Diggle locks. Maria was then legged by members of the Horseboating Society through Standedge Tunnel to Tunnel End, Marsden.
On Saturday 23rd April members of the Horseboating Society performed our St.George fun and frolics. Maria was legged through Standedge Tunnel, luring out the resident tunnel dragon, which has been attacking boats this Spring. St. George and his horse (Bilbo the boathorse) saved the day by slaying the dragon, saving the princess and Easter bunny girl, and preventing the chocolate Easter eggs from melting in the dragon’s fiery breath. As a result, boaters have safe passage for another year. Should any baby dragons grow into evil dragons, then St. George might need to come back next year to keep the tunnel safe for boats!
Saturday 23rd April:
Maria is legged through Standedge Tunnel using the walls of the tunnel. Photo: Warwick Burton
Crew, male and female, get dirty and wet in the tunnel! Photo: Warwick Burton
Crew, male and female, get dirty and wet in the tunnel! Photo: Warwick Burton
Crew use short poles where leggers cannot reach due to the tunnel being too wide. Photo: Warwick Burton
Maria meets the BW trip boat but its headlight does not scare the dragon. Photo: Warwick Burton
At Tunnel End the play begins. Storyteller in red and white, befitting St.George’s Day, with megaphone. Photo: Warwick Burton
A Princess alias (Easter) Bunny Girl is tied to the towing mast as sacrifice to the evil dragon. Photo: Warwick Burton
A young villager acts as knight with helm, sword and shield to protect her from the dragon. Photo: Warwick Burton
Crew with water pistols fail to put out the dragon’s fire and coloured fumes (smoke pellets). Photo: Warwick Burton
The crowd calls for St.George, who arrives by horse, then eyes up the dastardly dragon. Photo: Warwick Burton
The bloody deed is done. St. George has slain the dragon. Photo: Warwick Burton
The dragon is dead, with head chopped off, and spines all floppy now. Photo: Warwick Burton
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