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Extreme sledgers in Weeley play dangerous game in the snow

8:20am Friday 8th January 2010 in News By Sonia Elks

The stunt has been condemned by police The stunt has been condemned by police

THRILL-SEEKERS have been playing a dangerous game of “car snowboarding” on icy roads.

Three young men, identified as Ryan, Steve and Darren, filmed themselves snowboarding along roads in Weeley, while being pulled by a moving car.

Film clips of the stunt were posted on video sharing website YouTube on Wednesday, after heavy snow and ice made Tendring’s roads treacherous.

One video shows the stunt being attempted in traffic, and pedestrians can be seen in other clips.

Police have condemned the “extremely reckless” and “totally irresponsible” game, and warned the youngsters they could face prosecution if they are caught in the act.

Police spokesman Bill Stock said: “Retaining hold of a motor vehicle or trailer while it is in motion is an offence under the Road Traffic Act, but there are other regulations that would also cover this extremely reckless practice.

“For example, if the person on the snowboard slipping into the path of an oncoming vehicle was killed, the driver of the towing car could be charged with manslaughter or death by dangerous driving.

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Using a car for an unnecessary journey on slippery roads is totally irresponsible, because the car and snowboard would make the road surface even more slippery.

“The snowboard or tow car could also go out of control and hit pedestrians or other vehicles.”

Police said they could not use the video as evidence in any proceedings, but urged anyone who sees people playing the game to contact them on 0300 3334444.

Comments(21)

Dug says...
9:21am Fri 8 Jan 10

Reminds me of a story of my grandad in his youth, hitching himself to a lorry, while cycling.

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SHV says...
9:58am Fri 8 Jan 10

Idiots

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RitchieHicks says...
9:58am Fri 8 Jan 10

Looks like great fun. Did this once but sitting on a car tyre.

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Shrub Ender says...
10:40am Fri 8 Jan 10

For christ sake get over yourselves gazette. These guys are adults just having some fun hardly a news story!!
So are you going to report every wreckless sledging incident in the area?? If these guys get hurt then its their fault. Ive seen 8 men on a large plastic sheet go down spring lane into oncoming people at high speed,,, we best shut the place down!!

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RitchieHicks says...
10:51am Fri 8 Jan 10

Clarkeson did it on Top Gear. Don't recall I big upset then...

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Sdapeze says...
11:32am Fri 8 Jan 10

It's just kids having fun. I wish I could join them. But as I have to work I guess I will just have to get on with it.

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Voter99 says...
12:27pm Fri 8 Jan 10

The Health and Safety are trying to suck what remaining fun their is left in Britain. Why don't they leave for some Communist Eastern Bloc hell-hole that would be more suited to their box ticking.

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colchesterguy says...
12:49pm Fri 8 Jan 10

Ha!
I read this and though what every one has said, get over yourself Mr Stock.

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Smouldering Ewok says...
1:12pm Fri 8 Jan 10

Yup, typical over reaction as usual.
What next?
Maybe a ban on building snowmen due to obstruction?
Igloo free zones?
Making snowball fights illegal perhaps?
Dressing penguins in visi jackets?
They say the best things in life are free and these guys are enjoying life and are proof of that.
Just because others are having fun you don't have to take it away from them.
Happy snow days!

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The REAL Norm says...
2:50pm Fri 8 Jan 10

Totally OTT reporting. Should all children be banned from sledging down hills as well? That is very dangerous. What's worse is the pious tone of the entire article - this is why people think the Gazette is a waste of time. Still, I guess when you're stuck in an office in Basildon and short of news it's quite tempting to tap local place names into youtube and see what comes up. Quick phone call to Mr. Rentaquote at the old bill and hey presto, you've got some turgid copy that you can attempt to pass off as journalism. Shoddy. Very shoddy.

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The REAL Norm says...
2:57pm Fri 8 Jan 10

Here's another story for the Gazette newshounds taken from Youtube.
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=WLEFNXBkN
EU

Can you believe it? He's skating in Lion Walk, which I'm pretty sure is illegal and he hasn't got the proper safety gear on. It's shocking behaviour. Luckily he's put his name on the video as well. You could call it Lion Walk Skate Shocker and get a policeman to say how it's against elf 'n' safety. Leave the office, brave the snow and get some real stories...go on, I dare you!

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romantic says...
4:56pm Fri 8 Jan 10

Why is this even news? A bunch of guys having fun - you can see from the video that they're not going at great speed. If they hurt themselves, that's their problem! People get hurt skiing, should we ban that as well. People break bones playing rugby, should that be therefore banned as well?

If the Gazette has such a moral axe to grind on this one, why even publish this: there will now be load of kids who hadn't thought of doing this until they saw it here!

People have managed to break themselves in a myriad multitude of ways since time began, and will continue to do so despite the best efforts of the H & S squad to squeeze any vestige of enjoyment out of life!

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Dug says...
5:39pm Fri 8 Jan 10

I'm glad nearly everyone here thinks the same as me. :-)

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Flip Flop says...
6:04pm Fri 8 Jan 10

I was brought up in Clapham Common, London in the 70's. The fashion was to have studs on our brogues or loafers so hanging on to the handle on the back of a double decker bus going down the high street with sparks flying out the back of your shoes at 20mph was great fun so I can appreciate this!

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Taximan01 says...
6:50pm Fri 8 Jan 10

I took my life in my hands on Wednesday in my back garden, even that got into the Gazette (today page 8) but as dangerous & reckless though it may appear, I took precautions, factor 15, never leave yourself open to the health & safety nazis!

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RitchieHicks says...
8:16pm Fri 8 Jan 10

Taximan01 wrote:
I took my life in my hands on Wednesday in my back garden, even that got into the Gazette (today page 8) but as dangerous & reckless though it may appear, I took precautions, factor 15, never leave yourself open to the health & safety nazis!
Yeah we saw you Dave. But Bulmers? Honestly man - get some proper ale down your neck!

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toadytoad says...
9:32am Sat 9 Jan 10

Right so Health and Safety says the kids can't go to school as its far too dangerous.
Fully grown adults can't decide for themselves what fun they can have in the snow. If they hurt themselves they only have themselves to blame. Guess we best stop everyone playing on the slopes behind Tollgate as well and no more snowmen in case of injury. I have never seen snow this deep and therefore neither have any of my children so for heavens sake let people enjoy it. Makes it sound like they were being pulled down the A12 and not a quite street mind you could attach the dogs to a snowboard, could be an intresting way of getting to work so look out Colchester here I come!!

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saw1970 says...
11:04am Sat 9 Jan 10

IT'SNOW LAUGHING MATTER!

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Myrtle says...
5:41pm Sat 9 Jan 10

Hee hee heee heee heeee.
Nice to see someone enjoying the snow.
Un-poke your nose and leave them be.

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Taximan01 says...
6:48pm Sat 9 Jan 10

Didn't have any Newcastle Brown left I'm afraid!

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BillBill says...
11:54am Sun 10 Jan 10

I dont think this is that bad either but some of the comments on here take the biscuit. On one hand you have people on here slamming drivers for taking unneccessary trips in poor weather conditions and on the other, defending the right of people to blast around in 4x4's on the public highway towing sledgers, which is, after all, illegal. You cant have it both ways and whip yourselves into moral indignation. In astory in the paper I saw thepolice have neem kept busy withpeople reporting having snowballs thrown at them. "Harmless fun" heralds the Real Norm, and yeah it is, but you can imagine his spluttering indigination should one hit a granny who falls, breaks her hip and dies. Then it would be "the youth of today, lock em up, no respect, we would have been birched" etc etc etc.

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