Lindsay Cons Club member Donna Clifton said 15 friends went on the trip from South Wales to Doncaster – despite some suffering symptoms and waiting on test results
Friends from a social club blamed for causing a local lockdown went on a boozy day-trip to the races even though some were still waiting for coronavirus test results as they set off.
Lindsay Constitutional Club member Donna Clifton spoke out after a weekend trip to Doncaster was alleged to be behind a virus spike in the Rhondda Valleys in South Wales.
She revealed that 15 friends from the club had gone on the trip up north – despite some suffering symptoms and waiting on test results.
The group did not enter Doncaster Racecourse but instead went to a pub and hotel to place bets.
After they returned the area saw a rise in Covid cases, forcing the Welsh government to put Rhondda Cynon Taf council area under lockdown.
It comes after hundreds of people flocked to get tested at a centre in the village.
Now club bosses in the village of Abercynon say that it’s name has been ‘dragged through the mud’.
But Donna defended the group, saying claims they stopped off in pubs on the way to Doncaster were untrue, and they did not even attend the racecourse.
‘It’s an annual trip that’s been running for years. They had a bet, they had a pint, same as what happens every year.
‘Nothing was done any different. I know they didn’t stop off in pubs on the way up to Doncaster because they never do.
‘They go straight to Doncaster, into a pub, into a hotel, back home on the Sunday.
The group of friends did not actually enter Doncaster Racecourse, but instead went to a pub and hotel nearby to place bets
‘A number of people had Covid before the trip but hadn’t had any test results back. It was about 15 of them on the bus. They did the same as they do every year.
‘They didn’t take precautions because nobody had Covid. So you wouldn’t take precautions. ‘
Donna added that those who have since tested positive have suffered ‘flu like symptoms’ with a loss of taste and smell.
Club treasurer Phillip Brown hit out after the club was linked to the trip by Welsh Government Health minister Vaughan Gething.
Mr Brown said the venue had been ‘virtually blamed’ for the spread in Rhondda Cynon Taf, a council area that stretches from north Cardiff to the Brecon Beacons.
The weekend away linked to the Lindsay Cons Club in the village of Abercynon has been blamed for causing the local lockdown – with club bosses saying it has been ‘dragged through the mud’
The club had to close days before the races because of coronavirus fears – with a number of people later becoming sick.
Mr Brown said the bus trip itself was not run by the venue – but four or five of his members attended.
He said: ‘They have dragged our club through the mud, virtually blaming us for a situation in Rhondda Cynon Taf and locking down because they reckon we are responsible.
‘We are not responsible. We’ve done every measure possible to help Public Health Wales and the Welsh Government.’
Mr Gething said the day out led to a ‘significant’ rise in cases after a coach-load of friends went on a pub crawl and then racing.
In a statement the course said: ‘Doncaster Racecourse has received no contact from any organisation, including the NHS or the Welsh Government, to verify the attendance of any individuals at last week’s event for the purposes of track and trace’
He told a press conference: ‘There are a number of clusters in Rhondda Cynon Taf – two of which are significant.
‘One is associated with a rugby club and pub in the lower Rhondda and the other with a club outing to the Doncaster races, which stopped off at a series of pubs on the way.’
He said the trip led to ‘a number of infections’.
But Doncaster Racecourse hit back – saying they had received no visitors from South Wales since they reopened.
In a statement the course said: ‘Doncaster Racecourse has received no contact from any organisation, including the NHS or the Welsh Government, to verify the attendance of any individuals at last week’s event for the purposes of track and trace.
‘In addition, we do not have any ticket bookings for any groups from the South Wales area for Wednesday’s event.
‘We will be contacting the Welsh Health Minister as a matter of urgency to clarify the situation.’
The Welsh Government later tweeted: ‘We understand that though the original intention of the party was to travel to the Doncaster Racecourse, the party did not enter the racecourse as originally planned.’