Good evening!
Sorry not to make the breakfast run at the Deacon’s this morning. It looks like it was a right treat, with Fiona’s chargrilled sausages and Philippa’s crockery-smashing attempt to turn the whole thing into a Greek Wedding. Well done to all of you whole hauled yourself out of bed in to get up to the cottage in time and to complete the chilly climb up to Brimham Rocks.
Things are, as you’d expect, getting very busy here at Nidd Valley House. People are very excited about Christmas, as I am sure you can imagine. Sarah Hughan is back on the prosecco, Judy has a new Christmas jumper and Dave is putting the finishing touches to his mistletoe crown. On top of that, we’ve got a new cross-country championship on the way, an Awards Night to organise, and all the while people are very anxious about a Trump-style upset at the AGM. So you can put that ‘Make Nidd Valley Great Again’ sign down and read on. There’s a lot you need to know.
Results
Oooops! I only went and left more results out of the write up last week. So it is a sorry to Edoardo Piano who had to send me a reminder of his adventure down in Bingley at the Harriers vs Cyclists Race last Saturday. Not sure how the whole thing worked to be honest, but am pleased to tell you that Edoardo (48:02) managed to get near the front of the pack to finish 106/246. He was soon joined by Simon Franklin (49:32) and Carol Morgan (49:36) as they hared down the hill with a group of mountain bikers chasing them down to the finish line. Well done, you three!
I’ve got another group of three beautiful people for you this week, with our team at Fountains parkrun. It’ll be no surprise to you to hear that Andy Todd (20:15) was first off the Nidd Valley blocks, with Marcos Montana (24:50) and Michelle Dinsdale (31:41) also on good form on the scenic course. Fiona and Phil Robinson were down in Sheffield, where they competed in the Hillsborough parkrun. Yeah, I know, I can’t even get myself to the Stray for 9am. Anyway, Phil (24:06) and Fiona (32:30) both did remarkably well and so I am sure that the journey down the M1 was worth it all in the end.
And so we come neatly to Harrogate parkrun and, while we are here we may as well have a look at the results. They start with Dan Eagling (20:51), Andrew Peagram (21:58) and Maurice Kelly (22:24), and continue with Sue Simpson (23:34), Christine Holleran (24:13) and Dave Prince (24:55). Moira McTague (24:57) kept the good times rolling, while Evie Iles (27:25) kept mum Alison (27:26) on her toes as they shot around the freezing cold course. Neil Wright (27:43) and an injured Fingers Harris (28:16) were never too far behind, just managing to keep Jeff Walker (29:12) at bay. Jane Hill (29:19), Hannah Peagram (33:03) and Mandy Smith (38:29) rounded things off nicely. Well done to you all.
Please remain seated, do not put your hands outside the carriage and do not unfasten your safety belt until the ride has come to a complete stop. Thank you: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Week Ahead
On Tuesday, we continue with all things intervals, and this week we are down on Springfield Avenue for the session we have come to know and love: ‘Double Trouble’. This is being led by Dan, so to be fair anything could happen. He’ll probably still be chatting away come Wednesday morning. Dan tells me that he is marking the return to the site of the infamous arse-slapping with a warm up technique called ‘cheek to cheek’. I dread to think. Anyway, get yourself down to the carpark opposite the Holiday Inn for 7.10pm, or be sociable and come and meet at the Hockey Club for 7pm.
It’s a bit of bind to be working away this week as I won’t be able to join you for the run on Thursday, when I’m told that it is the Cornwall Road route. It’s not a bad one, this, and there are so many variations it really is the run that keeps giving. Leaving the Hockey Club at 7pm, we head over the Stray and through One Arch and down to the bottom of Valley Gardens. From there, up Cornwall Road and along Harlow Moor. You can hang back home from there, or push on round to Green Lane and Leadhall Lane, turning for the club either up Leeds Road or Hookstone Chase. That done, turn left through the double doors and up the stairs to the bar for a beer and a bag of crisps.
On Sunday, we have the first of the PECO Races. You must have heard about the fact we have got a team entry for this by now; Michelle’s been pedalling this with one with more vigour than dealers try and shift smack. Anyway, this one is at Temple Newsam and the senior races start at 11am. Michelle has the numbers for you all, so you need to see her at club this week to get them and to settle your debts. More details on the race can be found here: http://www.pecoxc.co.uk/pages/race1.html. Got a question? Badger Michelle and not me: mjnissan@hotmail.co.uk.
X-County Championships
I tell you something, Martin and Michelle really are good to you. They’ve only gone and decided that we should have a cross country championship to compliment the fell and road championships, as well as giving us something to focus on through the winter months. We haven’t told Fell Running Phil yet as he’ll just get himself all over excited again and that is the last thing we need this close to his bedtime here at Nidd Valley House. Anyway, it’s based on the PECO League, with a few other races thrown in, and Martin will be sending out the schedule and rules in due course, but we thought you’d at least appreciate the dates:
- Sunday 27 November 2016: PECO – Rothwell Harriers @ Temple Newsam
- Sunday 18 December 2016: PECO – Hyde Park Harriers @ TBC
- Saturday 7 January 2017: Yorkshire XC Championships @ Lightwater Valley
- Sunday 22 January 2017: PECO – Kirkstall Harriers @ West Park
- Saturday 4 February 2017: Wetherby Parkrun
- Sunday 19 February 2017: PECO – St Teresa’s AC @ Pendas Fields
- Sunday 5 March 2017: PECO – Chapel Allerton Runners @ Roundhay Park
Get them in your diary, then!
Ladies Santa Run: 11 December 2016
Well, this is disgusting. It looks like the ladies are going to go off and do their own thing and leaves us boys on our lonesome. Yeah, I know, it’s harsh. Still, there we are. If you are of the fairer sex, then you’re welcome to join the ladies a Blubberhouses carpark at 9am for an eight mile run, followed by breakfast up at Mackenzies Smokehouse. If you want to take part, then you’ll need to bring a £10 gift with you for the Secret Santa. If, however, you have a willy then you’re not welcome and will have to stay at home to watch the football, drink beer and play with power tools. Further details from Sarah Chalmers: scpyman@hotmail.com.
Awards Night: 28 January 2017
Now this is very exciting indeed. Judy has been busy printing tickets, Philippa and I have been working hard on the wine tasting, and Jon can’t wait to show you his new little black cocktail dress. He looks quite the picture. Tickets will be on sale soon, and will be going for the bargain price of £20. It’s a great chance to get dressed up, eat a rather good three course meal, have a boogie and listen to me talk a load of old baloney. If you’re down with the yoof, find out more on social media innit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1803174683282877/.
AGM: 16 February 2017
I know this uber-early, but I’d appreciate it if you might get this date in your diary. Go, that’s it, do it now.
You are welcome to stand for election for any post of the committee. If you think you could do a better job than Martin or Michelle, or maybe you think that you could show Dave a thing or two about treasuring, then this is your chance. Just because someone is willing to stand again doesn’t mean that you cannot stand. We do, however, have a couple of jobs going begging so do have a think about it. Philippa is standing down as a general member at the end of this year as she has a wedding to organise, and Judy is finally bowing out after 11 years as membership secretary. Thanks to them both for their work, it’s much appreciated. I’m also going to be checking out as Chairman, too, so this is your chance to get your hands on the keys to Nidd Valley House. More details on the AGM and how to stand to follow soon, but do have a think if you’d like to be involved and come and chat to me or any of the other committee members.
Song to the Wise
Now this is actually quite sweet. Dave and Rachael Prince brought their two boys Ollie and Alex to pizza after GF10, and Alex was as hyper as ever. So impressed was he with my new yellow and black bobble hat from Matt that he composed a song about it in the car on the way home. Rather touchingly, he penned his song when he got home and put it through my door the next day. With the author’s permission, it’s copied here in full complete with Alex’s own creative spelling…
“Sam the bumblebee, ran for Nid valeey and he was the chereman, they gave him a hat, it waz 20 qid, Sam the bumblebee x4. By the time he was in the second yere of cherema, that’s the end of story. by alex p”
If you too would like to write songs and poems about me, perhaps create a sculpture or a fine oil painting, then I won’t stop you.
Have a wonderful week whatever you do, and I’ll hopefully see you on Tuesday.
Sam x