(TLDR. Our Tuesday intervals are at 6pm and 7pm and are at the double loop on Coppice Drive and Springfield Avenue. Our Thursdy run takes us round the supermarkets, and we have PECO #3 at Middleton Park on Sunday. Read on for up and coming events, the Awards Night, and the ever-exciting Christmas committee meeting…).
Evening my lovelies,
I hope that everyone managed to stay warm and dry this weekend. We’ve been reviewing the worst of the flood damage here at Nidd Valley House. Sylvia is on the phone to the insurers and looks a bit worried, which is rarely a good sign. We’ve had a leak in the roof above the main gallery, although luckily the fine antique oil paintings were unscathed. Thank goodness that Dave had the sense to bring some of the ornamental furniture to the upper floors, as the sandbags weren’t able to hold back all of the water. The gardens are absolutely waterlogged, as you’d expect, meaning that Nick and Jonathan are in a right old grump because they’ll be on wet break for the foreseeable. We’ve got workmen traipsing mud and water all over the place, and I can’t begin to imagine how long it will take to get this place back into a half decent state. Still (and don’t tell anyone this, will you?), we’ve fared a lot better than the folks down at Knaresborough Striders. Striders Caravan was almost washed away in the floods, and now we have a load of Striders all huddled round in the kitchen, blankets draped over their shoulders and clutching mugs of hot chocolate. I mean I’m all for being a good neighbour and everything, but we cannot go on like this. Anyway, I’ll leave you with the results while I go and see to them. This kettle won’t boil itself.
Results from the Week That Was
Due the storm very much raining on the athletic parade and race organisers cancelling races and battening down the hatches, there are no race results for you other than the parkrun write up. Makes for a dull weekend, perhaps, but it does make for a shorter write up and one must be grateful for these small mercies. Anyway, to the parkrun write up. Adam Kirk was the fifth finisher at Roundhay Park, Martin Luxton was on his usual stomping ground of Sedgefield, and Matt Wilkinson headed over to York to do his laps at Heslington. Phil Robinson and Kev Nicholas donned their green tights (*vom) and headed to Hull to do the Peter Pan Parkrun. Goodness only knows why anyone would willingly go to Hull, and we might do well to ask the same question of Chris Carvey who did his parkrun at Flatts Lane in Middlesbrough.
Andy Todd decided he’d do his soggy miles at Millfield Parkrun in Easingwold, whereas we sent Jess Harby, Anna Bulcock, Hannah Kempson and Louise Kingston as our delegation to Robert’s Park in Saltaire. Emma David gets the MallettMap marker this week, taking a break from the Christmas markets and mulled wine in Warsaw to complete the Pole Mokotowskie Parkrun. I assume that hubby Mark also did the parkrun, but he’s not the sort to plaster his achievements over the socials. Very much a light under the bushel kind of chap.
With Fountains closed due to the storm, the two remaining local parkruns were Harrogate and Conyngham Hall, and we had plenty of Nidds braving the elements for their weekly running constitutional, and you can see all of the results here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
I see my light come shinin’ / from the west down to the east / any day now, any day now / I shall be released: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
Our Tuesday intervals (oh come on, it’s a Tuesday! You weren’t honestly expecting something else were you?) we are doing the double loop at Coppice Drive and Springfield Avenue. We’ve got sessions at both 6pm and 7pm, meeting at the corner of Kings Road and Coppice Drive (///jazz.noble.corner), which is opposite the council offices. My notes tell me that Sarah S and Darren T team up to lead the 6pm session while Brian H and Martin L will be leading the 7pm session, so you’re in the safest possible hands whichever session you choose.
On Thursday, I think it’s about high time that we take ourselves off for a bit of supermarket shopping. You know the route by now, and it’s an absolute cracker. Meet a the Hockey Club and be good to bounce for 7pm. We head down the path by the railway line towards ASDA, passing the bus station on the way up past Waitrose. Once there, you can head back along York Place to the club if you want a really short run. The main route, however, takes you round the Stray to Oatlands Drive and to the Sainsburys via the Showground. You can extend this route by going via Leeds Road M&S and then picking up the Showground from Hookstone Drive. Once at Sainsbury’s, you can return straight up Wetherby Road to the club, or pass via Morrison’s and back up through Starbeck. Whatever you chose, all routes lead back to the Hockey Club Bar, where a refreshing beverage and quality banter awaits. Why not join in the fun?
The third counter in the PECO series raises its ugly head on Sunday, and this time we’re heading down to Middleton Park. There are the junior races from 10am, and then the senior race will get going at 11am. The race is described as “approximately” 4.6 miles long, although whether the word “approximately” is doing as much heavy lifting as it did at Pontefract remains to be seen. Parking and basecamp is all the John Charles Centre for Sport, and the postcode for your satnav is LS11 5DJ.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
On Thursday 19th December 2024, the Nidd Valley Choral Society will be presenting their world famous carol concert. In other words, it’s time for our Christmas run around town and the opportunity to blast out festive bangers and clangers is several different keys. I think I can honestly say that I have never felt as embarrassed as I did last year. I mean, I genuinely clench my buttocks as I cringe with embarrassment just thinking about it. Afterwards, we’ll be heading to the Old Bell in town for a pint (you’ll need one, trust me). Phil Ventress has kindly organised hot turkey sandwiches for us, and if you want in on this bit of festive action, then please deposit £7 in the club account (40-23-12 12074796) and let both Phil Ventress and Sylvia Morten know.
Committee Meeting: Wednesday 11th December 2024
We have our Christmas committee meeting on Wednesday night, and as usual we are meeting at Sylvia’s. Without a doubt, this is the best committee meeting of the year, as we have mulled wine, mince pies, stollen, and other festive delights piled high on the table. I won’t lie to you, Sylvia does a banging spread and is basically the very living embodiment of the wholesome Dickensian Christmas of yesteryear. And that’s before we even get to the after-party. If there is anything that you would like us to consider amidst our revelries or to discuss with our mouths full, then please do let me know: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
Awards Night: Saturday 25th January 2025
Talking of a good spread, don’t forget that we have our Awards Night in January. We’re finalising the award winners this week and – you never know – you might be in with a chance of a prize. But even if you don’t win anything, it’s a great chance to get glammed up and spend a night celebrating being a part of the finest running club on Planet Earth. Plenty of food, drink, dancing, and the unfortunate chance to hear me waffle on for ten minutes. If you’ve asked to be seated with someone in particular, and they haven’t yet reserved a place then please do give them a nudge. Partners are welcome, but remember that they’ll also need to book a place for themselves. It’ll be a night to remember: https://tinyurl.com/4ztnctpw
Word to the Wise
Nothing for you this week, I’m afraid, so we shall leave it there.
Have a great week. I’m away from Nidd Valley House now for a few days. Dazzler is in charge and there’s plenty of food in the fridge. Remember not to answer the door to any strangers.
Chairman Sam x