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Roger & Robyn's Stag & Hen Do    2007    

Saturday 23^rd June  

Report from Robyn

What an excellent weekend. Amiable weather, entertaining company and gruelling exercise washed down with a fair amount of Lakeland Ale.

The run up Wansfell in the morning was a good route and covered at a pleasant pace. Joe managed get separated from The Lovebirds, Brian and Eileen, to take in an alternative route - his silver shorts were sorely missed by me and my friend Judes felt let down after hearing so much about them!

JJ joined Barry, Simmy, Ann, Ed, Mary, Gordan, Deana, Rob, Pete, Nigel, John, Sarah, Ingrid, Marie, Linda and partners for a walk and enjoyed it, taking loads of photos with his newish camera - hopefully soon one day I can persuade him into investing in some walking boots and convince him to move to the quieter more peaceful north of the country.  

Once back at the YHA, we had a light lunch and a rest, setting off for the Gummers How race at 17h00. Suddenly, the 8 miles in the morning did not seem like such a good idea after all (Steve B's idea!)... It was however a better idea than Karen's, which saw her running around Fairfield Horseshoe with Bob, Chris and Matthew, then promptly getting seconded into the Horwich team, as they were a member down! Meanwhile, Mick Mack valiantly gave up his position with Holme Pierrepoint to John G.

My team of Pete and Jim rowed powerfully at the start to overtake Roger, Steve B and Gordon's boat, but then we hit Gummers How... and were overtaken again. It was a great race with the rowing and the downhill being especially fun, culminating with a beer and Roger been thrown into the lake (Karen's attempt to restrain me whilst summoning help to get me to the waters edge did not work -possibly as I am about 20 times bigger than her :) The race inspired my neighbour Carol and her boyfriend Lee to start running, so hopefully we'll see more of them on the fells as well.

Later in the pub, Simmy had everyone working away on a quiz with Mali , Ruth, Kath and Helen winning the grand prize of a jelly baby wrapped in foil. I think the rest of the jelly babies might have been given to Ann as a peace offering after deserting her at the end of the walk and slipping into a pub on the way back…he was OBVIOUSLY side tracked by dirty glasses that needed clearing up and was not in the least interested in their contents.

Helen and Kath made the evening that bit more special by supplying Roger and I with pink fluffy attire (in the form of headwear). Roger looked particulary fetching in his pink fluffy antenae - envied by Brian, who entertained us back at the Youth Hostel with his frantic exit, re-emerging with the antennae back to front - we are still speculating as to the reason, and think Helen, who was tucked up on the third floor, may have had something to do with it?

Trying  to spend as much time with JJ (my baby brother) as I could, as we don't see each other very often, we stayed up till 05h30 - counting how many fish were coming to the surface to feed. Lots. Not sure what they are, but Roy says they are char or chad or something, stranded inland during the glacial ages. Haven't quite worked out how they swam about the glacier yet, but I am sure there is a simple explanation. Back at the room, Helen and I chatted about the more serious issues of life for an hour, before I drifted off to sleep in the middle of a sentence. I am sure that if Brian had been sharing as he was supposed to, we would have stayed up even longer!

At 09h30, the walkers set off up Loughrigg, again led by Barry. Mali, Kath and Ruth (who have promised to come running on the Tuesday training sessions) followed them up a while later and the rest of us, ran up Loughrigg at 10h30 - feeling very heavy (except John G who looked way to spritely and did not complain of any ailments once!). Actually, Ash also looked too energetic and smiley when we met him at the trig point. Very suspicious. Pete managed to exorcise all ills (much to the rest of our discomfort) on the way up and looked much happier at the top of Loughrigg, where we were treated to patches of blue sky and stunning views in all directions. Thanks to Mick Mack who, despite desperately wanting to run of course, stayed behind at the YHA to ensure our luggage was safe. What a man. We could run because he didn't - thanks!

Back down, we all washed off in the lake, changed, joined Gordon and Deana in The Queens Hotel for some lunch and then set off back home.

Exhausted from JJ and my late vigil watching fish leap from the lake, I delegated the responsibility of keeping Roger awake whilst driving, to Jim - while I crashed out on the backseat of the car. We got back at about 16h00 and I went straight to bed.

Thanks to everyone for making it such a great weekend. It was great seeing Steve F and Isobel again - Steve running well despite his long absence.

Thanks especially to Gordon for a fantastic weekend. There is a strong consensus to get a few more entries into the Gummers How Race and make an annual Preston Harrier outing of it.

Pictures are fabulous & only a few of them have I entered. Apologies for disorganization.

Report re Gummer Howe Race                Karen Nash

The Alternative Stag and Hen Do!

We shopped in Ambleside first and Karen was made up to at long last find someone selling exactly the approach shoes she wanted and to have them in her size! Then it was off to the cricket club to park for Fairfield . We started slowly hoping those from the YHA would catch up- Ha, ha.

Having sat on Nab Scar summit for over 10 mins and still not spied any runners even in the distance we set off again. This time it was jog and walk all the way to Great Rigg. We scanned the skyline but it was empty so we carried on up to Fairfield . Too chilly to loiter long here. The descent was superb. It wasn’t fast but we had a great time. After changing we were then very last and drove back to Rydal Hall to have a cream tea!

We drove slowly down to Lakeside to find we were early but so was Ian Holmes. We stood having a nice chat about times we had been scared by swans.

Picture from JJ & all above from JJ. Below pictures from Bob Nash

Those in the individual race gradually appeared and went off for a practice row. Jo turned up and was to be the only individual lady. Then the Harriers started to arrive. They now had two teams and many spectators. In the end we were represented in 4 teams as John G raced for Holme Pierrepoint and I raced with Horwich. 

I am not sure who volunteered me but I can think of better ways of preparing than Fairfield and a cream tea. I also ended up with a fast team – Colin recently did 2hrs 30 for the marathon and was 3^rd at Freck half marathon last weekend. I slowed them down on the up hill but all three of us raced down well. The rowing – well, we need some practice there. Still it was enjoyable and they were good company.

After the prize giving Roger was thrown in the lake. Keen that Robyn did not escape I attempted to capture her. I now know why they say pick on someone your own size (not someone bigger). She smartly hoisted me up and flipped me over – I don’t know what I have done but I cannot raise my arm above horizontal, breathe deeply or touch my right ribs!

Sadly we then had to drive home due to parenting duties.

Karen Nash

Karen thanks for your report, but please have no fear of swans.........Blogger recalls a holiday on the Thames in a cabin cruiser with Austin (Joe Howard's brother), over 35 years ago. About two days out from Chertsey, the boat broke down & the hire company came & towed us back for repair. By way of an apology the owner showed us how to catch a swan, an exercise I have often repeated to the delight of my kids! The owner told us that he & his friends used to catch them during the war for food and said that they tasted rather like steak! I imagine that living south of Watford as he did, he was probably a good friend of the Queen and did it with her full approval. Of course it is not compulsory to eat the swan, you could do as T Rex did & ride it.

To which Karen has already responded thus:-

I'll get you to show me how to wrestle a swan sometime but not until my ribs mend from wrestling a Robyn!

Blogger's report of the weekend

So that we would be in plenty of time for Catherine to look her best for Saturday night, we arrived on Friday! We remembered the caravan keys and encountered only minor problems. Joe & Marie came in their VW Camper, & together our full entourage went to the Outgate Inn for a beer or two, in fact the ladies had a bottle of wine or two.............. The pub is well known for Friday night jazz. It was well worth the visit. The staff, the landlord, the beer (Robinsons), the food & the music were all brilliant. All in all we prepared ourselves very well for the Saturday Session.

Saturday came & Joe went off with the runners. We remaining three decided on a long walk, rather than the pre arranged short one. We did most of the Great & Little Langdale Valleys, including a fair amount of the Cumbria Way. We also took in several pubs including lunch at The Brittania at Elterwater.

Saturday night was a great success, so many people, such good fun............. ah yes I remember it well. I regret forgetting my camera to record the evening. I am grateful to Brian & Eileen for finding my mobile & recovering it for me, to Simmy for keeping me in check, to the taxi driver for his support, to Joe & Marie for their help, to Robyn & Roger for the invite, to my one true love for everything, & to Catherine for her enduring patient disposition.

Presentation at Tillotsons Tuesday 26th June 2007

John Griffiths gave an eloquent & non too lengthy address before presenting Roger & Robyn with a  signed by all greeting card. Eileen was equally eloquent when presenting the mystery box, with unknown exciting contents. Robyn gave a moving & gracefully fluent reply on behalf of the betrothed couple. Though brief, it touched all of our hearts ( & pockets), and reduced not only me to tears. Gordon was thanked for his wonderful planning skills with reference to the great weekend from which we were all still recovering. When the mystery box was opened, amongst the main ingredient a quantity of confetti was found. Robyn threw some of this over my balding head explaining that it ought to help with my fertility. Mick Mack entertained us with a few robust jokes. On a different topic we were all pleased with Simmy for ordering the butties from the new landlord, who seems to be continuing in the grand tradition of the previous landlord, Ubertas pro Parum (Plenty for little).

Celebrations almost over. Simmy coppers up in order to pay for the food. Parum tamen non ut parum. (Little but not that little). Maybe that's what Robyn meant re the confetti.

Two additional pictures came from Pete McDermott on the Sunday walk up Loughrigg. (While Joe & me could have been seen waiting outside Lakeland Plastics).

More pictures from Carol below

Not that way, says Robyn                        What's that vest John's wearing? He looks ashamed!

Roger practising his swimming                        John is ashamed!

Is Gordon seasick?                                          At last the race is on!

Robyn prepares the boat.

At Ambleside we had a whip round for the happy couple. After the wedding this note came from them...........

Roger's & Robyn's Wedding Pictures

Back to Social & Fun

Lots of fell runners break away from their original running clubs, mainly because they have no interest in track & field, fell running being their main interest. The fell running section of our club decided to have their own website, probably for the same reason. Now a V70, George Arnold is our oldest active fell runner. There are a few more of us close behind! One of our top female road runners, whilst marshalling recently at Chipping Show Fell Race commented on just how friendly fell runners are.