Birthday Special. Three Cheers for the Chairman

With our esteemed mens captain laid low by the demon drink, ‘IT problems’, the job of collating this weeks GDH based shenanigans has fallen to me once more.

First order of business has to be Chairman Johns birthday, as fantastic a night of food, drink and dancing as anyone could wish for. Ben provided a stunning venue, Bec and Ali created the look and Lynne marshalled the GDH/GBBO into a vast array of food provision. The Hunks banded together to get John a bottle of 21 year old Jura and Tim rallied the troops into frontal assault on 210 pints of Howardtowns finest.

Those abed on Saturday night shall think themselves accursed that they were not with us on this Chairman Johns Birthday.

Crowden Horseshoe

Sunday morning saw a few sober-ish folk cross the valley for this local classic, the sensible ones chose to support, some fools brought their running shoes. Sensible Lizzie ‘Braveheart’ Leason led the GDH home (having cycled over like a pro), followed by a green looking Rich ‘Hulk’ White trying not to fall in the many ditches and Mary ‘Sideways’ Jeal who won her category despite not being able to run in a straight line.

Parkrun Corner

Bumped up this week to celebrate not just another PB but the 10^th in 18 months, a seven minute improvement and capped off with a first lady back at Glossop on Saturday. Ezme B well done for dipping in under 22, hard work pays off and a massive chapeau from all in the club.

Also at Glossop we learned that you should never upset a Swan(n) as they can’t half shift, this time it was Caitlin scorching the trail in a cracking new PB and second lady time of 23:22. Great to see the youth wing going from strength to strength. Yes folks they have a combined age of less than 30, pass the wine.

In more PB hunting news both John ‘The Colour of Money’  Stephenson and Obi ‘A New Hope’ Wan headed to the speed circuit of South Manchester and returned resplendent with bounty and seasons bests.

Isle of Wight Half

The GDH/IOW exchange programme is still in full flow with Will ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ Mather being dispatched south. He’s claiming a PB but hasn’t received a pigeon with official results yet so we’ll have to trust him and say top running. EDIT: 63^rd in 1:36 a 2 min PB, tidy.

Sale Sizzlers

In the ongoing south manc bbq racing series Tony ‘Edwin Drood’ Hillier got his sausages done in 22:20 whilst Nick ‘The Fugitive’ Ham got them Cajun burgers on the pass in 22:34. Top grilling.

The Ultra Cave

A new feature for the weird and wonderful members of the club that don’t get out of bed for less than 26.2. In the cave, next to the spiders and Guys socks, we have Phil Clinton and Sue Clapham who completed the Dip Deep 60 Ultra Tour de Peak District (even the names go on). Phil was on baby brother minding duty and Sue went ‘ridiculously fast’. No times yet but just finishing is cracking enough.

If you spot anyone who should be in the Ultra Cave then please inform the relevant authorities, the cave is very nice and Nick has a new light for it.

Other Fluff

Paul ‘Flight of the Navigator’ Skuse and Obi ‘The Force Awakens’ Wan have set off on a 15 Trigs adventure, if anyone wants to come out to support on the return leg tomorrow check the FB for a schedule and any existing plans.

Also a shout out for the GDH 11km Challenge which is still active, simple rules, run the route whenever and load up to Strava. Current leaders are Kirsty ‘The Mighty Ducks’ Johnson and Steve ‘The Hangover’ Crossman, but even if you don’t challenge the top you can still challenge yourself as its best time by 31^st Oct that counts.

Meanwhile on Cock Hill a deep trod is still being worn in by Darren ‘Groundhog Day’ Clarke, that’s 214 visits to the summit so far and still going strong. Join him if you can catch him.