Late Great Summer

In the Isle of Man, we have been blessed with some fantastic weather in September and October.

Two weeks ago, Irene & I were having lunch at Niarbyl Cafe, Dalby when we noticed that a gentleman sat out at the front was becoming quite animated. He had spotted a minke whale (see picture) which was swimming perhaps half a mile out to sea.

It was the first that we'd ever seen and then just to put the icing on the cake, there was a basking shark considerably closer to the shore. Whilst that isn't unusual in itself, I don't think I've ever been witness to one so late in the year, as they aren't often sighted after August.


Sunday 10th October was another wonderful Autumn day and saw the annual Welbeck Hotel & Restaurant One Hour Challenge on the perimeter track of the National Sports Centre.

A record turnout of over seventy athletes of varying ages walked to see how far they could travel in an hour or half an hour and prizes were awarded to the three best men and women novices.

Parish Walk winner, Jock Waddington achieved the farthest distance with 11,287m, followed by Richard Gerrard and u15 National and Schools Champion, Alex Eaton with an excellent 10,535m. Alex's first ever racewalk was at the 2009 event, so his progress has been exceptional but it shows the potential that this fixture can unleash.

For full results and photographs, see http://www.manxathletics.com/manxharriers/MHonehourchallenge2010.htm


Picture by Mike Quayle

http://www.msportspix.com/