Tuesday 18 October 2011

We Battle The Dreaded Lhergy - Cripperty That Is


Blog followers of an astute nature may have noticed that I do a fair bit of walking, mainly for competition but also recreationally.

However, I am currently on my annual training break, so having discovered last Christmas that with my advancing years (46th birthday the other week) that I am no longer immune to gaining weight, alternatives are being sought to ensure that when I return to full activity, I needn't spend too much effort shedding the pounds.

My daily cooked breakfast was the first casualty but now I'm also trying only to use the car when absolutely necessary.

The first action to be undertaken was to rescue my bicycle and Terence's from the darkest recesses of our little shed where they both lay untended and uncared for with flat tyres.

That's my major problem with cycling: I hate maintenance and something as serious as a puncture usually just means the end. Customarily, it's can't fix, won't fix but on this occasion, drastic measures were called for and between the two of us (unfortunately no.2 son is a chip off the old block,) we eventually got fully inflated and ready for action.

A week last Monday after school, we headed off along the Heritage Track ( The old railway line to Peel) and up the Lhergy Cripperty. I wasn't certain how my lad would cope with such a climb having had a month off sport with a back injury but as he disappeared off into the distance, it was Dad (wrote Ded, now that's a Freudian slip if there ever was one) who was left wondering whether the bloody hill would ever end!

And so after approximately 20 minutes, we arrived at Chibannagh Plantation, for my first ever proper attempt at mountain biking. It was a good job that we were the only riders up there because as I crept down the slopes, I had visions of six year old children whizzing past me.

Still, it was great fun and by the time we arrived home, we were both black with mud from head to toe!

This ageing thing isn't much fun and over the past year or so, Terence has walloped his old fella at surfing, swimming, running and now cycling but a couple of nights later, I did discover that I can still beat him at squash.

Life in the old dog yet!

Anyway, throughout the winter there's still lots of activities that you can get up to both indoor and outdoor, organised or just for fun and apart from a couple of weeks over Christmas, we're open all year round.

Monday 10 October 2011

Welbeck Hotel & Restaurant One Hour Challenge

Sporting event sponsorship continued Sunday 9th October with the seventh time that we have supported the 'One Hour Challenge' which is a novice race walk which Manx Harriers use to try and draw new people into taking up the discipline.

Indeed, it is only two years ago that Alex Eaton competed in it, his first ever event and now he is a twice English Schools winner and UK national champion and at 15 years of age led the field covering 11,636m in the sixty minutes.

Alex Eaton & Sally Walker
However, Michelle Turner was the 'Novice' winner maintaining a very stylish technique, a great credit to herself and coach, Steve Partington whose training sessions (Monday 1800 outside Ramsey Swimming Pool) are yielding some fine technicians. It would be even better to see some more juniors attend in the North or at the N.S.C.* where Elizabeth Corran runs junior coaching at 1700 on the same evening. *Track fees apply

The leading male was Noel Ash and it was great to see a total field of 40+ taking part.

The 'Experts' class was a very exciting race with the younger man & Peter Kaneen swapping the lead a few times. Eventually, youth prevailed as Alex pulled away over the final third.

Michelle Turner & Alex Ash with 2005 winner, me ;-)
Jock Waddington was able to overhaul Adam Cowin for third, the latter man struggling to hold his brisk early pace.

Three women were able to pass the 10,000m with the appropriately named, Sally Walker leading the way, 93m and 102m metres ahead of Sue Moore & Marie Jackson respectively. With Sue returning from almost a year out because of injury, Marie not quite at her best and the rapid improvement of Northern Athletic Club's Michelle Turner, the coming Winter Walking League promises great interest.

It was also excellent to see 15 junior athletes there, so lets hope it bodes well for the future.

Saturday 8 October 2011

Welbeck Hotel Newsagents Golf Society Golf Day

Winner Chris Wolfendale

Yesterday 27 hardy souls braved the cold north westerly wind and showers to play in the competiton we sponsored at Castletown Golf Course.

My dad's old chum, Roberts Saunders, a regular Sunday Lunch visitor suggested that it would be a great idea for us to support their event, so pictured are the prizewinners, though unnfortunately, third place, Peter Holt was unable to join us for the presentation at the Welbeck.


2nd Place:Keith Barnard