Skype – Carshare has at last got this going, it works very well for keeping in touch with video calls, computer phone calls etc, and contacting people abroad. If anyone wishes to come onto Contacts, please send through. Or if you want to know about Skype – and it’s all free…

Kendal Winter League  Short, sharp AS races around Kendal and South Lakes. They start on Sunday 10th Jan, weather permitting. One family dominated the series last year, Mike and Hazel both winning, so a lot to live up to….

A message from Andy Jenkins:-“A black 3 year old labrador went missing on Kinder yesterday(Saturday 2 January) afternoon. Last seen near Crookstone Knoll. Called George and has a green collar. “
But all ends well:- “Just received news that George was located this morning! He had made his own way back to Hope, where the walk started on Saturday. Must have spent the last 3 days following his owners track scents all the way down from Kinder!”

Moz’s Birthday Race – more than 17 set off from the Nag’s Head on a severely shortened route. Tim Tett broke trail for everyone most of the way round but still had the energy to run off after the crossing back from Blackden. An excellent day out, worth a look at Richard’s photos.

Noonstone – Entry Form. limit of 500.

FRA Calendar. Whilst we await the calendar, to be posted 7th January, races through ‘til May are on the FRA Website.

Ireland 2010. “The first round of the Br Champ is on Saturday, 10 April over a new medium course round the Silent Valley reservoir, about 9.5 miles in length with 4900 feet of climb. The prize giving venue in Newcastle is as in previous years but maybe with a buffet meal to give more flexibility for when people eat.
On line entry forms and route descriptions will be on the web site sometime in January – the web site is being re-designed.”
DT – this will be a superb venue, almost like starting a race from Fairholmes and the reservoir. A shortish drive from Newcastle.

Giant’s Tooth – results. above Halifax. A guest appearance from Julie Gardner, clearly relishing these short races? and 2nd LV40. Snow, ice, everything, but everyone seems to have wobbled round safely.

Lamb’s Longer Leg Fell Race – Sunday 17th Jan; 11.00am.
“Since the Fell Calendar isn’t going to be out for a while please note that it is "Pre Entry Only" and definitely "No Entry on the Day". Form and Fee £3.00 to me at :  Brian Shelmerdine; 6 Salisbury Street;
Hadfield; Glossop SK13 1NP”

Wansfell –  results  Mike (5th and 1st V40), and also Matt, 11th.

Peak O Trial – “I must admit I found conditions very taxing around Mill Hill & Harry Hut, but Shane Lynch, Bill Hanley and Karen Davison had much less trouble and all took away prizes” – JD.

Chevin Chase. Around the woods of Otley Chevin. 7ml.  Snow lying, icy in places but could have been worse. The usual array of fairies, Santas, Batmen, but by far the most impressive was a fully decorated Christmas Tree – .  results. Nick Collier (54.14mins) made up our team of two, regret to say that we hardly troubled our triathletes, with Alastair winning, a minute ahead of his brother Jonathan.

Coley Canter. from the Leg 6 Calderdale Relay start in Shelf.  This starts with a mad dash down some lane, but it was an ice-covered skating rink. No way a race could be held on that, but as it had frozen hard overnight, too late to stop the locals from travelling, so enough of us had a cautious trot round the course anyway.

The Stoop – Video

2010 Championships. Almost time for New Year’s Resolutions, and no reason why we can’t have a real go with all teams at the English and British. The trick is to get all our best runners out at the same time, and have enough non-counters to push back the runners from other clubs.
This comes from Karen:-
“Ladies: We only need 3 counters for the 2010 English and British Championships and they can be different for each race so you don’t need to commit to all the races :  however you probably will need to think ahead as many of them are pre entry and will fill up fast. I may have persuaded Zanthe(?) to run in Ireland and possibly even Judith-however the more the merrier! The first race of the season is Noonstone at end of Feb which isn’t too far to travel and almost as boggy as Kinder so perfect for Dark Peakers!!
If anyone wants more details or wants to arrange carshares then e-mail or text.”

DT – there are 3 local English races, Noonstone (27th Feb). Holme Moss (18th July). Shelf Moor (5th Sept). Others are Coniston (1st May). Sedbergh 3 Peaks (26th June). Ennerdale (12th June).
British Races – Ireland (10th April). Sedbergh 3 Peaks (26th June). Dollar (31st July). Black Mts (25th Sept) .   FRA Calendar due early 2010.

Monday 28th December.
Bradfield Boundary Run.

Anything else happening?

Mandy’s Birthday Run:- Andy Moore sends:-“If anyone is around on Weds 23rd, there will be a run from the Sportsman at 10.30 am. It will be a very leisurely stroll through the woods, over Wyming Brook passed the Headstone to High Neb. Along to the Pole and the usual route home. Then for a couple of refreshers in the pub. In the evening, this will be followed by beer & curry in the Rising Sun & Panahar.
All welcome, but if anyone is coming for the curry, please let me know so I can confirm numbers.” e-mail.

Crookstone Crashout. – a very good set of photos…

The Stoop. – probably like Crookstone, not as bad as feared. Icy patches had a faint covering of snow to give enough grip, deep heathery snow off any track, hail sleet and driving snow at times, so loads of warm clothing and go careful. Health and Safety wouldn’t have approved, but enormous credit to Dave Woodhead, the race was always going ahead – even the children’s races. Prizes being given away to anybody in the pub afterwards, no wonder these races are respected. Rob Hope just ahead of Ian Holmes, then Andi Jones. Video to come…
  We regularly have complaints about litter, gel wrappers etc, but we now know about that pile of red clothing just before the actual Stoop. If any children are disappointed on Christmas Morning, unfortunately Santa is up on’t Bronte Moors looking for his trouser bottoms…(unofficial Captions again?)

Calderdale Relay. Has anyone else, besides Gavin, done all six Legs?  And I’m wondering who has done loads and loads of Calderdale Relays? (most certainly not me, I’m on a lowly total of thirteen..) Our Vets time this year, 6.24.48,  was a record for DP Vets, but Clayton Vets got round in 5:55:13 in 1991…     that’s going some. Winning team times  are on the relay website  within 1995 results.
     Mike Nolan – see Comments, has also done all 6 Legs. He’s listed the runners and times, and at present has the record of 6hrs 42mins. Anyone, from any club, join in this thread? The local regulars, Clayton, Todmorden, Calder Valley must be in the reckoning?

2009 FRA Video – mine has come, so working through it. Can be ordered on-line now, £15.

Calderdale Relay.    Above all, thanks to Team Captains for sorting it all out, and everyone involved in running… results and splits

Senior Men – 2nd, In trouble having to cope with Salford’s superb Leg4. Salford’s Leg 5 was also strong, so probably leaving too much for Matt and Rob on the final Leg. Coming 2nd to Salford is no mean thing.
  Vets –1st, (a clean sweep of Relays) must have been very close throughout, with the usual strength of Clayton. A slight gap at Wainstalls in 2nd place, similarly at Shelf, but Steve Bell and Graham Moffatt delivered the goods on that last leg. 12seconds ahead at the finish., so a bit close.
   Ladies – 3rd Ladies (45th overall)
  “B” Team – 52nd overall.
 Rivock Edge 1st V45 Presentation – contrary to expectations, this was held at Mytholmroyd. As Gavin wasn’t there, Carshare takes First Prize of a tin of chocolates, never to be seen again?
 Individual Coasters:- were given out at the start. For the “B” Team, Greg has those for Legs 3, 4, 5, 6.
                                    Vets Coasters – chasing up, they may well be with John Hunt….

Complaints Committee:- so I was wobbling up the last hill, told Willy that I had a packet of Jaffa Cakes waiting in the car, and we shifted for home. BUT – who is the culprit(s) responsible for stuffing themselves on those Jaffa Cakes? It seems that the Leg 4 runners need to own up, and you can quite happily name and shame the individual who made the executive decision to eat them – all.
Martin Stocks – can he be trusted? – denies all responsibility. “I agree. This was a shameless and selfish act.  The perpetrators of which
should hang their heads in shame.  I for one would not condone such wanton greed and lack of consideration.  All that I will say is that you need look no further than the ‘A’ team for the culprit who made an executive decision on behalf of us all.  And his initials were not ET…………
PS:  I actually prefer chocolate digestives for next time please………..”
  All is revealed by Jon Morgan:- “My humblest apologies for my heinous act of greed and utmost selfishness. As you can imagine none of the other 3 helped me eat the Jaffa cakes eat all, and I insisted on eating all 8, despite their extensive efforts to stop me. Indeed such was the kerfuffle that fisticuffs developed and we all have black eyes to show for it. I trust you have noticed the extensive collision damage that resulted to most of the panels of your car. So at the end of the day the guilty parties can clearly be named as Es, Martin and Ian. I have severely reprimanded them all, and asked Gavin to expel them from the club forthwith. I trust this token act can in some way compensate you for the unimaginable trauma incurred”

Lost Property:- is Gavin’s. Will anyone from Sheffield be at The Stoop this Sunday to pass them along? (the Crashout is far, far better, though.)

January 2010 Races . These are on the FRA Calendar.  , whilst we await our individual Calendars. Some might be worth the entry if it’s a regular – Tigger Tor, Kinder Trial, etc…. 
    Not on the FRA Calendar is “That’s Lyth”  , 31st January, a LDWA event from Kendal. Very much like the Grindleford Gallop. I did it last year, on Mike’s recommendation, and enjoyed it. 8am start, though. It will fill up….

   Wadsworth Tog 2010.  Entry Form  is 6th February. We all know it’s hard, but a good Long race to get in the legs….200 limit for full and half trog, so us regulars could do well to put the entry in…..
  Mickleden Straddle 2010. Entry Form.  the day after, 7th February.
  DPFR Margery Hill 2010. The same, packed weekend, 6th Feb. Also that weekend is the Graves Park Yorkshire Cross Country…

Unofficial Caption Competition – (no intention of interfering with DP News, etc). But this photo is a classic, if ever there was one. The race is last Sunday, Eskdale Eureka….
  Do we have any negligent White Van Men?
Mike Nolan starts off, and they’re good ones  – see Comments…..Also Mick Cochrane….

Tanky’s Trog.  Photos from Lewis of the stream crossing are here .

News from Ian:- “A tough today, lots of water, mud ,wind, hail. very soft under foot but at least there was no snow around.
All competitors returned safe and sound and sort of looking happy. plenty of muddy smiley faces.
From memory, Pennine was 1st and 2nd.
1st Adam Perry.
2nd Darren Holloway
Joint 3rd and both from Glossop – Mark Ollerenshaw, Julien Minshull 1st Vet
5th Matt Hulley
6th and second Vet Ian Winterburn
Dark Peak First team – Matt, Ian, Shane Lynch, Martin Stocks
Ladies
1st Karen Davidson (8th I think)
2nd and first lady Vet Nicky Spinks
3rd  Calder valley runner
Dark Peak First lady team – Karen, Nicky, Helen Elmore
I have a bottle of Bubbly for Shane if he gives me a bell.”

Gravy Pud  – results.
Dark and White MM – Hayfield.  results

Zugspitze Race:- This was a while back, and in deteriorating conditions two runners died during the race. The organiser was in court, and the verdict was acquittal. “Race organiser acquitted, with the prosecution finding that everything possible had been done to safeguard the runners involved. The prosecution further found that the key burden of responsibility in events of this type lies with the participants themselves.”

High Peak Marathon 2010 – Teams have been announced for the HPM 2010

A few people, including me, were a bit doubtful about the route we took last night. If you want to know where we went then here is the route as a gpx file, for Google Earth or your favourite mapping programme, and a picture of the route.

right click to save gpx