Organiser’s Report

Autumn is officially here. DPFR’s joyful ritual celebration of mellow fruitfulness was well attended (with numbers back to usual levels, thanks to grass-roots resistance to renewed attempts to airbrush our race out of history). We had a good mix of star turns, newcomers and old stagers (including the harmer/berry double act of former winners), with a welcome leavening of participants from far afield, upholding the established ‘international’ flavour of the event.
Well done to Tom Webb who took the coveted Granville Harper trophy for the second time (previously claiming it in 2005 in a memorable dead-heat with Rob Smith), holding off strong contention from Darren, Mick, Gavin and dark horse John Slate of Hallamshire.
The Moose Head went to the first ladies team of Pat and Mandy from Totley AC, an award which met with much vociferous approbation
Controversy surrounds the disqualification of Andy Howie and Ann Watmore. The role in this scandal of Chris Barber, marshalling at Ughill, will be investigated by officials. Without prejudice to their formal report, Hiro’s Fan (gross simulacrum of) is now in the joint custody of Andy and Ann, thus bringing further distinction to the Rucksack Club.
Andy’s disqualification left the field open to cagey old Phil Wheatcroft to snatch the mantle for 2007 as club champion of Knott Fell Runners (The Royal Dungworth having been since time immemorial their championship event).
At the debriefing the matter was raised of placings in the Loxley Valley rough running series (of which The Royal Dungworth is the culmination). No clarification was obtained about whose hands will be on the grotesque neo-fascist Brugarolas cup this year, but Tim Ray’s name was mentioned by those in the know (John Gunnee). Watch the webpage for a formal announcement.
Grateful thanks to all at The Royal Hotel for providing us with such warm hospitality, fine beer and glorious pie. Also to be thanked are Arthur Bright who opens the car-park gates for us, John Edwards who supplied punctilious assistance in marking the course, the kind man who strims the footpaths for Bradfield Parish Council and, last but not least, David Sanderson of Woodside Farm who continues to allow us to invade his privacy and trample his fields all the way up to Jones’s Corner.

Date for next year (a premptive strike against the would-be saboteurs): Saturday, September 27, at the usual time of 11am.

Alan Yates

34 starters