DARK PEAK NEWS - Dark Peak Fell Runners

Dark Peak News October 2007 page 27The Royal Dungworth, Sat September 29thAutumn is officially here. DPFR’s joyful ritual celebration of mellow fruitfulness waswell attended, (with numbers back to usual levels, thanks to grass-roots resistance torenewed 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 secondtime, (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 ofHallamshire.The Moose Head went to the first ladies team of Pat and Mandy from Totley AC, anaward greeted with much vociferous approbationControversy surrounds the disqualification of Andy Howie and Ann Watmore. The rolein 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 inthe joint custody of Andy and Ann, thus bringing further distinction to the RucksackClub.Andy’s disqualification left the field open to cagey old Phil Wheatcroft to snatch themantle for 2007 as club champion of Knott Fell Runners, (The Royal Dungworth havingbeen since time immemorial their championship event).At the debriefing the matter was raised of placings in the Loxley Valley RoughRunning Series, (of which The Royal Dungworth is the culmination). It remains unclearwhose hands will be on the grotesque neo-fascist Brugarolas Cup this year, but TimRay’s name was mentioned by those in the know, (John Gunnee). Watch the website fora 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 carparkgates for us, John Edwards who supplied punctilious assistance in marking thecourse, the kind man who strims the footpaths for Bradfield Parish Council and, last butnot least, David Sanderson of Woodside Farm who continues to allow us to invade hisprivacy 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 YatesWe’ve ended up with an awkward space at the bottom of this page, sohere, by way of filler material, is a picture of John Keats. If you’d liketo sink deeper into his season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, followthis link:http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/313050.htmlEd