Dovedale Dash 2008

In the twenty years that we have been organising the Dash, this year’s event rated about three or four out of ten from the organiser’s point of view. I hope it was much better for the runners - the rainbow over Thorpe Cloud was a hopeful omen. Running conditions were slower than some years, and the winners were a couple of minutes behind the record times. The water of the Stepping Stones was deep, the wind was chilly and problems of parking meant that the start was nearly 20 minutes late. Because the loudspeaker van was parked a little too far up wind of the start line it took three attempts before the runners would actually start. The usual stalwarts contended for the main prizes and there were a few new faces among the younger prize winners. Reporters from the Ashbourne News Telegraph, the Derby Evening Telegraph and Derbyshire Life were there, so there will be plenty of pictures and reports of the race in these papers.

There had been heavy rain on the previous Sunday and the shower on Saturday night didn’t improve things. Some cars coming up the track on the Pastures were skidding at the top just before the turn off to run downhill to park. This slowed up the whole business. Skidding four-wheel drive SUVs were the worst because they are so heavy to push!

As well as sodden Pastures, the wind was another unfriendly feature of the day. The tent just about stayed up overnight but some of the seams came apart and will have to be re-sewn. Anyone good with a needle? Hopefully the insurance does seem to cover this setback.

Roger and Graham Woolley provided refreshments as they have done for many years. Heating enough water up on the Pastures to make tea for so many runners has become a problem now that health and safety restrictions prevent gas boilers being used. We hired Rob White’s tractor mounted generator, but Roger’s tractor gave up the ghost on Sunday morning. Barry Frith stepped in with his tractor and tea was eventually on the boil in three large tea urns. Roger, generous as always, donated all his profits to the Dash funds.

There were a few other problems. Bob Evans’ Land Rover broke down at Ilam, but got towed back to get his standby vehicle. The radio microphone for the PA system didn’t work so Bob Hudson couldn’t roam about the field giving his entertaining commentary.

Despite the problems of wind, rain and breakdowns, the runners started off in good spirits and returned remarkably quickly despite the muddy conditions. The chef from the Izaak Walton Hotel presented the prizes and then we laboured to help Peter Griffiths and his team of car parking marshals to push competitors’ cars out of the mud. For some reason, St John Ambulance took their 4WD down Lindale, chose a poor route back up the dale and had to be pulled out of the mud by Stephen Frith with the tractor. The tent took much longer than usual to get down and we felt very lucky not to have been blown away like a giant kite. Will and Sue Smith litter picked in the rain while we put tables and chairs back in the Village Hall for Gill Frith to sort out later.

Another year, another Dash over. Please make a note in your diaries that next year’s Dash will be on 1^st November 2009, and remember that when booking holidays. Help is always appreciated with the Dash and it is heartening to see how quickly things get sorted out when there are plenty of willing hands.

The profit on the race was £3343, slightly down on last year, mainly due to there being fewer parked cars. The Peveril invited a considerable number on to the hotel car park, which relieved the pressure on the Pastures and cleared the queue of cars from the Peveril hill. This was the main reason for the delayed start, as race officials could see the queue from the top of the field.

£120 has already been given to Tissington Pre-School towards a new Wendy House. Requests for contributions are also expected from Ilam and Fenny Bentley schools. Funding for Thorpe village hall is expected, especially as Bob Evans is still doing battle with the electricity supplier, and a quote has been requested for replacing the roofing felt on the flat roof at the back of the hall with butyl. £200 will go as usual to the organisers of the Thorpe children’s party to help entertain the village children at Christmas.

Cyril Challinor, Bob Evans, Andrew and Barbara Wager have been organising the Dash for twenty years. Peter Griffiths joined us and does a grand job organising the parking, and Chris Wainwright is also on the committee, but some more young blood would be welcome. Any volunteers?

Author: Andrew Wager - Last changed Monday November 08, 2010 10:02