Sitting here today I thought I would have a challenge in remembering what happened at last years Peak Run, but as soon as I put pen to paper the memories came flooding back. So much so that I had to keep stopping to have a chuckle to myself.
In 2010 we moved to a new campsite with a large function room, bar, café and more showers etc. on site which we hoped would make both the organisation easier and the enjoyment greater. We had no idea exactly by how much the new campsite would be improve things but it was beyond our expectations.
The new campsite also gave us the opportunity to start the weekend earlier and finish later which meant that you could arrive at lunch time on the Thursday and leave at lunchtime on the Monday making a long weekend break.
A small group of us started to set up the campsite on the Thursday and welcomed several early arrivals. By the end of the day we had 13 tents pitched and classic cars polished ready for the weekend. We had not planned anything specific for the Thursday and most decided just to relax, catch up on the gossip, and enjoy a quiet drink or two.
Friday morning dawned. It was beautiful, blue skies, baking sun and the temperature soon began to rise. The morning was quiet so we took the opportunity to pick up a few last minute items whilst the campers either explored Derbyshire or just walked across the fields to the pub. After lunch more campers arrived and our exclusive area of the camping field was filling up fast. Panic started to set in as we had over 30 campers plus 8 caravans pre-booked and more were turning up on the day. It was a very tight squeeze but we made it (It’s a good job we are all friends). Buoy was it HOT!!!
Friday night is the official start of the weekend with our welcome night activities. This year we chose to follow the format of the Derwent Valley Bowl and TSSC areas battled against each other playing traditional pub games such as shove penny and bar skittles. As the weather was fantastic we even set up the throwing games outside in the function room garden. It was brilliant and the air was filled with laugher, cheering, jeering, and much mickey taking.
Saturday morning arrived and the sun was burning through the canvas roasting the occupants. When other Peak runners who were staying in local hotels joined us at the campsite (in the shade of the marquee) Ian and Richard M gathered everyone together to start the day’s activities. We had several on offer, the main event was a Scatter Rally fiendishly planned by Ian. You were given clues at to local points of interest; you had to plot them on the map and the drive there. To prove that you had done this we required photographic evidence. The Hadfield’s went completely over the top taking hundreds of photographs of anything that they thought would gain them bonus points – get a life you were only competing for a box of choc’s.
If you did not fancy that Kim and Paul had planned a Treasure Hunt which explored the historic Derbyshire town of Ashbourne. This too was very popular and allowed the younger members to dump their parents and do their own thing.
Once everyone had left the campsite Ian, Roger both Richards and myself rehearsed the silly games we had planned for Saturday night…more on that later.
Things on the campsite were not quiet as we ‘shoehorned’ in the late arrivals and repaired cars. Then without warning a mass water fight broke out – every man for themselves. Weapons included super soakers, squeeze bottles and of course the daddy of them all – THE BUCKET.
One of the mechanical casualties was Christopher Hartley’s yellow Spitfire which after six ‘Triumph experts’ gave advice and two set about jacking the car up discovered that the rear brake linings had separated from the shoes.
It was 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon and we rang every car spares shop we knew but none could help us. Then our saviour appeared in the form of Nigel Hill who drove over an hour each way to fetch a spare pair of brake shoes he had at home as well as several other much needed parts for other cars.
Nigel you are a true Gentleman – Thank you.
It was Saturday night and the function room started fill. Warm up games such as Heads and Tails were played whilst we selected the victims for the main event (sorry did I say victims I meant competitors). These were then split into two teams representing each side of the room. Jonathan from Northants and Pete from Manchester were appointed team captains and their first duty was to decide the team names by the toss of a coin. Jonathan’s team was England and Pete’s team was Germany. Instantly upon this announcement flags and team T shirts appeared and distributed to the teams.
Despite claims to the contrary we did not fix it that Manchester was Germany…honest. It would have been pure brilliance on our part if we had because Pete was guttered to be German as he is a true Englishman and proud of it. He insisted on singing the National Anthem every time it was played whilst wearing his German T shirt.
England could not face Germany without team mangers and with great ceremony these were introduced to the teams. For England we had Flight Lt. Roger-Roger Over-Handout dressed in his RAF uniform (Roger Buck). For Germany we had…Heir Flick from ‘Hello Hello’ complete with long leather coat, hat and walking stick (Ian Stevens).
The teams went head to head for six challenges using a different member of the team for each challenge. Basically they had to race down the room with a English or German flag, place it on the sun bed, and race back. The twist was that the first one back had to answer a question. If they got it right a GOAL was awarded to them, if they got it wrong a GOAL was awarded to the other team.
We believe in fair play and sportsmanship at Derwent Valley and so Richard M was our referee. His main role was to ensure that the game ended in a draw which he did by making some of the worst refereeing decisions ever seen. It was funny seeing grown men being so serious and arguing with him, especially when you consider that the prize was a toy plastic medal.
The games for example, we had a skateboard race, a scooter race, and a twirly rope race. These sound simple but you’re forgetting we are Derwent Valley and there’s always a twist. The funniest for me was the Skateboard race. Darren (England) from Notts was up against Pete (Germany) from Mersey Wheels. They had to sit on the skateboard with a rope tied around their waist. All they had to do was push themselves along to the sun bed, place the flag, and be pulled back to the finish by the rest of the team – simple? Unbeknown to them the audience had been armed with Silly String. Whole cans were dumped on them in seconds as they made their way slowly down the course – they were covered.
At the end of each race a Victory song was play and sung along to and the losers had to pay a forfeit. They had to smash an egg on their forehead. Was the egg raw or hard boiled? Who knew? There’s only one way to find out. What a mess.
Surprise, surprise it ended in a draw and had to go to penalties. The teams including the team mangers went head to head by blowing up balloons until they burst. England was the eventual winner. Fixed I hear you say – of course it was.
At the end of the game shirts were exchanged – no sorry, weren’t exchanged, no one wanted a German shirt but it was great to see the England shirts made by Janine worn on the Sunday.
The Peak Run
Sunday morning, the day of the 22nd Peak Run. Half the campers were focused on another England v Germany match. Fortunately we were ahead of the game and had organised the option of returning back to the campsite to watch 22 men kick a leather object around for 90 minutes on the big screen.
The sun shone, it looked as it was going to be another scorching hot day. Cars arrived thick and fast at Belper Market Place and Richard W was rushed of his feet with additional entries on the day. The breakfast cobs and coffee were popular and the local car spares shop, Romac, had opened early for those odd items such as wiper blades to be purchased.
At 9:45 Ian gathered everyone around for the drivers briefing, the cars were arranged for a quick photo shoot, the Town Mayor dropped the flag and we were off to the sound of the Town Criers Bell.
I have been actively involved in the organisation of the peak Run for 7 years but had never actually completed the run itself. So it was decided by the rest of the team that in recognition I should lead the cars off from Belper followed by several Stags as it was also the it’s 40th anniversary.
I managed to hold the lead for about 10 miles or so before missing a turning and the role of lead was passed to Jonathan. In fact over the next 15 miles the lead changed 4 times. The route took us west towards Carsington, we travelled through some of Derbyshire’s most beautiful countryside which was back dropped by blue skies and white fluffy clouds.
We ran north parallel to the Derwent Valley on a gated road until we reached Earl Sterndale where we crossed over eastwards almost reaching Chesterfield before heading south towards Matlock.
Skirting around the back of Matlock we dropped down onto the A6 at Cromford and entered Matlock Bath where we were greeted by the sight of the marshals who directed us into the Derwent Gardens right along side the River Derwent.
Upon arrival we took the opportunity to walk through the spa town and grab some delicious fish and chips. Back at the gardens the cars were a fantastic display and members of the public milled amongst the cars with great interest.
Eventually a few cars started to drift away back to the campsite to watch the football. I am pleased to say that over half decided to stay and enjoy the rest of the day’s activities (I know an awful lot now wish they had stayed too).
In true tradition we awarded our silly prizes. These included the most impressive drive on three wheels; the best alternative route (got lost); and the car with the most potential. We also recognise great achievements on the Run and this year was no exception. Derwent Valley’s own Steve “Bond” Brent actually completed the run on a Townend 12 speed touring bicycle – yes, a peddle bike – BRILLIANT.
The Concour winners:-
Car of the show – TR3 owned by Andrew Heywood
People’s choice winners were – Triumph GT6 owned by Dave Wood, Triumph Spitfire owned by Des Jackson and Triumph Spitfire owned by Mark Cliff
People’s choice non-Triumph – Morgan F2 owned by Pat Salsbury.
In 2010 the weekend did not finish after the presentation and bumper raffle as we had arranged for the campsite to remain open on the Sunday night at no extra charge.
Fifteen campers took advantage of this, making the most of the warm summers evening choosing to walk to the pub for a drink and excellent meal or relax at the campsite by the ‘bungalow’ and rustle up a fantastic BBQ from all the food left over in Adrian’s and Julie’s 7 day cool box.
This was all washed down with several bottles of beer, cider and wine plus a litre bottle of Baileys.
As the sun rose over the horizon we slowly de-camped, some more slowly than others, especially Julie who pretended to sun bathe but was nursing a hangover.
Thanks must go to Ian, the campsite manager, and all his team for making the weekend special, so much so that we are returning there again in 2011.
