There was much talk of a Viking legacy after the reunion and this weekend we got some.
Saturday saw the second incarnation of the Viking Returns 4inns team. Justin Farnan's brain child and beginning to look like a case of riduclous over achievement. They (Richard Dixson, Justin, Jim Bunting AKA Sputnik and Ian Macklin) tore up the course on a perfect running day in an outrageous 8hrs 32minutes, finishing third. Non of them, with the possible exception of Richard would claim to be elite fell runners but they shaved 40 minutes of last years time, when I was hanging off the back most of the afternoon.
Pic Jim Bunting
They looked good all day I'm told, Ian Shaw missing them for most of the day as they were through checkpoints before he got there, as he tried to cheer them on. Peter was there getting involved like days of old, admonishing them for not staying together as a group as they arrived at the Cat. Which has shut down! Hopefully only briefly, it was cold in the carpark and I had promised my kids chips. Ian reckons they can go faster as they were smiling at the end, he may have a point. There are a few others out there, who's Strava times are in danger of getting them into trouble.
This Morning a trophy for the newish 35K scout event was presented to both the committee and the event winners by Ian Shaw, who can still get in his uniform. I don't know where mine is but I can assure you it doesn't fit.
The trophy idea was proposed by the Four Inns Committee and finalised after a drunken evening in the Blessington Carriage. James Prince playing a blinder and giving up a fair few hours of his life to make what I am sure you will agree is a fine trophy and a lasting legacy to some of what the Unit achieved.
All in all, not a bad 48 hours for old men.
Here is video of the presentation Justin shot. Sound is a little flakey but you get the idea. Facebook
Justin Farnan, former Viking and the instigator behind this middle aged tosser getting himself fit enough to do the four Inns this year, is doing something good in a few weeks.
He works for the Calvert Trust. They get people with disabilities and their families into the outdoors, which seems on the whole a rather marvellous idea. Here is what he is getting involved in, perhaps you feel like chipping in? He promises not to nominate you for next years Four Inns if you do, but to be honest he told me we were doing 10.5 hours and we did nearer 9.
Dear All - Not something I've ever asked for before, but I am climbing the equivalent of over half the height of Mt. Everest to raise money for the Lake District Calvert Trust (where I work) to help us continue changing the lives of people with disabilities through outdoor activities. All and any help gratefully appreciated.
Anyway if you felt like contributing here is the link https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/justinfarnan
It was Justin's idea I got a text "would I be interested in being part of a Viking 4 Inns team once more?"
I said "all right then." I have been doing a little bit of late. If he had asked any other year in the last 20. I would have run to Buxton just to get away from the idea. Then it was done, my fate sealed, the trap sprung.
Jim Bunting joined us via Facebook and Richard a mate of Justin's made four, we had a team. A few more people were nearly shaken out of the tree to make a second team, but non quite fell all the way to the ground. There is always next year.
We managed a few collective training sessions, we all did a fair bit on our own, but we wouldn't have admitted to be over-prepared if interrogated.
Friday night I'm back in Holmbridge Parish hall after 25 years. Little has changed the faces behind the desks are mostly the same, older and greyer and perhaps a little more relaxed then in the past.
Myself and Jim manage a couple of hours sleep on the noisiest wooden floor in Yorkshire and at 4 we are up and eating breakfast. Justin and Richard roll in. Richard with all the team kit in his bag, I warm to him even more than on the last practice, when his obvious talent for covering ground quickly became apparent.
We pass though scrutineering with kit that would have been laughed out of town back in the day and with of all things trainers on our feet. Richard wearing god help us shorts, we set off.
We start off like loons over Back Hill, too much adrenalin and perfect weather making it too easy to start emptying the tank too early in the day. A team with a leader in running shorts and a vest pass us at a fair pace, their final team member losing contact at the back. They looked like contenders for a messy final third.
Common sense prevails over Bleaklow and we steady up a bit. Jim demolishing Torside after having had a shocker three weeks ago and then beasting himself with hill intervals ever since. Adam Bleakman and his team pass us at a clip as we get to the watershed. As we descend into Doctors Gate maybe four teams have come past. The race is probably already over if everyone holds their pace for the rest of the day.
More supporters arrive, Ben Bellamy running his own small scale video production unit from a Mondeo. With twin cameras.
By the top of Seal Stones we are mentally over the hump and as I struggle to descend with knees that were never any good, the team with the man in the vest go past we must have passed them climbing Seal Stones.
Edale in just over 5 hours. Result we were aiming for 5 and a half. Ian Shaw high fives us into the checkpoint. We manage a brief pause to put water in our drinking bladders. I neck some Ibuprofen and we are off again. The sun is out now, the Great Ridge looks at its best and Chapel Hill is still longer than you remember, but it has an end. Jim is still holding his own on the hills, Richard is pulling away in front, not bad for a man with 10 kilos on his back and Justin's habit of coming good later in the day is repeating itself.
I'm still descending more like a feather than a lead balloon, but I manage to keep a running shuffle going all the way to Chapel, where three generations of team Prince are waiting, Justin and Richard's families wave from the pub. As I promised my family, I grimace, mutter hello, stuff two sandwiches in my gob and we head on. We are still running which is a first for me at this point in the day.
Whitehall comes and goes, the hill is a plod but I have felt worse going up it. The board confirms it at the checkpoint, only four teams ahead and we are still covering the ground. Richard dropping back to chat to me and Jim who are obviously feeling it now. I really struggle descending into the Goyt. My knees are pretty painful and Justin offers his bag carrying service. By Shooter's Clough his asking is more of a nag than keeping my pride intact. He has a point I am slowing up proceedings.
Justin gets two bags up Shooters Clough and by the top probably regrets it as I pull away from him, floating on air after losing my load. That 10 minute rest though was just the tonic and by the top of the ridge we are all running again. Suddenly getting close to or under 9 hours looks possible, Justin eggs us on and we decide to have a go. Peter is at the Cat along with many others, we manage a hand shake as we rush though and move at pace down to Derbyshire Bridge. Richard's heavy bag taking its toll as for the first and only time all day, he drops to the back.
We are soon over the world's stoniest road and dropping into Buxton, me faking a run and then trying to get back into contact with the other three. Then the end is in sight, we manage a sprint and finish in 9hours 11minutes, a PB for everyone. Not to shabby off a months training. Four hours from Edale, happy with that. We place 7 overall, if you had told me that was possible even at lunchtime in Edale I would have laughed in your face.
Thanks to everyone who turned out or supported us in any way. Thanks to Richard Dixson for a masterclass in ultra running. I think the world has a new honorary Viking.
Now wouldn't if be nice if there were to be more than one team next year. Maybe we could get a team in the top five or even on the podium? There are quite few of you out there with the right qualities. Some of you must have one more left in you?
Hello to all, Jack's funeral service will take place on Thursday 20th November at Markeaton Crematorium ( Main Chapel) at 11.20am.
No flowers please.
Donations if desired for " Alzheimer Research UK" or " Parkinsons Society" may be placed in the donation box after the service.
All enquiries 01332 550033.
Please pass on these details to anyone you know who may wish to pay their respects to Jack.
It goes without saying that it would be appropriate to wear uniform if you can, but understandable if you are taking time out from work and are unable to.
Subject: Some sad news
It is with deep sadness that I have to announce the death of Derby North District President Jack Young.
Jack passed away on Friday in Stanley House, with his devoted wife Joan with him.
Jack was an immense presence within Derby North for many years, even when his health began to fail.
Our longest serving District Commissioner, he will be remembered as a true Scout and his legacy will remain.
I carry in my Scouting folder a cutting that Jack gave me many years ago;
For what we are about to do, may the Lord make us truly responsible,
For what we are about the think, may the Lord make us truly wise,
For what we are about to say, May the Lord make us truly sensible,
For what we are trying to achieve, may the Lord accept and bless our efforts.
Wise words and Jack at his best.
I know that you will want to join with me in sending condolences to Joan.
Details of funeral arrangements will be shared in due course.
Thank you.
You wait 20 years for a Viking reunion than they all cone along at once. Back at Fieldhead campsite in Edale with my boys. This year there are many more tents and more at Cooper's. More banter, and more pre race/walk drinks to steady the nerves or fuel the fires as we catch up.
I get a Justin shaped lodger in our tent and he tolerates our ethnic British squalor with his new found Scots understatement.
Friday night is cold, I end up cuddling my youngest who was to be found curled up under a blanket complaining of the cold, having wriggled out of his sleeping bag. By dawn everyone is awake anyway. So we all get up to find ice on the tents and the ground. Fried food followed by indoor fried food makes the day seem warmer. Soon there we are stood outside the Nags Head waiting to see who will show this year.
I guess I learned to love the Scottish hills when I was in the Viking Venture Unit. I remember to this day the exhilaration of topping out with John Thurman on Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis as the sun was setting – an irresponsibly bold winter climbing route for a pair that had never done any winter climbing before. I recall the magic of negotiating the cornices on the Devil’s Ridge in the Mamores on a crisp, clear, sunny day during one of the Unit’s visits to Corpach Scout Hut one Christmas holiday in the mid-1970s. And who could forget the traverse of the Cuillin Ridge on Skye – the Island of Mists – on a day so cloudless that we were all dreaming of a large, cold glass of water as we negotiated the finest mountaineering route in the British Isles?
As previously advised, the family camp is taking place in Edale on the weekend Friday 26th September to Sunday 28th September.
Several alumni have advised us that they have booked into ‘brick built’ accommodation, whilst others are generally camping at either Field Head or Coopers farm. If you are not booked in, don’t worry – you can roll up at coopers where 135 pitches are available. Beware the grumpy farmer.
Ian, Sophie and Fiona have asked that details of the funeral arrangements to “Celebrate the Life” of Jake, following his tragic passing at such a young age, be forwarded to friends.
As most of you already know, Jake was injured in an accident in Kandersteg, Switzerland on 2nd August and sadly passed away in Bern Hospital eight days later.
Because their local church is too small, the funeral service will be held at 2.00pm on Friday 29th August in a large and very welcoming church in central Lincoln.
Called Aliv, (formerly New Life), Church), the address is 22 Newland, Lincoln, LN1 1XD. (His burial at the family’s local church – St Marys, Welton – to be attended by just the immediate family, will follow the service).
