Wednesday 19 November 2014

Alphin and Back

On what was a clear starlit night, 7 owls set off from the cricket club to ascend Alphin Pike. Before we had even left the tarmac Mark B and Dom F, became separated from the group and a search was put out to relocate our lost brethren. After an extensive search of the cricket club grounds, we remaining five resigned ourselves to the fact that they must have fallen prey to those highly-tuned athletes who had set off to run on the roads. Perhaps they had had their cags and headtorches stolen from them and now they were aimlessly wandering the streets in a distressed state of sprints, stop watch adjusting and fartleks.


After a brisk but pleasant ascent of Alphin, we settled down on the summit under the light of a thousand stars to gaze across the twinkling lights of the city. Content that we were viewing the urban sprawl from our silent lofty position, and not amongst the crowds of people smothered in the toxic fumes of urban life, we discussed at length the fate of our lost party. The general consensus was that this inexperienced pair, not recognising that the creatures of the road differed in looks and attire to us owls, had somehow got swept along in an athletic stampeed and would not have realised that they were not with their own kind for quite some time.

Having to be back at the club for an 8.30pm meeting, myself and Bruce left the party, who were pressing on to Buckton Castle. Descending the hill, Bruce and I bumped into Mark and Dom, who we found wandering around the hillside in a state of shock. As originally thought, the pair had indeed unknowingly joined the wrong group and hadn't realised their mistake until they had completed the first 6 minute mile of what was to be a punishing speed session. Managing to escape the clutches of these lycra-clad lunatics, they had made a bid for freedom to be successfully reunited with their own kind.

I'm pleased to say that due to their error, both Mark and Dom have now risen to the top of the 2014 Wooden Spoon Nomination Charts. The final results of which will be announced at January's Annual Presentation Do.