For the last few years I have helped out with registration and given a hand with the buffet, but this year was a bit different. Pauline and Brian Jennison normally provide the extensive buffet which is greatly appreciated by the runners, unfortunately this year they had a prior engagement and so were unable to oblige. Nigel made the decision that we could still provide the catering and this is where I came in to lend a hand. So after some invaluable help and advice from Pauline who provided me with her shopping list from last year it was all systems go, Katie Seddon offering to provide loaves courtesy of Jacksons and a team consisting of Shirley, Julie, Chris, Paul Andrews, Paul Nippress, Richard and my mum were recruited to make the butties. Nigel did lots of the shopping for crisps, biscuits, cakes etc. plus paper plates, table cloths and napkins prior to the event and Nippy arranged to source the fruit.

Saturday morning came and myself and Richard went to Asda to pick up all the fresh stuff and then come 4pm it was knives in hand and the crack sandwich team began their task. It wasn’t long before we had a production line in full swing and of course the EHH banter was very much in evidence, Shirley made sure the “butterers” were getting right into the corners, the two Pauls commenting that they now know which side their bread is buttered….! Whilst we were doing this Nigel, Bernie and Graham were out on the course putting out the mile markers, I don’t think I have ever seen as many signs! I know Nigel has been here, there and everywhere over the last few weeks getting everything prepared.

So the morning of the event and we woke to a beautiful sunny day, what perfect conditions. We got down to the club at 8am and there was already an army of volunteers there to complete the preparations for the race to begin at 10. Pauline & Brian Jennison and family members arrived to set up the registration desks, they have been busy over the past few weeks answering a barrage of questions and queries regarding this popular, and for this year oversubscribed, event. Myself and Bev Jackson helped out and then once registration was complete and the gun fired signalling the start of the race it was time to lay out the buffet. The shout had gone out for requests for baking and as always the response was fantastic. We had lot of home baked produce including quiches with various fillings, sausage rolls, cheese rolls, fruit cakes, lemon drizzle cakes, rock buns, chocolate cake to name but a few. What a fantastic team effort thank you to everyone who contributed. Add this to the sandwiches, crisps, biscuits and sweets and we had a marvellous feast for the runners and marshals. Of course special mention must also go to Angie, Chloe and Libby who manned the kitchen providing hundreds of cups of coffee and tea etc. as well keeping on top of the washing up. Tracey came back in time to help massively with the clearing up at the end.

There were loads of verbal compliments for the race itself, the marshals and the buffet, and if you are on Facebook and Twitter you will have seen this echoed many times.

A race like this doesn’t just happen There is months of preparation, time and effort that goes into the organisation so that it can all happen as smoothly as the EHH 20. The army of marshals, those that manned the drinks stations, cyclists, photographers, too many to mention individually that help cannot be praised enough, but hats off to Nigel, the race director, what an event, what a day, what a club. Nige you pulled it off again!

Angela Alsop