Tattenhall Runners – Crazy Christmas Canter December 2015

The rain stopped, the clouds cleared and Sunday was cool and bright. Perfect conditions for four miles of midwinter madness!

And so it was that 24 Tattenhall Runners (including 2 dogs) completed the course round the lanes of Tattenhall in a wide variety of fancy dress costumes based on the theme of nursery rhymes.

Runners included: 3 Little Bo Peeps; 2 Sheep (one of which was a dog dressed as a sheep); 2 Little Miss Muffets (one with hairy legs); 1 Spider (another dog with an extra 4 legs); 1 Little Red Riding Hood (is she from a nursery rhyme?); 1 Boat, complete with Owl and Pussy cat; 1 Grand Old Duke of York; 1 very scary Queen of Hearts; 1 Cow that jumped over the Moon (complete with moon); 1 Little Jack Horner (and plum); 2 Wee Willie Winkies; 1 other dog (apart from the sheep and spider); 1 Turkey (another questionable entry); 1 Elephant (should have been disqualified!); 1 Humpty Dumpty (and wall); 1 Blind mouse (how did she get round?); 1 Blackbird (complete with pie) and a Teapot!

As it was, such was the effectiveness of the handicap system, almost all runners, excepting the teapot – and he had an excuse – crossed the finishing line over a period of about 3 minutes; a grand effort. First across was a sheep (Rob Arden) and the leading lady was one of the Wee Willie Winkies (George Ross). The fastest runner was Humpty Dumpty (Andy Sudlow). Prize for the best costume went to the teapot (Nick Holmes).

Those in the photographs: Group picture – too many runners to name! Teapot – Nick Holmes; Little Bo Peep – Simon Duckett (plus dog as sheep); Elephant – Rob Chambers; Queen of Hearts – Martin Durrant