Christmas Eve and I’m cross
racing, it’s fast, there’s blatant cheating and a lap must be all of three minutes tops.
The scene is Heptonstall Bowling Club, right on our doorstep. It’s somewhere around the third lap that I finally get past the two nuns on the tandem and chase down Batman and Robin. I’ve just been overtaken by Mr Incredible and Spiderman who’s on his wheel, in a strange mix of fancy dress, anaerobic exercise, real northern cold and an overwhelming sense of community spirit.
30 minutes later it’s all over, pie and peas in the Bowling Club bar and prizes for everyone. I’m hooked.