Bush Harder- GoodGym v The Jolly Big Bush 2

All epic movies have a sequel, and so also do epic GoodGym tasks sometimes. Following the first battle with the Jolly Big Bush in January, GoodGym were returning to Christ Church Moldgreen to have another go. The tangled mass of vegetation, whilst reduced in size as a result of our last battle remains an ominous presence in the churchyard requiring a little more energetic “pruning” by the GoodGym crew.

Before the battle however there were formalities to be done, including the presentation of the award for January’s GoodGymmer of the month. In recognition of her 100% attendance and taking on the task of organising GoodGym Huddersfield’s first social event (a cinema visit following tonight’s run), the accolade (and opportunity to choose an item from the bountiful GoodGym prize box) went to Kati Law who looked very happy with the bottle of sparkling wine she selected. Well done Kati!

Run conditions were something of a contrast from the previous week’s near freezing temperatures, an unseasonal 9C had a few of us complaining that we were too warm before we’d even left the Stadium car park. And we were warmer still by the time we reached Christ Church 2K later to meet the Reverend Charlotte Cheshire and her pair of very energetic young Golden Retrievers.

But there was no time to lose, the battle with the bush needed to recommence so the crew took up arms and got stuck in once again. With secateurs, saws and snippers we were immediately on task, swarming around the bush like an army of little red ants attacking and adversary. As ever the Bush was giving up without a fight, and an early skirmish saw Ben Godfrey knocked down but fortunately not out. However he was soon back in the fray, alongside Louise Galvin working hard to chop out dead wood and drag large sections of ancient twisted tangled branches from the mass.

Meanwhile Chris Green, Heather Wilshaw-Jones and Kati Law we’re heading up a twin pronged attack on the other side of the bush, pruning away without mercy to reduce its looming mass. Once again I provided a vital support function behind the front line, ferrying barrow loads of leaves, twigs, branches to the ever growing stack of offcuts for removal later.

Whilst the GoodGym crew could occasionally sense victory with the removal of a particularly large limb or a bulky branch, the Jolly Big Bush wasn’t about to wave the white flag. Following forty-five minutes of frenetic fighting the Bush was still standing, albeit somewhat reduced in size but standing none the less. The Bush hadn’t beaten us, but once again time had, and as we swept up the remaining broken branches and twigs GoodGym once again resolved to return next month to finally vanquish this most tenacious of trees.

Bidding a very grateful Reverend Cheshire farewell, and slightly bruised from another epic session of bush whacking we headed off for our 2K trot back to the Stadium safe in the knowledge that next time the bush would be beaten because the Good(gym) guys always win!

Thanks as ever to all last night’s GoodGymmers, apologies again for not being able to make the cinema afterwards, but I hope you all had a cracking night out.