On a warm but windy summer's evening, an impressive 29 GG Yorkies turned out for an epic weeding session at Acomb Primary School. We started off by welcoming 2 newcomers Ruth and Kit who were both completing their first ever good deeds with us tonight. Give them a big cheer 🥳

We also crowned the GoodGym Yorkie of the month for June, with the award going to a slightly surprised Jane who completed a fantastic 8 good deeds last month and has also now done well over 25 since joining us in January. Well done Jane!

There was also a cape of good deeds to dish out, with Nikki completing her 400th good deed last week. Fantastic stuff Nikki!! What an absolute legend of GG York

Before we set off to the task we warmed up with a quick game of stuck in the mud. Max, Matt and Mitch being the chasers and everyone else running around like loons to try and avoid them. Abigail led a walking group and so managed to avoid the mayhem back at base, before being followed by the main group with Ed leading the way and Rich and Lucy backmarking.

At the task we were joined by Tristan, Martin and also Jan who was joining us for the first time this evening (Welcome Jan! 👋). The task was a classic clearing task with a bit of destruction thrown in for good measure. No need for too many instructions tonight, just pull up some weeds and cut back some trees.

A small side group were task with shifting a small pile of bricks whilst everyone else got to work on the weeds. Rich seemed particularly delighted when he found out he had the honour of removing and entire bush/tree that had grown as tall as the building. He promptly got the bulk of the bush nicely trimmed before setting to work on the trunk. Meanwhile Steve and Babs tackled a couple of hedges that were obscuring the windows (Babs giving hers a particularly close shave!)

Everyone else found there own space in the courtyard and pulled up a variety of overgrown weeds and even a few herbs, which made for a very nice minty smell lingering around the task. Mitch and Lyndsey focused their efforts on the things growing out of the drains whilst Kit and Lucy made excellent progress on a sycamore that had started to obscure the plant beds. Whilst all the while, Rich was still beavering away at the tree and had now been joined by Nikki in what had truly become a Gover-ish sized task!

With time running out we stopped for a group photo before handing over to Abigail who was leading tonight's fitness sesh. Rich and Nikki remained in the courtyard to continue their tree removal task!

Tonight's fitness had a name which I've completely forgotten but involved people choosing an exercise for everyone to complete before naming something that they have or have done (e.g. wearing a black shirt) and then attempting to swap spaces in the circle with someone else who had also done that thing. It was great fun although probably less so for Babs and Max who both ended up in the middle of the circle on mote than one occasion. Rich and Nikki also finally managed to remove the tree stump and joined the fitness sesh just in time to get the gist of what was going on

It was then time to venture back to base, with a few people continuing on to the pub

Tonight's group run saw our joint biggest turnout since we restarted after the pandemic, and whilst we absolutely love having sooo many amazing GGers turn up, it also happened to coincide with a night at our smallest task in terms of space! But before we worried about how we'd fit everyone on to a small traffic island for a spot of weeding, we welcomed Imran who was coming along to his first ever GG session tonight. Give him a big cheer 🥳

We also welcomed back Elle for her second session, having completed her first just a few days earlier. And Matt who is well-known to most through his appearances at GG weekends away, but was attending his first session in York. Great to have you both on board 👍

Tonight's task was at the Fishergate Triangle, an area of land that has been turned into a flourishing wild flower patch in-between a very busy junction in the heart of the city. Ed led the run out with Amy bringing up the rear, whilst Abigail led a walking group and Vicky leading a walk/run crew.

Upon arrival we were greeted by Maeve from St Nicks who gave us our instructions. Basically, pull up the thistles, dandelions and anything else that looks like a weed, and leave the nice stuff. If you're unsure then ask! The guys from the walking group and the walk/runners got stuck into the task whilst Rich led one group back to Tower Gardens for their fitness session with Nick.

Martin C and Issy both met us at the task, the latter having lost her voice so was obviously made to answer as many questions as possible, including that age-old debate: Cornflakes or Cheerios?? A lot of people made use of the soft bark chip floor to have a much needed sit down whilst pulling up the weeds around them, whilst Jenna got to work with some loppers and took chunks out of the buddleia that was growing by the pay phone (which, incidentally, is still working although it will cost you at least 60p to make a phone call, thanks to Max for checking)

Rich led the first group back from their fitness session and swapped over with the guys who had been making excellent progress at the task. Vicky led the second across to Nick for their turn to be put through their paces. The fitness sessions involved a game of squat, squat goose followed by some races with balls - an over and under race and some plank rolling

Then Jenna led a game of Grandmas Footsteps / Squid Game with folk hiding behind trees - unfortunately the group hid too well with those returning from the task thinking everyone had disappeared and already made their way back to base!!

It was all a bit hectic but somehow we managed to keep 33 GG Yorkies busy at a tiny traffic island. Well done to Nick for leading two fab fitness sessions and to Vicky and Rich for getting people to where they needed to be on time

It was a warm and windy evening when 31 Goodgymmers assembled at York CVS for their weekly evening of doing good. It was great to welcome back some of our newer faces again, as well as those we hadn't see for a while - Hi Jamie! We also celebrated the York Acorn Runners who had taken part in the Cleveland Way relay over the weekend, as well as Max and Paul Kelly having a very impressive "short jog" in the Hebden hills. (Either 38 or 39k, depending on the watch. Perhaps they could pop back to measure it again to be sure...?) Next up, Leanne treated us to another rendition of "The Cha Cha Slide", this time with more instructions. Formed up in rows, we wiggled our way through the moves, getting nice and warm and potentially bemusing the neighbours in the process.

All set, we split into groups with a choice of steady run, run-walk, or walk-walk. Nick led our flock of red shirted runners through the streets, whilst Vicky had a strong team of run-walkers, and Debs assembled the walkers, with Jenna navigating and Amy setting a good pace. Our destination; Acomb Primary School, and their lovely forest school, with a host of tasks to keep many hands busy.

Once briefed by task owner Amanda, everyone got to work, clearing the two different areas of woodland that are used by the school children for outdoor education. It was great to see progress since our previous visits, with numerous log circles installed for groups to use. There was a lot of undergrowth to be cleared by hand, sticks to be moved, troublesome shoots to be tackled with tools, as well as piles of logs and branches to be relocated. The wood movers seemed particularly keen to show off their strength, posing for many a photo in the process. (Any claims that the logs were in fact rotten and surprisingly light are unfounded, and will be refuted.) Given our bumper group size we rather outnumbered the tools available, so much bartering and trading occurred. It's very Goodgym to use one tool in place of another, and Pete was doing a sterling job of trying to dig a fire pit with a fork, but fortunately a spade came to the rescue in the hands of Paul Kelly. Thankfully our glorious leaders Ed and Vicky were on hand in all the busy-ness attempting to keep everyone focused, and redirecting folks as tasks were completed. Time was soon up, and we admired our handiwork from the main log circle; conveniently just large enough to hold all Goodgymmers. We had a group photo, and assembled for our very special fitness session.

With Captain Pete in charge, we were treated to a competitive winner-takes-all battle of rock paper scissors. With losers cheering on the winners it was a buoyant affair, and soon only two contenders remained. Nicky vs Laura for the crown.. Once, twice... Laura reigned supreme! Our two finalists became our team leaders for the next (actually) fitness component. A multi-challenge race with sub-groups of 4 having to transport specially chosen branches through hoops, up a hill and back, with some press ups thrown in, before tagging in the next crew. It was a close run thing, with our more recent joiners throwing themselves into standard wacky GG fitness with great gusto. Team Nicky edged it, and it was a draw on points between the two teams, with only a tie breaker question to go. Alas Ed showed a spectacular failure at maths, forgetting that your height is three times the circumference of your head, (something he had only educated us about at the previous task,) and Team Laura were crowned overall champions.

Excitement over, it was time to run, run-walk or walk-walk back to base, a little more gently this time. With knowledge of a job well done, many folks headed off to the pub for a cool drink and a piece of excellent home baking. Thanks to the chefs, as well as everyone who contributed in some way to the excellent evening, whether by leading a group or activity, backmarking, motivating or simply turning up and getting stuck in. Goodgym is a team, and wouldn't work without any one of us. Same time next week?

**Huge thanks to Debs for the fab run report