SOFA SO GOOD WHEN HARRY MET RALPH

BIG 50 SOFA CHALLENGE SPORTS RELIEF 2018 BBC LOOK NORTH
DAY 7 CHESTERFIELD AND N.E. DERBYSHIRE
21 MARCH 9AM PUSH OFF

CROW LANE INCLINE FOR A GENTLE START TO DAY 7 IN CHESTERFIELD

BBC Look North presenters Harry Gration and Amy Garcia alongside weatherman Paul Hudson undertook the challenge of 50 locations over 100 miles and today they found themselves in Chesterfield and how the welcoming crowds enjoyed the big push off.
In aid of Sports Relief 2018 and that's just about how it made it onto the blog with the mention of 'sport' in its title the crowds were building up half an hour before the start and first to arrive were weather lead Hudson and we were to have an additional guest in weather presenter and now news presenter Keeley Donovan, before shortly afterwards the arrival of the news anchors Harry Gration and Amy Garcia.

THE FAMOUS CROOKED SPIRE OVERSEES PROCEEDINGS

Following on from the historical or should that be hysterical Tony Hawks Fridge around Ireland we now have a sofa around Yorkshire and Derbyshire, to add to the collection of quirkiness that so often goes with this country.

LEAVING THE MARKET HALL IN CHESTERFIELD

With warm Chesterfield greetings received by the team Amy made a short thank you speech to the massed crowd before the off, fashionably a few minutes late, around the Market Sq and towards the towns famous Crooked Spire Church.  Leaving the town via the rail station with all thoughts of humping the sofa onto the next train to Leeds and giving up the first challenge of the day the elbow, it was to be the rise up the steep climb of Crow Lane and after a brief respite halfway along the route there was time for Hudson to comment that 'it was harder that yesterdays climb' to Stanage Edge near Hathersage.  Along the country lane weatherman Paul was again receiving the attention of the ladies, of a certain age, this time from somebody who had sent him a baseball cap over 20 years ago and she showed him the letter he had sent her to thank him which she had kept for this of course she received a warm hug from the cheeky chap.

THE CHEEKY CHAPPY PUTTING HIS BACK INTO CROW LANE

The climb had been mastered and Brimington Common was ahead and the crowds were out to donate and greet again with Amy struggling with a cold it was amazing how many people gave her bags of lozenges to help her along the way but as ever a warm smile was offered as a short break was taken on the approach to Manor Rd.

WARM WELCOME IN BRIMINGTON COMMON

Moving along this busy road there was time for Harry to meet Ralph Morton a former Leeds citizen and at 76 years young still refereeing in the Chesterfield and District Sunday League and once again it has to be said that Mr Gration was more than obliging and pleasant when I guess there was an awful lot of body aching going on!

WHEN HARRY [AND AMY] MET RALPH

Following a stop at the local educational establishment the sofa was ambushed by an Ostrich which of course had been mounted by local comedian and Radio Sheffield presenter Bernie Clifton who had earlier quipped he was going to jump out on them 'to raise their pulses a bit' and that he couldn't stop long because he was on the menu at the local Miners Arms.

LOOK WHO IS HERE ITS BERNIE CLIFTON AND OSTRICH AMBUSHING THE SOFA

A further short amble along the raid was the said public house whose landlord had set out a sofa attired with red blanket for a welcome break and photo op Harry and Amy sat gentleman and lady like on the two seater but needless to say Paul threw himself on it in full length in relaxed pose.  BBC Sport is accustomed to having Harry on its team and Brimington had a famous son who now has a plaque on the wall of the 'Miners' Joe Payne who scored a remarkable ten goals for Luton Town against Bristol Rovers in the id 1930's a record that still stands today.

HARRY WITH THE JOE PAYNE PLAQUE

Towards Brimington the crowds remained and one thing that stood out was the warm welcome and the high regard the presenters of Look North are held I guess they are like family invited into your home every day, I'm sure they are aware of this but it was quite amazing to see.

COMFY SOFA FOR HUDSON WITH THE MINERS LANDLORD

By the time I left proceedings at the village there was just another nine hours to go to complete day seven!

KEELEY DONOVAN CONDUCTS AN INTERVIEW IN BRIMINGTON COMMON

A great achievement and no mean feat warmed and encouraged on today by the people of North East Derbyshire all the time raising money for Sport Relief 2018, well done to all including the support team around the presenters.