Buy a Bit of Yorkshire

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Hortoris

Yorkshire Flag

The Yorkshire Mafia Conference returns to The Royal Armouries for 2013 as ‘Buy Yorkshire’.
This is said to be ‘the best B2B conference and exhibition in the North of England’.

Yorkshire’s National Conference 2013 will be pushing the boundaries a bit further by adding some killer workshops, a very cool conference, an app that brings social media right into the very heart of Yorkshire business, plus some more surprises along the way.

Buy Yorkshire 2013 is without doubt an event of national standing and it is held right here in Yorkshire to celebrate all that is good about buying Yorkshire products and services. Do your bit for Yorkshire by doing business in, from and with Yorkshire, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Key Bits Stats

– 2 days, 2 halls

– 170 exhibitors

– the best brands

– the wealthiest self made business people

– a very cool conference app

To grab a piece of the action and buy a bit of Yorkshire check out this link or contact the Yorkshire mafia.

According to Richard Tyler in the Daily Telegraph ‘An online support network is adding muscle to companies doing business in the county. Yorkshire wit and whippets are the unlikely magic ingredients behind the latest business networking phenomenon to emerge on these shores. If Facebook is cool, then the “Yorkshire Mafia” is downright dangerous…’ read more

Posted in Yorkshire Business and Money | Comments Off on Buy a Bit of Yorkshire

Tyke the Dog not a Real Tyke

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Hortoris

20120725_112104-2.jpg
Who would call a dog Tyke? Well an expat Yorkshire man living in one of the colonies may be tempted. Anyway this Canadian photo was the first to be found on a web search for Tyke.
In Arnold Kellett’s book ‘The Yorkshire Dictionary’ he claims a tyke is another word for a dog or cur especially a small mongrel terrier used for catching rats. A possible derivation of the nickname comes from the ‘sight of a Yorkshireman owning such a dog, the nickname was commonly applied to anyone born and bred here.’
A youngster is often referred to a ‘little tyke’ in a term of tolerant affection.

London Irish v Leeds Tykes, 15-Apr-2006
Leeds Carnegie RUFC has a long heritage stretching as far back to 1878 and the formation of Headingley FC. They merged with Roundhay RUFC to form Leeds RUFC and then from 1998 to 2007 they were called Leeds Tykes.
Why they need to be named after Leeds Met’s Carnegie School of Sport – still our money counts – maybe?

Michael Jackson - Thriller

No Michael Jackson was not a real closet tyke. This is a graffiti art work by American artists Tyke Witnes & Ewok

Other Real Tykes

‘Tykes’ is a quarterly magazine about folk music, song and dance. It covers Yorkshire and surrounds, and is read by people as far afield as the US and Australia; even by one or two in Lancashire!
Not only that but Barnsley FC are called the Tykes and their fans are ‘Tyke Mad’
A shame angling is not a paralympic sport or Yorkshire could expect loads more gold medals from members of ‘Yorkshire Tykes Disabled Angling Association DAA’

Photo Credits
“20120725_112104-2.jpg by Roger Hiscocks CC BY-NC 2.0
London Irish v Leeds Tykes, 15-Apr-2006 by Richard Carter CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Michael Jackson – Thriller by anarchosyn CC BY-SA 2.0

Posted in Our Yorkshire, Photos | Comments Off on Tyke the Dog not a Real Tyke

Triathlon for All in Yorkshire

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Hortoris

Honolulu Triathalon 2008

Swimming is the first of the 3 events in the Triathlon. For the Olympic triathlon, the swim section is 1.5km about 0.93 mile. This is followed immediately by a 40km or 25 mile bike ride at a frenetic pace. The last section is the 10km 6.25 mile run and all three are completed in around 1hour 45 minutes.

This weekend’s World Championship win in Hyde Park London sends the Yorkshireman Alistair Brownlee to the top of the world rankings. “I can’t believe it. It was tough”, said Brownlee from Leeds, after his performance. It’s great to win at home but it is on to Australia for the final of this years World Championship series. Let us hope a Yorkshire man is crowned World Champion and that he goes on to win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. Alistair is only 21 and it must be a young mans game as his younger brother Johnathon also competed at Hyde Park and is ranked 49th in the world.

A shorter approved Triathlon the ‘Sprint version’ is a good way to get into the sport. Many events are organised for charity purposes and it is also a good way to get fit. The sprint triathlon involves a 0.75km (0.46 mile) swim, a 22km (13.75 mile) bike ride and a 5km (3.12 mile) run. Try a local event if you think you can finish or want a challenge, a pdf of some events in Yorkshire can be found here.

There is a World Kids Triathlon in Yokohama at the end of the month. I doubt I could beat any of the entrants even over the short distances of Swim: 100m, Bike: 5km, Run: 1km . The distances double depending on age. At the other end of the scale is the Ironman competition which involves a 3.84 km (2.4 mile) swim, a 179.2 km (112 mile) cycle and a 41.6km (26 mile) run so I am off to get in training ( for the sitting, snoozing and sleeping triazzzzzzzz.)

Honolulu Triathalon 2008 by rcastag CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Posted in Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes | Comments Off on Triathlon for All in Yorkshire

Breeze from a Charity Book Shop

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Hortoris

Ian Oliver is a Yorkshire born writer who now lives in Haworth.

In a book I bought from a charity shop Ian has produced a light entertainment with his book ‘Breeze’. Unfortunately it is a romp with none of the detailed observation and character building demonstrated by other famous authors who hailed from Haworth 

As the blurb would have it :- ‘Bobby and Ryan are a couple of young chancers from Manchester who decide the only way to get away from their hum drum lives is to rob a local villain by the name of Jack Roberts of his ill gotten gains. When things don’t go as smoothly as planned they are forced to skip the country pretty fast. They soon set up a new life for themselves in sunny Spain, but the past has a habit of catching up with them. So their dream of a peaceful life in the sun is beginning to look a little hard to achieve. Every time they get past one obstacle another one seems to be waiting for them…..’

Reviewers were left wanting more as the book is quite short at 192 pages of an open font. Still that must be a good sign as Ian is preparing further crime exploits from the duo. One quote is worth repeating to give you a flavour of the setting ‘ very true to life and for readers who have been to Benidorm I’m sure they may have met similar characters’.

I could only find a kindle version at amazon, so I will keep and prize my charity 1st edition copy in case Ian Oliver becomes a world best selling author in the future.

Posted in Books Club & Literary Work | Comments Off on Breeze from a Charity Book Shop

The Yorkshire Dales Mystery Series – A5

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Hortoris

An academic background in forensic studies and archaeological investigations with a family home in Swaledale has provided Susan Parry with inspiration for The Yorkshire Dales Mystery Series.
The Corpse Way is the first in a series of mystery books that already has five titles. Set in some fantastic countryside with an easy going style the books are not hard to read nor the plots too complex to follow.

Book Cover
Corpse Way by Susan Parry

Preface ‘The Corpse Way’ A Yorkshire Dales Mystery

‘A quiet summer holiday in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales was just what Millie needed. No excitement, fresh air and huge helpings of her Grandmother’s home cooking.
But Millie is drawn into an intriguing mystery that surrounds the isolated shooting lodge on the moor, the Dutchman who rents it and the sudden death of two residents in the village. Convinced that Lizzie Banford did not die of natural causes, Millie sets about finding the truth.
Set in the lead mining area of peaceful Swaledale, this is the first in the series of Yorkshire dales Mysteries.’

The pace is fairly slow with the story concentrating more on developing characters for future books. The star is the Yorkshire countryside.

Yorkshire God’s Own County Book Club Opinion

One percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration should be the formula for a good read.
Just a shame some perspiration was missing from the publishers or proof readers who have allowed some minor errors to creep in to the text. (A bit like this post you might think.)
Probably a book best left for pleasure reading rather than as a feature for your readers book club.
I am not keen to recommend the books on my initial exposure therefore I have not provided amazon links for this series although you can use our Yorkshire at Amazon button if you wish.

Footnotes


Other Books in the Series
Death Cart (The Yorkshire Dales Mystery Series)
Corpse Way (The Yorkshire Dales Mystery Series)
Grave Hand (The Yorkshire Dales Mystery Series)
Craven Scar (The Yorkshire Dales Mystery Series)
I think these are good ‘pithy’ titles and may be I should give the books a second chance.

Posted in Books Club & Literary Work | Comments Off on The Yorkshire Dales Mystery Series – A5

Rombalds Revels 2009

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Hortoris

Olicana History Society and Friends of the Manor House are currently running a ‘Rombalds Revels’ event. With roots in the Middle Ages the theme will include music, street circus and dance with a big event on August 22nd 2009. Medieval music by Steven Tyler and his Hurdgy Gurdy will feature and a sample can be heard on myspace Steven is also playing at The Royal Armouries Leeds for 3 days over August bank holiday weekend.
At Ilkley, jugglers,stilt walkers, fire eaters, magic and the rocks, that are the remnants of Giant Rombald’s walk over the moors, will be on display. Funding has largely been provided by the Big Lottery Fund so most events will be free.

Ilkley Heritage Guided Walks

Throughout the year there are guided walks organised covering the many historical aspects of Ilkley. The balance of the August 2009 programme is outlined below.

Wed 12th Aug Roman Ilkley starts 2.00 p.m.

Ilkley 1859 Darwin’s Visit starts 7.00 p.m.

Wed 19th Aug Prehistoric Rombalds Moor starts 2.00 p.m.

Villas of West Ilkley starts 7.00 p.m.

Sun 23rd Aug Ilkley Cemetery starts 2.00 p.m.
Wed 26th Aug Ilkley 1859 What Darwin saw starts 2.00 p.m.

Organised by Bradford Council

Posted in Yorkshire Trips and Places | Comments Off on Rombalds Revels 2009

Yorkshire Gold

Posted on August 9, 2012 by tejvan
Yorkshire Gold

Yorkshire Gold

Yorkshire gold – it must be something in the water.

 

Yorkshire Golds so Far

  1. Alistair Brownlee – West Yorks Triathlon –
  2. ANDREW TRIGGS-HODGE  Rowing – coxless four     Hebden
  3. KATHERINE COPELAND   Rowing,   women’s lightweight double sculls     Stokesley
  4. Jessica Ennis – Heptathlon, Sheffield
  5. Ed Clancy – Team Pursuit

more to come.

Posted in Our Yorkshire | Comments Off on Yorkshire Gold

Greedy Boards In a Yorkshire Back Garden

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Hortoris

Greedy Board compost bin

With the extra rain this summer all the garden greenery has grown like triffids.
There is far more garden plant matter to turn into compost and heaps are full to over flowing, bulging at the seams or both. Still mixed waste reduces in volume very rapidly as the rotting starts and the heap compresses so the greedy boards wont last long..

Compost is Good for Gardens

Grass clippings are full of nitrogen but can tend to make your compost a bit soggy so mix them with drier brown stuff. If you have no brown compostables you can tear up some newsprint or cardboard to balance the compost mixture.
Compost need air and active bacteria to get hot and kill off seeds and pathogens. If you have space (and energy) turn the heap over every few weeks.
By autumn (8 weeks) the greedy boards will have gone and the compost will have a wooden cover to retain heat and keep out excessive rain.
You should not need a compost activator, bits of soil and worms will do the job. However Garrotta will add trace elements and get your heap going

Compost bins
The motto of Yorkshire Rotters is ‘Rotting to the Core’
Good compost helps fruit and veg grow for all the Yorkshire Greedy Guts.

Other Greedy Boards

Day twelve: we don't need no steenkin' greedy boards

‘We don’t need no steenkin’ greedy boards’ by pragmatic_pete,CC BY-NC 2.0
Oh yes you do! With a shovel that size no wonder you filled the skip double quick.

Carter's Steam Fair ERF Lorry
This vehicle was built in 1971 and we brought it from David Norton, who used it commercially. We put a body on the back from a Foden lorry, in a traditional shape. It features ‘greedy boards’, carries the Swingboats and Strikers. This vehicle also has blowers with flames and advertising signs which are lit up by halogens when the fair is open. On the road this ERF tows the Juvenile truck and is currently owned by Joby Carter.
Photo and description ‘Carter’s Steam Fair ERF Lorry’ by James F Clay, CC BY-NC 2.0

Skips

Skips by Alan Stanton CC BY-NC 2.0 A London version of demure ‘greedy boards’.

Posted in Our Yorkshire | Comments Off on Greedy Boards In a Yorkshire Back Garden

Yorkshire 7th in Olympic Medal Table

Posted on August 7, 2012 by tejvan

Beating the established sporting powerhouses of countries like Australia, Japan, South Africa, Germany and Cuba, the independent Republic of Yorkshire are currently 7th in the Olympic medal Table! Not even Usain Bolt and the Jamaican track team have been able to overtake the incredible small country of Yorkshire. Disconsolate Australian athletes have apparently been heading up the M1 looking for the recipe for Yorkshire puddings. However, Supreme athletics coach Geoff Boycott claimed 12 hours a day down the mine does great things for your long-term fitness.

Yorkshire medal table Olympics

Yorkshire Gold

  1. Alistair Brownlee – West Yorks Triathlon –
  2. ANDREW TRIGGS-HODGE  Rowing – coxless four     Hebden
  3. KATHERINE COPELAND   Rowing,   women’s lightweight double sculls     Stokesley
  4. Jessica Ennis – Heptathlon, Sheffield
  5. Ed Clancy – Team Pursuit

Yorkshire Silver

  1. NICOLA WILSON    Equestrian Eventing, Northallerton               SILVER
  2. LIZZIE ARMITSTEAD  Road Cycling,   Otley                                        SILVER

Yorkshire Bronze

TOM RANSLEY                  Rowing,             York City Rowing Club    BRONZE
men’s eights

Jonathon Brownlee – Triathlon  –

Yorkshire Gold Medals winners

Jessica Ennis in the Heptathlon 200m, 2012 London Olympcs

Jessica Ennis – Heptathlon

yorkshire

 Related

Yorkshire 7th in Olympic medal table Guardian

Join the rapidly growing Yorkshire Independence Movement! – next step a place on the UN Security council with China, Russia and US.

 

Posted in Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes | 1 Comment

Headingley Ashes

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Hortoris

Headingley

As the England team come to Headingley to start the 4th 2009 Test and the 24th Ashes Test  on this ground England are looking for an eighth win. Australia boast eight wins to England’s seven, while a further eight matches have been drawn. The ground is part way through a major redevelopment but the playing surface looks grand.


Amazing Feats and Triumphs in Headingley Tests

  • It is hard to believe it is 32 years since Geoff Boycott scored his 100th first-class hundred at his home ground in 1977.
  • Don Bradman stands tallest among those who have graced the Headingley turf, having scored 963 runs in just four Tests at an average of 192. The 334 he made in 1934 on his first Test appearance at the ground included 309 runs in a day, and he scored another triple century in 1938. Returning in 1948 Don Bradman scored an unbeaten 173 to a final-day pursuit of 404 to help Australia chalk up one of the eight wins.
  • Fred Trueman was the hero in 1961 when in one spell he claimed 5-0 on the way  to match figures of 11-88.  Having bowled Richie Benaud, he consoled (or is it sledged) him in inimitable style saying   “Don’t worry, sunshine. It would have knocked over even a half-decent batsman.”
  • Imagine Headingley in 1981 with England forced to follow on 290 runs behind and 135 for seven in the second innings and yet contrived to win by 18runs. Ian Botham’s scored an unbeaten 149, and pushed the score up to 420 leaving Australia chasing 130 to win on the last day. Enter Bob Willis with a spell of 8-43 in 15 overs and our tight victory.

The scene is set for another epic battle with our old foes those Yorkshire men in exile the Aussies. The Western Terrace is no more but the support will be there. Let us hope for a great game and an England victory despite the lack of Yorkshire born talent in the England team.
The only weather forecast I have seen is that there will be ‘no change in the changeable weather’ so no draw I hope.

Photo credit Headingley by clumsy_jim (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Posted in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes | Comments Off on Headingley Ashes