Mothering Sunday Race

On Mothering Sunday last week some 100 athletes took part in a 5 mile race from Swains Valley up to Werneth Low and back.

Here the front runners are emerging from Swains Valley onto the Trans Pennine Trail.

More photographs can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

A full report on the race can be found at the Kiwi Classic Events website.

ABC Wednesday R is for Runners

On Sunday 31st October a group of around thirty runners gathered at Swains Valley for a Halloween Race.

Here one runner is just lumbering up before the start whilst another is washing down a banana.

There are more photos of the start of the race on Hyde DP Xtra.

For more R posts visit ABC Wednesday

Ewen Fields from St Thomas

Yesterday I posted a view of shadows behind St Thomas the Apostle.

On the right of that photograph were some railings on top of the wall.

This is the view through those railings looking over the field that formerly belonged to Leigh Street school. On the far side is Ewen Fields the home of Hyde FC.

Shadow Shot Sunday:Tinker's Passage

Tinker's Passage leads from Lumn Road down to the back of Ewen Fields the home ground of Hyde F.C.

Behind the wall can be glimpsed the recently renovated Tinker's Passage Stand.

In the wall is the now long disused Three Bob Entrance.

On a bright October day, the sun casts Autumn shadows over fallen leaves.

For more shadow shots visit Hey Harriet.

Walker Lane Playing Field

Here are the playing fields on Walker Lane.

The building on the left is Tameside Leisure Pool which was recently refurbished and renamed Hyde Pool.

Just beyond the trees is Ewen Fields, the home of Hyde FC.

Hyde FC in Blue

As I reported here on August 24th 2010, Hyde FC's ground is now home to Manchester City Reserves for at least the next three years. As part of the deal, an upgrade of facilities has dramatically transformed Ewen Fields, with a new colour scheme and general improvements to the ground.

This is how the main stand now looks.

The new sign at the entrance to Ewen Fields can be viewed on Hyde DP Xtra.

A history of Hyde FC can now be found on Old Hyde.

For more H posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Werneth Low Golf Course

I had the pleasure of visiting Werneth Low Golf Club last week and took a few shots from the clubhouse.

Camera shots, that is; I've never lifted a golf club in my life, a few rounds of Crazy Golf excepted.

According to the club website the course was founded in 1912.

There may have been an earlier clubhouse - see the post on Tom & Nancy's Hyde Cheshire blog.

Another four photographs can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

Hyde Market reflected in a notice-board

This was taken last Saturday by the entrance to Clarendon Square Shopping Centre.

Hyde Market and the White Lion are reflected in the notice board advertising forthcoming matches at Hyde F.C.

In the Senior Cup match United Reserves beat City Reserves 3-1.

For more weekend reflections visit Newtown Area Photos.

Preparing for the Cup Match

Manchester City Reserves play Manchester United Reserves at Ewen Fields tonight in the Senior Cup. It is a competition that has been held since 1885 which was the year when Hyde F.C. were formed.

Yesterday morning the ground was being prepared for the match.

This is the Walker Lane end of the ground.

You can see the Tinkers Passage end on Hyde DP Xtra.

Reflections in the Doorway of the White Lion

The light above the doorway to the White Lion is reflected in the façade.

To the left of the doorway is a newly erected plaque commemorating the 125th anniversary of the formation of Hyde Football Club. You can see a closer view of the plaque on Hyde DP Xtra.

For further weekend reflections visit Newtown Area Photo.

Etherow Riding Arena

The riding arena at the Etherow Centre in Broadbottom.

The Etherow Centre is a charitable trust that looks after a converted railway warehouse.

The property and surrounding land were purchased from British Rail Property Board in 1985. Renovation work began in 1986 and the initial phase was the restoration and adaptation of the lower floor to create an indoor riding centre.

The second phase of the renovation work in 1987 involved the adaptation and restoration of the upper floor to create a permanent indoor gymnastics facility.

In 1989 funding from Children In Need, small charitable trusts and individual donations enabled the building of this outdoor riding area for the Kingfisher Riding for the Disabled Group.

In 1997 a stable block was added.

In 2009 the Tameside School of Gymnastics moved to Pinfold in Hattersley and the upper floor of the centre was modified to provide a home for indoor bowling and other community activities. The Etherow Bowling and Activity Centre, run by Tameside Sports Trust features an indoor bowling green built to national league standard.

See Hyde DP Xtra for a view of the centre from Broadbottom station car park and The Etherow Centre's website for more about their work.

Dunkirk Fishermen

Last week I showed you Dunkirk Bridge over the Peak Forest Canal.

Just to the North along the towpath I found these fishermen. Before anyone asks, these are not the natural colours; I've aged the image to resemble an old newspaper print. You can view the scene in its natural colour on Geograph.

A little further North is Warble Wharf which you can view on Hyde DP Xtra.

Miles Street

At the end of Miles Street, the signs proclaim "Residential Parking Only".

The reason for them is that at the end of the street is Ewen Fields, the home ground of Hyde United FC.

What's Big in Hyde?

The CDPB theme today is Big. When I asked my friends "What's Big in Hyde?" quite a lot of people came up with the boxer Ricky Hatton.

Last Wednesday Mohammed Ali (aka Cassius Clay) visited Ricky at his gym in Hyde.

Lots of media people were there beaming their stories about the meeting around the world. I just photographed the photographers.

Check out the video reports on BBC news and on BBC Sport.

To find out what is Big around the world Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Mottram Cricket Club

About a mile up the same road from Broadbottom Cricket Club is Mottram Cricket Club.


It was established in 1878 and plays in the Derbyshire and Cheshire Leauge.

Broadbottom Cricket Club

Recently I showed you Flowery Field Cricket Club.

Today I bring you Broadbottom Cricket Club.

The pitch was originally given by the Chapman family. The sloping field was levelled in the 1960s.

If you don't care for this sepia version you can view the original on Geograph.

Flowery Field Cricket Club

Flowery Field is a family cricket club with three senior teams who are members of the Lancashire County Cricket League. The club also has a large junior section which supports four junior teams, at U9, U13, U15, & U17 levels.

More information on the Flowery Field Cricket Club website.

Hatton Health and Fitness

The old NTA printworks on the corner of Market Street and Queen Street has now been converted into a gymnasium.

Brainchild of boxer Ricky Hatton, a few more finishing touches have been added to the building since this photograph was taken.

A membership recruitment drive has been going on in Clarendon Mall for the last few weeks and the club was officially opened on Monday.

Personally I'm not a fan of boxing, but if you are, you'll find his official website here.

Church View

What would you expect to see if you were standing in Church View?

Exactly - this is the rear of St George's Church.

The netball court belongs to the nearby school.

Godley/Newton Cricket Ground

Yesterday I promised to show you some green grass.

What could be better than a village cricket ground?

OK it was sometime in October when I walked past the cricket ground in Godley and there was no-one actually playing, but you can't have everything can you?

I've been informed that it is actually Newton Cricket Club, although the ground is in Godley, separated from Newton by the M67. Newton Cricket Club celebrates it's centenary in 2012.