Minnellium

Memories of my father-in-law, William Dalkin

Dave Haygarth — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:15:48 +0000

I’ve only recently realised that a funeral gives so much flipping time for reflection and review that it’s a good time to make the time to write down memories to myself. For the second time this month I’ve been to a funeral – unprecedented rates, and not something I want to repeat. A few thoughts …

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Memories of my cousin, Robin Smith

Dave Haygarth — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 19:53:55 +0000

Robin Andrew Smith was ‘the first of the gang to die’. I’m the youngest – on both sides of my family – of a number of boy cousins. And I’m 56, and it’s no time in life to lose someone of my generation. Not yet. But Robin has died – at the are of 60. …

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Annecy (and more) 2026 hols

Dave Haygarth — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:44:11 +0000

A lovely holiday in Europe once again – my kind of thing – but sadly, another holiday without Lily. Approaching 24, she’s started her full time career now and the luxury of ten days off work hasn’t got to her just yet. Elsie and I drove down vial (ferry to) Calais in boiling hot England, …

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If (insert name of beer preferred brand) made ski breaks

Dave Haygarth — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:37:48 +0000

It was 2020 when we last were lucky enough to ski together as a family, and that was a different world. At the time, I recall seeing someone in Grenoble airport wearing a face mask and thinking what a freakish hypocondriac they were. (They weren’t, as it turned out). We finally got the financial and …

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Home to roost – the 2025 3 Peaks cyclo-cross

Dave Haygarth — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:40:46 +0000

The annual blog posts I’ve done on this race are not quite countless (because I’m also meticulously counting events), but date back some time. If you told me in September 1995 that I’d be writing blog posts each year after the 3 Peaks to offload the event’s happenings, I’d have given you a funny look. …

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You can but Tri

Dave Haygarth — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:11:49 +0000

It was Lily’s fault. She decided to have a bit of a rebirth in autumn with her running, and entered the Manchester Marathon. She ticked that box with military precision at the end of April, with a brilliant and consistent run. The first Haygarth marathon completion, in this branch of the family. But before that …

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2024 – a race oddity

Dave Haygarth — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 16:16:35 +0000

I don’t really like to look back too often. Whilst we all tend to love a good remenisce, I try to focus on the future. Last year at this time, I was coming to the conclusion that I just needed to get on with the things I like doing – to walk the talk – …

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24 / heaven – the Three Peaks Cyclo-cross

Dave Haygarth — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 10:09:34 +0000

My 24th completion of the most wonderful cycle race in history and again a contented, warm, relieved and melancholy Dave is here to get his thoughts down before they blend into the myriad of complex memories of the previous 23. The race that keeps on giving. There ought to be nothing left to say that …

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The 2024 Gralloch – we go again

Dave Haygarth — Mon, 20 May 2024 10:02:58 +0000

My first, in fact, THE first Gralloch last year was fun. Big fun. But it felt like a bit of a learning exercise, and this year my firness was much better. I was excited, and, dare I say relaxed? I was just going to throw myself into it with all that I learned in 2023. …

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Krakow with Katie – another country, and a great time

Dave Haygarth — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 15:47:00 +0000

After so much goind on this spring, I feel spoilt. Spoilt to have so many things to do, and to have so many people to share them with, Flanders, France, Scotland… I’m a lucky man. The short but very sweet trip to Krakow was possibly the most surprising. It didn’t start well though. We sat …

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