The last Christmas Day run was in 2010 and Neil Palframan reported that 81 Ferals were on the "Hill".

Maybe it was the 35 degrees temperature or a refreshment or two making the lounge or the pool a preferred afternoon option, but Christmas day 2021 saw only 23 runners on the "Hill".

Derek Goullet's email in part read "For the runner count, as Graeme Lyons (20) is an accountant and should know his numbers I'll follow his lead and say 22" was closest to the actual number. Tracey Josling, who was third in 2010 was not optimistic predicting a mere 16, this contrasted with Neil (72), David Heffer (60 influenced by a recent birthday) and Richard West, 58.

To his credit three of the 23 came from the West family.

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It was a significant day for two Ferals, club treasurer John Farronato reached 2000 kilometres of recorded running on the "Hill" and Donna Jackson was the subject of the "Happy Birthday" choristers.

Just as the search party was about to set off John Johns appeared. Turns out he went right rather than left when he reached fire trail 13.

The idea of a Be Social run is that groups set off at two-minute intervals with the objective that they run as a group and finish as a group.

The 10 and 14-minute group achieved that objective. Groups four, six and eight minutes only had one entrant and so technically also achieved the objective although as already noted group six chose a longer course.

New Year's Day in 2011 attracted 61 Ferals, 11 years later we will see if the same level of commitment exists, or the temperatures make the pool more attractive.

On January 1's Be Social run, 58 Ferals braved the heat.

Maryanne Dodd and her garden hose at the back of Messner Street proved a real cool down treat for runners. New Year's Day was significant for John Dodd and Lyn Potter with both celebrating birthdays.

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