TEN GOOD REASONS FOR FISHWICK 
One of the best known contemporary fell runners outside the notoriety of elite class is Chorley's Darren Fishwick. Everybody has a soft spot for Darren. He's a salt of the earth Lancashire lad. His much acclaimed race reports - which tend to be not much about the race really, but more cleverly written amusing stories of anything else mildly related - are a big hit with fellrunning followers of the online forums. There's barely a race on the calendar that Fishwick hasn't finished - or written about. Add to that, he's not a bad runner either.
Now we're certainly not best mates or owt, but Darren and I tend to exchange a few words whenever our paths meet. In recent times, whenever I've seen Darren I've made brazen attempts - although as yet unsuccessful - at persuading him to consider joining Ribble Valley Harriers. A big "No, no, no! No chance!..." was the response at the Tour of Pendle last November. But last time I saw him, in Vaughn's Cafe at Tockholes just over a month ago, his resistance had diluted down to , "Haha, I'm not quick enough for your lot". To which I retorted, "Give over. Look at me, what am I doing there then?".
I don't think I've planted the seed yet, but perhaps I've tidied up the soil and removed a few weeds and all good gardeners will tell you that perseverance pays.
Like Alex Ferguson's intuition that Eric Cantona was his man, I just know in my heart of hearts that DF and RVH would be a match made in heaven.
Unlike Daz F's musings, only one or two locals and a random Belgian inquisitor have been the consistent viewers of my written running ramblings over the last few years, so I might have to try and get this to him personally in some roundabout way as this message is especially for you, Darren Fishwick.
As a music lover, Darren will definitely recall 'Especially For You', which was a number one hit for Kylie and Jason. He's certainly the perfect age to have subconsciously absorbed and remembered all the lyrics too. (Takes one to know one) That was as big as it got for Jason's pop career, although his solo album Ten Good Reasons did Ok. A not so subtle Fishwickesque tangent twist there, for Ten Good Reasons are as follows why Darren should join Ribble Valley Harriers...

Reason 1... Another footballing analogy to get things started... Steven Gerrard stayed at Liverpool all his career and in these times of flakey fickle footballers, hats off to the scouse lad for a solid act of trend butting. But had the mighty reds merged with Everton and Tranmere to create a Merseyside United that messed with their traditional kit colours, I'm sure that his loyalty would not have been questioned had Stevie G decided to eventually move on. Gerrard won a few things and was a legend where he was, but what else could he have done and won? What horizons could have been broadened and enriched further by playing a few years elsewhere?
Reason 2... You've got the right personality for this small club. No heirs and graces, a bloke who just wants to get stuck in and race. (then write a report drifting off on to more splendid tangents than Ronnie Corbett did in his leather chair and Lyle & Scott sweater, near the end of the The Two Ronnies show)
Reason 3... RVH is predominantly a fell club and so your association would be entirely like minded.
Reason 4... You'd be a fine addition to a competitive men's vets team on the fells. In a mixed team you would get the chance to race with one of the club's brilliant lasses.
Reason 5... "If Fishwick joined, they can't be all that bad"... that's what they'll be saying about RVH when your transfer goes through! A Dazza in black (sometimes yellow, maybe even pink) would be a fantastic ambassadorial advert for a club that has undeservedly got a bad press in certain quarters. Charmian Heaton tried to find a way to ban the club, so come on in and find out just how ridiculously off the mark your apparently friendly FRA Chair really is. Wearing the black vest, you find out who your friends on the circuit really are.
Reason 6... You told me last year that since the Chorley clubs all merged, you wear the original Chorley Harriers vest as a protest because Chorley is traditionally just black and white only, like the football team. Now Chorley FC also have red in their strip. Nothing is sacred.

Reason 7... You could look at your current club vest as an unsolved crossword puzzle... the black bits are already there, the white bits just need filling in.

Reason 8... Sutty needs a few inter-club connections over West and Central Lancs to do some club group sessions closer to home.

Reason 9... Hastle free. These days you can go online and change running clubs as easy as buying a pair of kecks off eBay. Give it a year initially, they're good sorts at Chorley and wouldn't hold a grudge. In fact you know they would have you back in a flash if things didn't work out. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Reason 10... Oh come on, just what the bloody hell's stopping you?! Get in touch with Barnes...