A marathon sprint

A General Election campaign is a marathon and, waking up this morning, it felt like I had run one.

The truth is a little less heroic although running was, nonetheless, the cause of my suffering.

Because yesterday I had the privilege, for the second successive year, of climbing into the famous Cliff The Castle suit to take part in the 2010 Mascot Gold Cup at Wetherby Racecourse.

And running with me was the Conservative Keighley West Local Election Candidate Chris Herd, as Sir Ian "Beefy" Botham. As a local butcher, Chris was certainly the right man for that particular role.

In the end, neither Chris nor I were in any danger of "troubling the scorers" with regard to our finishing positions.

But our collective endeavours did manage to raise almost £400 for Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope, with some money still to come in.

Thanks to everyone who put their hands in their pockets to support this most special of local causes.