Well that was something else, as the clock ticked down to 7pm I won’t lie I was a little nervous however as soon as I pressed live (and it worked, this has not always happened in practice) we were off.

So after all the prep it was show time, Saturday night, after a whirlwind 2 months from thinking it up, it went live and I have to say what a fun experience it was.

Please note, Chris has done a super job of updating the website which features all the events, all the area videos and if you fancy watching the whole thing again, bingo it’s there.

Live Show

Events

Area videos

So in total 29 areas got involved sending in clips of their finest duvet making, tin stacking, shoe putting on, tin blowing, boat wafting, planking and jumping clips it was something else, we even had a virtual elimination 5km race, which if I don’t mind typing was extremely tense. I was bowled over by the level of entries, not only that but we also were sent loads of different area videos which feature a bit about what some of the GoodGym areas have been getting up to during these times. We even got the marching band back together to play the GoodGym Games Anthem.

All in all it was wonderful, from the commentators who provided such good commentary throughout to the participants who just got involved. I was delighted to see so many watched throughout and loved reading the comments, the aim for organising these types of things is to hopefully bring members of the community together as I think we have so many different and wonderful characters.

The overall winners of the two trophies up for grabs were GoodGym Lambeth taking the Kerry-Barnard Cup and GoodGym Haringey taking the Hunter-Sidhu Shield on the last event.

Not only did we have that going on, my inbox was full of delicious bakes and carefully crafted veg/fruit. I think the standard just keeps going up a notch through sourdough loafs to delicious cupcakes, however the winner this year in the public vote was Imogen with her winning baking creation "3 We're all having a good lime (cake)"

Craving it up on the veg side was a wonderful creation named "The Eye Test" curated by Andrea Lo. Both I’m sure we can agree were outstanding. Please see their winning creations on Here

Please note more photos from the entries will be added in the coming days.

I also do want to thank the GoodGym Games committee who have been wonderful to work with, I brought this idea to the table when the GoodGym in Oxford was postponed and together we made it into last nights show, they are deserves a massive cheer, with special mention to Mark Gilyead, who had edited more clips than I would like to say, thank you.

Thank you Aidan Padfield, Beth Hoskins, Graham Atkins, Mark Gilyead, Steph Turner and Will Dowsett. Massive cheers. Special mention also to GoodGym members John Gutteridge, Chris Howsen and Tim Wheatley for all your help putting this together also and to the wonderful GoodGym members who were the sounds for the night the comentators Steve Jenkins, Teresa Gebski, Tim Dwyer, Peter Gillibrand, James Kerry-Barnard, John Hunter, Catherine Speed and Ivo Gormley, just fantastic.

Here's a video for all the team: video

Update: Photos are now ready: Please click this link for the wonderful pictures of the day taken by Tom Hunter and Sarah Rajabalee Photos

Well what a day, on Saturday 3rd August I checked the weather forecast and was relieved to see the chances of rain was limited, however what they failed to say was just over Hampstead heath, there was going to be from 12 o’clock onwards flashes of red thunder would be seen. The local residents should have been warned a sea of red was heading to Hampstead heath armed with cakes, carved vegetables, frying pans and bags full of energy, witnesses said that it was very infectious.

So after lots of emails and badge/medal making the third GoodGym Olympics took place. Over 160 folks from all over the GoodGym community came to London to compete in the annual sports day. Events on offer were classic running events such as the 400m and elimination mile to more novel but just as serious ones such as the egg and spoon and a first time entry the Bucket stilt relay. The day was amazing and brought together some fantastic competition and lovely fun sprint. We saw photo finishes on so many races including a tense 100m to a mass final lap on the 5,000m, the energy and sprite was amazing and just sums up GoodGym.

This years event had a marching band created from a competition I set up to create an Olympic anthem, James and Laura from Lambeth created two entries and Mark, Lambeth leader, joined them together to make an amazing effort and brought together a number of musicians to create a marching band for the day, it was beyond words. Alongside the events we had a loads of lovely baked goods taking part in the bake off and some amazing carved vegetables in the veg competition. I have included a few pictures as they say it better than my typed words. Loads of new things were introduced this year from medals hand made from clay, amazing village games, area badges and temporary tattoos which all look great.

I have organised this for the last three years and every year folks contributions and enthusiasm amazes me and makes it all worth it, although this is a lot of work to put it together there are a number of people whose effort and ensure the days goes on without any hitches, from the first aiders to the commentators, timing team, village games organisers, start of the day setting uppers, marshals, bake off helpers and bakers, loads and loads of people. Also mega shout out to the areas that travel far and wide to come, you made such an effort and it was lovely you made the effort, shout out to Colchester, Bristol, Brighton, Oxford, Portsmouth and York

When I can compile the results I can find I will make them public as with when more photos come available. Anyhow, thank you so much for coming and getting involved it was truly a great day and everyone contributed to it. Next year as we have had three years in London, I am looking for an area outside to host it, stay tunes for announcements coming up in the next few months.

Nice one, Tom