Manchester

Reddish

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Reddish Vale Ski Jump:

K-Point:	30 m
Hill record:	32.3 m (106 ft) (Ove Johnsen , 1960-03-04)

Year of construction:	1960
Further jumps:	no
Status:	destroyed
Plastic matting:	no
Ski club:	Manchester University

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History:

Reddish Vale is located west of Manchester and on March 3 and 4 1960 two ski jumping competitions took place there, which were organized by two Norwegian students of Manchester University. Therefore some 40 ft.(12 m) of scaffolding was set above a steep embankment which made a natural landing slope and refrigerated vans brought snow from Devil’s Elbow in Scotland. The distances were only about 30 m, because the real intention of Lary Eie and Erik Hoff was to collect donations with this very well-frequented tournaments in order to support the world refugee year which was announced for 1960. Total winner of the competition was Ove Johnsen (NOR), who also landed the largest jump with 106 ft. (32 m).

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Map:

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Comments:

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4) Stephanie Wiggins wrote on 2011-05-28 at 17:09:

See Stockport Express Flickr site

I came across some photos of my father's recently and have scanned them into my computer, cleaned the up and added them to the above Flickr site. I too have suffered in the past with no-one believing me!

3) Oliver Weeger wrote on 2011-04-20 at 12:34:

@Stephen Johns

Thank's for sharing your great story!

2) Stephen Johns wrote on 2011-04-20 at 00:08:

Erik Hoff

A couple of weeks ago in April, 2011 whilst hut touring in Femundsmarka, Norway I met Erik Hoff who told me of his mad cap idea for this event whilst he was studying at Manchester University. Erik, who must now be in his seventies, is still skiing and told me that he had this idea after perhaps too many pints. He told me that they organised the snow to be brought from Scotland in trains in the days when British Rail could perhaps do this sort of thing for nothing more easily than now. They also brought over the Norwegian Ski Jumping Team to put on the show. He recalls that the organisation of the event was far bigger than he had imagined and he had little time to see any of the jumping. An expert jumper himself, he says that he did manage a few spare moments to do one jump but that in his haste he forgot to do up his boots. As he took off he flew through the air minus his skis and boots landing in great pain head first. He didn’t seem to mind too much as the crowd thought that it was all part of the entertainment. His objective was achieved with a large photo of the jumping on the front page of (I think) The Manchester Guardian. He told me that he did have thoughts of celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the event but so far nothing has become of it.

1) Judith Ridgway wrote on 2010-12-31 at 19:58:

Thought I'd dream't it.

I had a memory off sitting with my friend on a hill in Reddish Vale, "watching ski jumping".We were about 13 years of age.I have related this memory to many a person in this area (DENTON..REDDISH), but they do not have any recollection at all.I realy did start to think I had dreamt it!! Just to have found this info on your site is fantastic. The friend with me was a daughter of the local farmer so we got access via their fields.To bring the snow from Scotland in vans!! What an achievment.Thank's for confirming it did happen. 50 years on and it takes some beating as an unusual event too just happen in what is now called Greater Manchester.Yours with thank's Judith Ridgway

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