A team of seventeen employees and friends from Hare Hatch Sheeplands plant centre near Twyford are now back at work after raising at least £4,000 for charity by successfully undertaking the 3Peaks Challenge. This involves climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours.
“It is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life” exclaimed Twyford Sheeplands director Andrew Cardy who co-ordinated the project. “Without everybody supporting each other we simply couldn’t have made it. It wasn’t just the fourteen people who undertook the climbs. We also had three people to handle the driving and logistics and they played a key role in making it achievable.”
Ten of the fourteen climbers completed the three climbs within the 24 hour period with Steve Poole from Twyford the first to finish, with 45 minutes to spare.
Others who beat the deadline were Cath Silver and Simon Roberts from Twyford, Andrew Cardy and Jo Roberts from Wargrave, Kirsten A’Bear, Mark A’Bear and Richard Roberts from Charvil, Cath Gordon from Hare Hatch and 18-year-old George Scott from Ottershaw in Surrey, who limped across the line with badly blistered feet just six minutes inside the deadline. “I was so proud of George,” said Andrew “because he completed the course although he was in such pain and had to run at the end to beat the deadline.”
Rob Scott and Andrea Tandy from Twyford plus Tina Stevenson completed the course in just under 25 hours, Rob suffering from an injury received on the climb. Jane Ainslie from Henley’s Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children was suffering from a suspected virus and was restricted to completing only the last of the climbs. Jill Davison, Wendy Kailus and Bernie Leicester were the support trio.
What made the project even tougher was the fact that while most of Britain basked in a heatwave the team had to cope with torrential rain on Scafell Pike and snow at the top of Ben Nevis where they boosted morale with a snowball fight.
Sheeplands Twyford co-director Rob Scott admitted that it was tough but claimed “We all said we would never do it again at the time. But I know now that I would like to try again and I know that Jane is planning to try again next year, with some of the others in support.”
The challenge began with a sense of foreboding when the team discovered that the minibus they were due to collect in Inverness had been involved in an accident, but a replacement was soon found and the walk began at 5.30 pm on Monday.
“We made good progress on our first climb of Ben Nevis, although Kirsten A’Bear was suffering from a touch of sunstroke after umpiring netball matches in searing heat the day before. We drove on to Scafell Pike in Cumbria slightly ahead of schedule,” said Sheeplands marketing manager Andrea Tandy.
“That’s where it really began to get hard and not just because of the rain and the midges. It was 4.30 am, dark, wet and parts of Scafell are technically quite difficult to climb because there are several expanses of large boulders to negotiate. We were concerned that the rain was making them very slippery and there was a danger that someone could fall and break an ankle.
“We were behind time and I know that some considered giving up. They were tired physically and mentally, not just from the climbing but from the lack of sleep, but they were supported by others in the group.”
It was quite demoralising at that point,” added Andrew Cardy “because we lost time on Scafell and thought the challenge was slipping away from us.”
When the team arrived at Snowdon they decided to split into two groups, fast and slow, although in reality they ended up stretched out in a long line, with some of the group having to break into a painful run towards the end to complete the course inside the 24 hour target.
“It was agonising at times but there was a sense of euphoria at the end” said Andrew. “It was a real team effort and there were friendships made on those mountains that will remain forever.
“We know already that we have raised at least £4,000 to share between the Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, but money is still coming in so we expect the total to rise.
“Of course it was all worthwhile because not only did we all feel such a wonderful sense of achievement, but with the help of those who sponsored us we have raised several thousand pounds for two very worthwhile charities.”
Hare Hatch Sheeplands, Twyford