1st Poulner Rocks again!!!!
You have to realise that this was a truly team event.
The walkers showed true grit, having done the training (which was never going to be enough), raised a huge sum in sponsorship towards Ringwood’s newest (i.e. not built yet) multi activity centre (MAC), packed their bags of food, ground up 10,330 vertical feet of 3 mountains walking 25 miles and over 10 hours cramped into 2 minibuses, and still smiling at the end. They all did the job with poise and aplomb. I loved the moments when team A coming down met Team A1 going up on each mountain and as we passed each embraced the other. A picture of the Beaver trophy was taken on the top of each mountain and will appear on the website soon.
The drivers were superb and even the roller coaster speed bump test 10 miles out of Wasdale Head (DAVE) did not keep us awake as we were pitched against the roof/walls/floor. Theirs’ was an ordeal in driving a total of 1350 miles with very little sleep and always being cheerful even when chivvying us to get going (and beating on the shower room door in the services when 1 team member (JULIAN) decided he needed a shower). Their driving was precise and expert and if we had had just normal drivers we would not have achieved the challenge within 24 hours.
The sponsors have been SO generous for this great cause. We will have raised approaching £10,000 as a result and with gift aid for much of it, another 22%. So without you, this challenge would have just been an endurance test, whereas it has much more purpose than that, bringing forward the date when we start building by at least 6 months.
The families for lending us your important family members and being really KIND to them when the return to the bosom of the family tired and hungry (ps – that’s a prompt there!).
23 Hours 41 minutes.
Yes! That is what we have to beat “the Next Time”
Colin
