THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE
BY RAIL 2009

SLUMDOG MOUNTAINEERS

By Katie Mason, Events Manager

On Thursday 17th September, 100 people boarded a very special train at Euston, stopping off at Crewe on the way to Bangor to start the year’s second Three Peaks Challenge. This popular event is over subscribed every year so this year we decided to do it twice. We were delighted to welcome a very special guest on board, Andy Savage, who was celebrating his 21st., and that’s 21 mountains, not years. Andy has taken part in every one of our 7 three peaks challenges and we felt this should be celebrated, so we presented him with his own commemorative t-shirt.

The carb loading started as soon as we left Euston with a delicious cream tea, followed by Cornish pasties on departure from Crewe, giving us plenty of energy to tackle Snowdon. The procession of head torches snaked its way up the mountain and though a couple of people had to come back down, every team made it to the summit. Luckily Martin Ward and his team made it down quickly as they had brought camping stoves to make some very welcome bacon butties for everyone with all profits going to Railway Children.

Then it was back on the train to eat a cooked breakfast and grab a few hours sleep. On arrival into Ravenglass we were met with clear skies and sunshine and boarded the wonderful Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway for our journey to Dalegarth from where the teams walked across the moor to start their ascent of Scafell Pike. This is probably the most difficult mountain – there’s been a night with very little sleep and our challenge does include this extra few miles to get to the mountain. It does however mean we do not have to put on buses to get us to the mountain. It’s not a lot but we are trying to do our bit for the environment. Unfortunately we had a casualty on the mountain. Gill Miller fell and broke her wrist and mountain rescue had to be contacted. Those of us at the bottom of the mountain were very impressed to see not just one, but four vehicles quickly appearing and a team of 17 people running up the mountain to take Gill down on a stretcher. Thank you to all the teams who stopped to help Gill and her team, even offering to wait with her so the rest of Gill’s team could get to the summit. Everyone made it back down the mountain in time for a celebration drink at the Ratty Arms before boarding the train.

Time for more food and then an opportunity to put our heads down and grab some much needed sleep before our rude awakening at 3:30am to get ready for our arrival into Fort William. Well done to the many teams who managed to reach the summit. And well done to the people who were suffering with injuries and lack of fitness who still attempted the climb.

The train departed with everyone on board, the champagne was cracked open and the celebrations began. Most people were now able to relax at last and put their feet up. Not our hard working on board crew though. They work tirelessly throughout the event and I cannot thank this wonderful group of people enough. They all come on the trains as volunteers and take annual leave to help us. Their challenge is just as hard as climbing the three peaks and they also do all this with very little sleep as they are busy preparing the train while we are on the mountains. A special thanks must go to Nick Hebborn who manages the on board crew and has done for the last six events.

Everyone received a medal in recognition of their fantastic efforts and the trophy for the top fundraising team was given to the team from Network Rail, Bob Browning, Tony Mayo, Stephen Coyne and Frank Smead who raised a magnificent £5,500. Well done also to the team from HSS Hire who only just missed out on the trophy with a very impressive £5,000.

All the alcohol on the train had been donated to Railway Children so every penny from the sales went to the charity. It’s not often that you are invited to drink as much as you can to benefit charity and well done to the people in Coach B who took this to heart – you know who you are! Over £1,000 was raised from bar sales, beating the on board crew’s target from the last event. Well done!

THANK YOU!
There are many people responsible for making this event such a huge success and our thanks go to them all.

Our Sponsors:

Network Rail - the track access and sponsoring the mountain managers

Riviera Trains - the train planning

Rail Gourmet, Virgin Trains and First Great Western - the on board crew and all the food and drink

First Rail Support - the bus transfers

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - the wonderful journey from Ravenglass

ATOC - rail passes in case anyone missed the train!

And a special thank you to all these individuals who make it all happen

Robin Gisby – who had the idea in the first place and still makes sure it all happens!

Nick Hebborn – who works so hard to make sure we all get fed and watered.

The on board team from Virgin Trains, First Group and Rail Gourmet – they work as hard as our three peakers and stay cheerful throughout - Dave Trethowen, Ashley Taylor, Andy Barron, Dawn Hill, Ian Joesbury, Alison Burton, Adrian Bullock, June Bullock, Glenn Dellar, Dave Hill.

Lindsay Gardner, Tim Brawn, Wayne Underwood, Tim Wade, Sam Welch - the very dedicated team of marshals.

David Brookes – who managed check-in at Crewe.

Ian Watson, Tim Roberts and John Mathieson – our mountain managers.

The Team from Global Challenge UK – for looking after our safety on the mountains.

Karol Sikora - our wonderful on board doctor

John Collins and Will Lewis – who filmed the event for us.