2003 Walk_Horton

The Start
June 21st. 2003. Our first sponsored walk. At 04.00 hrs, just as dawn was breaking, two full mini-buses driven by Gerard Mitchell and Phil Lynskey left the meeting point at Dewsbury Town Hall. The destination was the car park at Horton-In-Ribblesdale where we would meet 25 other walkers who were making their own way to the starting point. What had set out as a hopeful 25 people had risen to over 50 by the start of the day! As the buses pulled onto the car park, with most of the other party already assembled, the conversation centred on Steve Bainbridge who hadn’t responded to Jim Dawber hammering on his door at 03.45 hrs. The buses moved on and left Steve slumbering peacefully. For almost a century ten to twelve hours has been acknowledged as a reasonable time to complete the arduous 26 mile circular walk, and at 05.45 hrs the main party left the car park to conquer the first peak of Pen-y-ghent. At this early point the entire Callaghan family party had managed to miss the first signpost and were already lost. Fortunately they had the presence of mind to assemble outside the Golden Lion Inn which was about to open some 6¼ hours later!

Above : The 2003 Three Peaks Challenge ‘Team’

(Well nearly)! Some of the pacesetters had become chilled and left the summit of Pen-y-ghent before the ‘stragglers’ seen above arrived at the peak... so this is about half of the group.
The full cast (seen above) from left to right are :

Stuart Sanderson, Wendy Lynskey, Pete Mackie, Stella Mitchell, Brian Hirst, Ann Mitchell, John Mitchell, Craig Fisher, Emma Fisher, Simon Alvy, Mick Scott, Andy Houghton, Stuart Worth, Margaret Lambourne, Tom Callaghan, Laura Callaghan, John Lambourne, Nicki Wilkes (hooded), Jonathan Wright, John Callaghan, Gerard Mitchell, Phil Callaghan, Mark Spittle, Shaun Hill.

Pen-y-Ghent
1. The Team on Pen-y-ghent summit. The main party reached the summit of Pen-y-ghent at around 0700 hrs. Unfortunately, by this time the pacesetters chilled by the early morning wind were already on their way to the next peak, so the opportunity of capturing a full team photo of the entire group was lost. After a brief stop to take in the odd Mars bar it was time to steel ourselves for the long trudge to the first check-in point in the lay-by near Ribblehead Viaduct. At Hull Pot crossroads support team members Emma Fisher, Ann Mitchell, Wendy Lynskey & Stella Mitchell cut along the Pennine Way back to Horton to meet Phil Lynskey and move the mini-buses to the first checkpoint, while the rest of the party headed off along the Miners Path to avoid the quagmire of Black Moss Dub.

2. An unscheduled stop at Gods Bridge.
Just time for an un-scheduled stop to take in a light snack (not light in Shaun Hill’s case) and make any necessary adjustments to clothing and boots etc. Tom Callaghan (orange shirt) can be seen dispensing sustenance to the Callaghan party from his food assortment picked up at the petrol station that same morning. Margaret Lambourne (bending over in centre picture) can be assured Gerard did not wait for her to strike this pose until taking the picture (honestly). Once tackled up again, we set off again for the first checkpoint. This proved to be a fairly unremarkable section of the walk until we stumbled upon a dead sheep sporting the worst case of knacker-neck seen around Selside in living memory. The sheep later proved to be a talking point. By the time the latter part of the walkers met the support team at the first checkpoint, talk was of the speed of the leading group. Louis Thompson, with size 11 boots on size 9 feet, was setting a blistering pace. Unfortunately at this point Shaun Hill and Mark Spittle had to drop out. Mark’s selection of walking attire was not the best. His nightclub shoes and Freddie Mercury pants caused chaffing which proved to be unbearable. However, they did re-join the event and tackle the final peak of Ingleborough.

3. Force Gill Aqueduct and footbridge.
At Force Gill there was time for a short break to admire the footbridge and aqueduct that crosses the Settle-Carlisle railway just before it enters the Bleamoor Tunnel. The aqueduct must be an impressive sight in wetter conditions.

4. Whernside summit.
Two down and one to go. With the sun shining it is evident in people’s faces that they are taking control of the walk. Strangely, Simon Alvy appeared to look a pound or two lighter than he did just before Ribblehead Viaduct. After taking on more water we were soon descending the severe gradient off the summit and on our way to meet the support team at the second checkpoint at the Old Hill Inn at Chapel-Le-Dale. At the Old Hill Inn with the sun beating down it took a supreme effort to avoid taking a pint on board. It was here we realised that Louis Thompson’s earlier burst of pace had taken a heavy toll. Halfway down Whernside, Craig Fisher had found Louis laid out at the side of the path claiming he could go no further. The blisters he had picked up on Pen-y-ghent were now sporting blisters of their own. Fortunately Craig was able to get him upright and guide him to the St Johns Ambulance tent, which was also on the Old Hill Inn car park.

After a close inspection of both feet the only professional advice dispensed to Louis by the St. John’s Ambulance team was “Yeah, they’re going to really hurt in the morning”.

Ingleborough
5. The ‘Wall’.
We took a 5 minute breather before the ascent. The ‘Wall’ as it became known to us during our practice walks, is a 120 metre high section so steep that the path zigzags its way upwards. The knowledge that this is the last serious climb of the whole walk is the spur needed to get to the top.

6. Ingleborough summit.
With the third peak conquered the smiles are back on our faces again. (We would never have managed it without the help of a certain superhero). It was a gritty performance by John Lambourne considering the severe cramp attacks he had endured since Whernside summit.

With the sun still beating down and water running low it was time to start the long yet reasonably gentle descent back to Horton-In-Ribblesdale.
Our party now became subdued. The conversation dropped off as exhaustion set in, and concentration centred on putting one foot in front of the other to bring Horton closer. There was great relief when we reached Sulber crossroads and the signpost pointing to Horton indicating only 1½ miles to go. Unfortunately this sign is notorious amongst those who are familiar with the walk , who know that there is still some 2¼ to 2½ miles to go. (This doesn’t seem like an issue until you already have something like 23½ miles under your belt).

7. John and Pete at Horton Station.
Almost there! Crossing the Horton-In-Ribblesdale means the final checkpoint of The Crown Hotel is nearly in sight. Refurbished back in 1999 the station is regularly voted the best kept in the dales.

8. The Crown Hotel.
With most people back at the final checkpoint in Horton the walkers could enjoy a well-earned beer at the Crown Hotel. Louis Thompson quickly moved onto his second pint, having poured the first one over his blisters. Andy Firth was officially the first back at 14.15 hrs with Shaun Hardwick, Chris Creagan and John Macleod in close pursuit. Bringing up the rear was Laura and Tom Callaghan. Laura had no previous experience of walking this kind of distance, and a fall coming off Ingleborough did not help her cause. With determination, and Tom or her Uncle John never more than a metre away from her side for the whole walk, they came home to a fine round of applause.

9. Closing Time at the Fox and Hounds.
After a couple of beers, at approximately 19.00 hrs we were back on the buses and heading back to continue the refreshments at the Fox and Hounds pub in Hanging Heaton, Batley.