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The history of the walks so far in words and pictures
Complete details of the totals raised from our Walkers and Corporate Sponsors
The ups, the downs, and all the bits in between
Preparation, Hints & Tips
Handy tips and sound advice for tackling those peaks.
Some interesting features associated with our walks
All the other bits we couldn’t fit in anywhere else
Three
Peaks
Challenge
Copyright © 2003 to 2008
G. Mitchell and P. N. Lynskey
www.threepeakschallenge.com
The ThreePeaksChallenge.com Walk is a fund raising walk across the peaks of Pen-y-ghent Whernside and Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales, and other locations in support of the Dave Owens and Frank Goodall Memorial Fund
http://www.threepeakschallenge.com
Website: http://www.threepeakschallenge.com : Copyright © G. Mitchell and P. N. Lynskey
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2008 Walk : Chatsworth Challenge - Baslow
Once again the annual Three Peaks Challenge fundraising event was taken ‘on tour’ to the Chatsworth area of Derbyshire where our sponsored walk was broken into the now familiar twin distance circular course. A 22 mile course for the fit and healthy, which set off at 06:00 hours in the morning, and a less demanding 8 mile walk which set off some hours later, and which is arranged so that the respective walkers arrive at the finishing point at approximately the same time.
After the constant heavy rain of last year which threatened to drown out the 2007 Walk, hopes were high that the 2008 event would be blessed with more favourable weather conditions. The eternal uncertainty of the great British Summer did not submit to change however, and regretfully the day was again spoilt by heavy rain and dismal conditions. Instead of T-shirts, walking shorts, and sunglasses, the walkers were once again compelled to tackle the two courses in full waterproofs and general rain-gear, and it is a
testament to their endeavour that everyone completed their respective walk in surprisingly high spirits. As ever, our ‘Tour Leader’ and three peaks walk correspondent Gerard Mitchell, who took part in the 22 mile walk, recounts the events of the day.
1. The ‘Team’ Photo at the Start Point on the 8 Mile Walk
The 8 Mile Walk
1. The 11:15 start at Baslow Car Park
At 11:15 am on a wet morning the 8 mile walkers are pulling at the leash to be off (quite literally in the case of Nigel’s dog). A determined team leader, Stella Mitchell in the black rain-gear has to be held back by a grinning Janine and Katie in case she set off a false start. Despite the weather Mark Spittle’s legs are braving the elements, though I’m led to believe he did need to hide under his umbrella for the full 8 miles.
2 Crossing the stile
With the weather closing in and a slog across a very wet field behind them, Katie, Anita, and
3. Tom and George Harrison. Our youngest ever participants
4. Another ‘refreshment’ stop at the Devonshire Arms
5. Stella, Margaret, and Pat at Edensor
Janine seem to have lost some of their earlier high spirits… even the hedgerows are starting to sag under the weight of the rain. In the distance Curbar Edge has almost disappeared in the cloud. Although they’re only about a mile out of Baslow the field is starting to become extended, and by the end of the walk there was probably an hour between the first and last finishers.
3. Tom and George Harrison
At ages of 9 and 7 respectively, brothers Tom (left) and George Harrison (right) are the youngest walkers ever to take part in our event. They are both well kitted out against the weather and I’m led to believe that despite a bit of belly-aching whilst climbing the steep wooded track up to Pilsey they thoroughly enjoyed their day. Enough to do it all again in 2009 though perhaps?? They also weighed in quite nicely with their sponsorship too. Well done lads !
4. The 8 milers outside the Devonshire Arms
I could handle a bit of this 8 mile walking malarkey myself if this is what goes on. 5 miles into the walk and they’re already on their second pub stop at the Devonshire Arms in Pilsey after previously enjoying the hospitality of the Eyre Arms at Hassop. The numbers here are a little bit low due to most of the walkers being in the snug. The word on the streets has it that Kev Dyson was leading a sing-song by the piano while this photo was being taken!
5. A brief stop at Edensor
Only a mile from home now and Stella, Margaret, Pat and Ann (taking the picture) are in the picturesque village of Edensor. Until 1838 the village stood closer to Chatsworth House but the 6th Duke decided to have the whole village moved to it’s present location as it ‘spoilt his view’. If you notice the soffits and drainpipes on the houses they are all painted the same mid-blue that is the Chatsworth Estate livery. The ladies in the pink matching tee shirts are also undertaking a 10 mile charity walk to raise money for breast cancer. Kathleen Kennedy (sister to J.F.) is buried in Edensor churchyard after she was killed in a plane crash in 1948. She was married to the eldest son of the 10th Duke of Devonshire.
6. Please don’t feed the animals
Three charming creatures keeping a safe distance on their side of the dry stone wall, well away from their placid looking but highly temperamental and occasionally ferocious neighbours on the other side. They can be easily offended and become unruly and sometimes violent if annoyed, and are also known to occasionally spit and kick when angry. The lamas can be dangerous too !! ...(or Alpacas )!
(Yes....I know it’s obvious, and boring old Music Hall patter, and you can see it coming a mile off, but once I’d seen the photo I couldn’t resist. PL).
And finally...
Not exactly the ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ we had hoped for! Rather than the warm summer afternoon the organisers and walkers would have wished for, we got rain, rain, and more rain, as some of our 2008 Walk participants in the dog section (all breeds) can testify...
11. Poppy looking wet and miserable
12. Walter from the ‘Fox and Hounds’
11. Poppy ‘the Wet and Miserable’
To prove just how wet and miserable it really was... Nigel Healeas’s dog Poppy shows how to look truly wet and miserable !
12. Walter ‘the Mad’
Walter the pub dog at our ‘home base’, the Fox and Hounds in Batley however is a little less concerned about the conditions.
The 22 Mile Walk
7. The 06:00 start at Baslow
Although it’s only 06:00 hrs the weather is a lot better than it would be by mid morning; not an item of waterproof clothing in sight. With 35 starters (plus Vanessa’s purple arm) on this time delayed photo I think I’ve managed to cut five people out of history, one of them being me. (it’s not easy when you’re working under pressure you know). I’m told Bob Johnson missed the shoot due to him being in the toilets sorting the final finishes to his poncho. At 13 Joe Hitch in the yellow tee shirt is again the youngest entrant in the 22 mile walk, and once again returned an excellent time of 7 hours:40 minutes for the 22 mile distance.
8. The checkpoint at Monyash
Almost halfway round is the first checkpoint in the small village of Monyash. Here we find the Roof-Pro contingent, led as usual by David Gatehouse (in the bushman’s titfer), enjoying a bit of R&R on the village green prior to setting off on the home leg. From the healthy eating in evidence it’s hard to believe that just out of camera shot is the village café doing a roaring trade in tea, coffee and bacon sandwiches. The next few miles from Monyash are some of the best of the walk as it follows the river through Lathkill Dale right to the outskirts of Bakewell.
7. The 22 mile start photo
8. The Checkpoint at Monyash
9. Ann Mitchell shows off her Certificate
10. The front runners back at the Fox and Hounds pub
11. Anita Grange presents the first 2008 funds to Gerard
9. The 3 Peaks Certificate of Completion
With the walk now completed and back in the Devonshire Arms in Baslow, Ann Mitchell proudly displays her Certificate of Completion. Also to be seen in the plastic wallet is her memento of the day’s efforts. This year it was in the form of an engraved pen. Those of you who know Ann well will know she usually sports a broad grin on her face, but to keep it up after a kamikaze pheasant has buried itself up to it’s neck in the side of your head must really take some doing. Well done Ann!
10. ‘Front Runners’ at the Fox & Hounds
Here we have a group of the 22 mile pacesetters who are already back enjoying a beer in the Fox & Hounds in Batley (I think I was just about making it through Edensor at this time). Over the years the Fox & Hounds has become the ‘Official’ pub of the Three Peaks/Chatsworth Challenge. This is mainly due to the fact that, along with serving an excellent range of beers and lagers, the bulk of the walk’s participants come from the Heavy Woollen District of Yorkshire, which happens to centre on Batley. Rachel Hardy, the pub landlady, not only took part in the 8 mile walk but also managed to get back in time to rustle up some excellent hot beef sandwiches. Thanks for that Rachel, they were just what the doctor ordered.
11. The first sponsorship funds come in
It must be getting late in the day now if I’ve made it back to the pub. Here we’ve captured a double first. Anita Grange’s first involvement in our walk coupled with her being the first person to return her sponsor money for 2008.
Anita is only the second person ever to return their sponsorship on the day of the walk. (the first being Steve Heath in 2006). and with a personal sponsorship of over £400.00 Anita did very well with her fundraising too. (GM)
