Snowdonia Challenge

The Xtreme Snowdonia Challenge 'Sea to Summit'

Saturday 26th June 2010

The aims of the Foundation’s Snowdonia Xtreme Challenge were to raise our public profile and generate unrestricted funds to support the Foundation’s research efforts.

Holding the event in the middle of June allowed maximum daylight hours for participants to complete the course. Fortunately Saturday 27 June was a warm sunny day with only a few clouds. This meant that the participants were rewarded with glorious mountain views in return for their supreme efforts.

Although 16 teams registered, 15 actually embarked on the challenge. The Ultra Route proved a gruelling 21 miles to the top of Snowdon. It started on the North Wales Coast at Llanfairfechan and headed due south over the deserted Carneddau Mountains before dropping into the Ogwen Valley where the Intermediate Route (12 miles) started. The routes then tracked around the eastern side of Tryfan and over a col before dropping down to Pen y Pass. The participants then entered the Snowdon Horseshoe via the Pyg Track and climbed to the summit. The Ordinary Route (4.5 miles) followed the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the top while the Family Route climbed up from the Snowdon Ranger YHA. At the top the clock stopped and the participants then had to wind their weary way down the railway to the marquee at Llanberis.

Six teams started the Ultra Route, six the Intermediate and two the Ordinary and one the Family Route. Simon Lowe, the Head Marshal and Managing Director of Jagged Globe (Sheffield) made sure everyone knew where they were going and reinforced the essential safety points at a briefing before the start of each route. Judy Marsh of Deltex made tea and coffee for everyone while Pauline Kemp and Paola Battisegola from the Secretariat made sure all the paperwork was in order. All teams were bussed out to their start points and started at 07:00 for the Ultra Route, 09:00 for the Intermediate, 10:00 for the Ordinary and 10:45 for the Family Route. The routes were marked by mountain marshals who “counted them in and counted them out” so we knew the whereabouts of all concerned.

At the end in Llanberis, R&R (resuscitation and refreshments) were available. Luckily no one needed resuscitation but everyone looked better after some fluids and calories. Each team member received a medal and polo shirt which most wore with a combination of pride and satisfaction. After the BBQ which included some excellent burgers and sausages, the prizes were awarded.

Bearing in mind that no team could win more than one category of prize, the following prizes were awarded:

Fastest Team over the Routes:

Ultra

Intermediate

Ordinary

Mersey Hearts

4 Men and a Stalker

Verathon 1

Richard Warrick
Keith Mills
Mike Shackcloth

Joyce Thompson
Mark Beedie
Michael Roberts
Dave Potter

Paul Knee
John Mitchell
Adam Knee

Largest Fundraisers:

Ultra

Intermediate

Ordinary

Family

Gentian Girls

Covidien Mountain Cats

Heartland Hopefuls

The Hops

£2130

£1309

£1000

£1195

Jenny Stebbing
Julie Stonehill
Fiona Collier
John Mainwaring

Emma Howells
Ann Ford
Tracey Scantlebury
Amelia Foster
Barbara King

Peng Dong
Stuart Husselbee
Joyce Yeung
Gavin Perkins
Natalie Husselbee
Adel Hutchinson
Jenny Battell
Amar Patel

Becky Hodgson
Andrew Price
Catherine Plowright
Ann Price
Annette Richardson

A special note of achievement should go to Mersey Hearts who have supported the event in each of its previous years and finally achieved glory with the fastest time over the Ultra Route. The final sponsorship monies raised will not be known for a few weeks, but on the day just over £13,000 was raised for the Foundation’s research efforts.

Many positive comments have been received although the field was not as large as last year. There are many other beautiful parts of the UK in which to undertake challenges which need not necessarily involve just walking. If any members have ideas about alternative events, please let me know. The Foundation wishes to thank all who contributed to a most successful event but special thanks should go to Jagged Globe for making the event so safe and most importantly the participants who made the effort to raise sponsorship, gave up their free time to join in and finally climb Wales’ highest mountain!

For further information email: foundation@ics.ac.uk