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Three Peaks Challenge - Lufbra Students

17th - 18th June 2007

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The players:

Memories are made of this:

 
The van and 6 of the team arrived at Glasgow Airport on time but flight cancellations delayed the 3 London boys by 2 hours. A special pasta dinner and a last beer at Ballachulish awaited, but the van crew, in true team spirit, ignored the offer to head for the hills. Ballchulish reached in time for a nightcap for all - team arise early to the glorious views; we are positive, if not a little nervous.

At Ben Nevis our start time is a little late based on a 19 hour completion time....we rearrange, hand out maps, compasses and complete kit inspection. The van is wonderfully stocked with liquid, fruit, and nutrition bars.... an aroma is building.

Arrive at start, time for a brief team speech - its about the team completing and raising cash; anyone cold, clammy and out of breath shouts up and calls a halt; point and rear no more than 50 yards apart.

We attack the ascent as the boys suddenly realise what they have taken on. The all weather army sleeping bag is passed around as the team ethos gets off to a good start. Early stage is steep and Knees needs a push (what did happen to those helpful emails on step training from Cap'n H?). Sweat dripping, hearts pounding, the boys work it through (abuse and banter take the strain out) and gain a rhythm ...peaking as Panter sprints past the Amberley Trotters...blows a gasket and is pushed to the top. Hammy is under pressure but he takes the strain. Goat, SAS and Twitchy give us the first team test on the last piece of the ascent as they break for the peak and then trot off at pace down hill to shouts of "There is no 'I' in TEAM!"

Pants down in the car park for some massaging from the lovely Gemma - the boys smell sausages (where are ours?  Not good for the journey says Hedge) but we down fluid instead and off we go.  Squashed in like prisoners and thrown about the corners as the "Bullitt" speeds through the glens we get little sleep, apart from the "I" boys perched on the luggage bunk. The air is ripe...
 
Scafell - Twitchy, fresh from kip, buys the butties, we load up for the climb and SAS takes the big bag and the team bond is back, for a short while...  Hammy's rub has worked and he is up for the climb. Its a gruelling, continuous slog with little room to rest and let others by - an albino St. Bernard is spotted on the hill with "panting tongue" -  the "I" boys are way ahead and the team stretches to its thinnest.. all reach the top with Hedge and the Panter bringing up the rear. A kip is tempting but the wind is getting up: keep your rhythm! Keep warm! And off we go. Its tough for Hammy on the way down but a spot of Hedge abusing keeps his mind off the pain.
 
All down, in the van and away to Snowdon - spotty kippage and some kerb surfing from the Panzer but we get there. Lured in we think we've cracked it but the last stretch bites back. First rain and cloud and a kit check but we get there - finished in 21 hours. Amazing effort from all especially the Hammy and the Panter!
 
Tired and knackered we head off to the "pink palace" - the only full hotel with no chef in Wales, but with "a gay called Daffyd" - seems like a bizarre dream but the medal and photos tell no lies.  Emotions run high and we are all amazed at the total raised.

Mark Cole

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