The Three Peaks Challenge

On Saturday 9th September 2006, a GOSS team of 7 took on the Three Peaks Challenge. The event in aid of the charities DebRA www.debra.org.uk and RMHC www.rmhc.org.uk was held in the Yorkshire Dales; Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

The Team of 7 completed the challenging 24 mile course in a time of 11.5 hours.

Andy Orchard Accounts Manager describes the day below.

"Before the Three Peaks challenge, the team and I were informed that it was a very hard walk. In jest we all joked, it can't be that bad, surely, "it's not the real three peaks"! was a quote commonly thrown around on the training walks, of which we have identified there were few. So with little to no preparation in parts we set off to the Three Peaks, Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, with great confidence and with little appreciation of what lay ahead. Which I suppose was a good thing.

Launching into Peak One (as it was commonly referred) saw us punching through the clouds within an apparently short space of time. Young Vanessa flew up the hill as if she had had something uncomfortable thrusted up an area not often seen, with the rest of the team flagging behind. Whey hey! Peak one over and done with, what a feeling! but what lay ahead we were unsure.

Spectacular views across the dales and a romp down the hill saw us endeavour up to a lunch point, boy this was a long long way. The use of language is certainly not to be repeated. Peak two was an absolute epic, I liken it to Everest and Kilimanjaro and feel this is echoed by the rest of the team. I think this is the point where speech clarification and loss of mind began to occur. It was pure hell. Anyway we ploughed on, GO TEAM, and threw ourselves off the other side of the peak (PEAK 2) and off for an ice cream.

The team stuck together throughout the endurance separated at points but were united in force onto peak 3 a vertical slab of rock poking out of the Yorkshire dales, I liken it to the feeling that can only be felt by an Ant tackling a mole hill. The most vertical climb of the day, with the most hideous descent known to man, which very nearly led to an assault charge of one of the members against the three peaks marshals on hearing the distance left.

By this point communication between team members was slight if existent, our minds started wobbling and our legs and feet just weren't feeling the way they were designed to. With a final sprint to the end for the younger team members a feeling of great elation and exhaustion encompassed every team member."

To see photos of the event please click here

The GOSS team are continuing to raise money for these great charities. Anybody wishing to sponsor the team can do so by contacting GOSS on 01752 517350 or via email at: marketing@gossinteractive.com.