his year’s total was added company, Cargill, threw down
T
to by the challengers the gauntlet of a corporate
themselves as they dug challenge. David Gardiner, Andy
deep into their own pockets to Musson, Rowland Gardiner and
support an extra bit of John Nicholls were one of three
fundraising cheekily organised by teams to be chosen from seven
the 27 Four Peaks marshals. entries.
Everyone paid to guess how
many minutes a teddy bear John said: “It’s the first time any
christened Merrydown, would of us had attempted the
spend on each of the four challenge, so we trained in the
mountains, while snuggled up to gym, went hill walking, on
the summit marshals. expeditions to Snowdon and the
Before tackling one of the Brecon Beacons and took part in
toughest challenges in the the training weekend in the Lake
country, the teams were also able District.”
to see for themselves how their Team driver Andy took part in the
fundraising really makes a sports massage course on the
difference, with a visit to the Four Peak’s training weekend. He
Lochaber Hydrotherapy Pool, a said: “The team really benefited
stone’s throw from the base of from it, particularly as there were
the challenge’s first mountain, few, if any chances to rest from
Ben Nevis. Challengers were able start to finish. But they were also
to meet the trustees of the kept going by the thought of the
project, who described the plans three course awards dinner after
for the future and the difference staggering back from
it will make to the region. Carantouhill.”
Wooden Spoon donated
£70,000 towards the project, This year, among the 156
which was also supported by the competitors were 27 ladies,
late Sir Magnus Magnusson, Sir including Leighton Buzzard’s
Donald Cameron of Locheil, Sir Honey Buzzards, who left
Jimmy Saville and Scottish victorious after winning the
musician, Billy McIsaac. When Ladies Award. The climbers:
completed, the pool will benefit Barbara Hills, who describes
300 disabled and deprived herself as a ‘domestic goddess’,
children in the immediate Fort Jennifer Esdon, a landscape
William area that live at home or manager and Christine
in residential facilities. Beaumont, a mother of three,
were driven to their success by
Cheers to the Challengers! Barbara’s husband, Paul, their
Among the line up for the 2007 driver and three time Four Peaker.
challenge, were rugby players,
teachers, doctors, lawyers, fire Barbara said: “We met at the
fighters and a team from HMS Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club
Victory. First timers mingled with where our husbands and sons
11 time returnees, 20 year olds have played for several years. We
with challengers in their 60s and also belong to a running club, so
life time sports enthusiasts with the third time with their sponsorship. We’ll be doing it we built plenty of cross country
former couch potatoes who had teammates, Duncan Cameron again next year so anyone we running and hill climbing into our
never expected to sign up for and Alasdair Maclean. missed this year shouldn’t worry, training schedule in a bid to get
anything quite so strenuous in Alan said: “The fact that we are we’ll catch up with you next as fit as possible for the
their lives. the only team local to Lochaber year!” challenge.
Among this year’s familiar faces and the fact that Spoon had “This is such a great event that
to the marshals and organisers, recently donated £70,000 to the The Thomsons may have been it took over my life. Having
were Alan and Linda Thomson hydrotherapy pool was a great thinking they could equal the watched from the sidelines and
from Strontian, Argyll, who were help to us in raising sponsorship record set by the irrepressible seen the pain and elation Paul
returning for the 10th time and locally. For many years we have Dennis Gittins who took part for and his teammates went through
celebrating their 60th birthdays. been telling our sponsors, many the 11th time in 2007. But the I was under no illusion as to how
With a total climbing time of 11 of whom support us year after challenge office has revealed that tough it would be. However the
hours 16 minutes and a total year, all about this wonderful one of Bedfordshire’s biggest camaraderie and support from
raised of £11,000, the Thomsons charity called Wooden Spoon. It’s Spoon supporters will be back everyone is incredible. I defy
scooped the Veterans’ Award for great now that we can tell again to celebrate his dozen anyone not to come away from
Top: The Honey Buzzards collect their
everyone that the charity has years of challenging and adding this very special challenge
Ladies Award at the post event
made a huge contribution to a to his total raised for Spoon since without some truly memorable
Awards Dinner
very well-known local appeal.” 1993 of £60,000. moments and friendships.”
Above: First timers, The Sun Valley
“We sincerely wish to thank all First timers included a four-man For most teams that take part,
Foodn Team, who were challenged by
parent company and Spoon sponsor,
those companies and individuals team from Sun Valley Foods in their motivation is to raise funds
Cargill who so generously offered their Hereford, whose parent for Wooden Spoon, but Hodgy’s
Spoonews Autumn 2007 39
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