The Christ College Brecon 3 Peaks Challenge Team

Head of Christ College Emma Taylor has expressed her admiration for the teams who completed the 3 Peaks Challenge last weekend. She said: "It was a great honour to be part of the Three Peaks Challenge over the past few days. This was a true community effort; support staff, academic staff and pupils from both CCB and Llandovery formed the teams and were supported by Chris Webber, myself, Tony Johnston and Iestyn Thomas, the founder of Schoolchildren for Children."

She added: " The challenge was to climb the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales respectively in a 24 hour window, and to raise money by doing so for the charity, which supports schools in the slums of Kenya. It required fitness, stamina, determination and training."

Both teams completed the challenge in 24 hours, with the 1^st group dipping under 21 hours; a serious achievement.

The 1^st group was: Clive Thomas, Kieran Dempsey, Owen Silk, Sam Joseph, Rhion Johnston, Lee Richardson, Josh (L6 Llandovery pupil), Kerry Marshall (Llandovery staff)

The 2^nd group was: Tim Trumper, Tori James (Old Breconian and Everest climber), Ben Stephens, Ian Hunt (Warden of Llandovery), Tim Williams (Bursar of Llandovery College), Linda Robertson (Llandovery staff), Martin Jones (Llandovery staff) and Rachel Pritchard (Llandovery staff – who unfortunately dropped out after an injury on Ben Nevis)

Quotes from the weekend:

• "I don't think it's that one ... there must be a bigger one behind it!" Iestyn Thomas trying to find Ben Nevis
• "Iestyn has had a good tour so far although there is still room for improvement. He seems to have prepared quite well for the venture but has tended to rely on others far too often. My target for tomorrow must be to take on more responsibility and get a grip of the situation!" Clive Thomas on Thursday night before the ascent on Ben Nevis
• "Oh look! A man carrying two halves of a door!" Driver Tony Johnston
• "Now is the time for people to ask me for anything. They can have whatever they want. I haven't got the strength to say no! Christ College Bursar Kieran Dempsey at the end of the challange
• "I fell asleep on the loo whilst talking to my Mum on the phone!" Owen Silk
• "No one should underestimate what they have achieved over the last 24 hours ... it has been truly fantastic!" Chris Webber
• "What a 24 hours! Thank you so much for inviting us. Great banter from start to finish and all for a great cause!" Old Breconian and conqueror of Everest Tori James

As you can see from the picture below of some of Group 1 on the summit of Ben Nevis, there was plenty of challenge and plenty of achievement. We hope to raise several thousand pounds in total for the charity.

Mrs Taylor concluded: "Special mention should go to Owen Silk and Sam Joseph for the easy way in which they fitted into the group, as well as for their determination, fitness and consideration for other members of the team.

Background

A team from Christ College set off from school at 8.00am on 11th June for their journey to Fort William in Scotland.

Our team was joined by Old Breconian and conqueror of Mt Everest, Tori James who will be flew up to Scotland on Friday 12th June and joined up with the teams there. In Scotland, our team joined forces with another team of staff members and pupils from Llandovery College, and tackled the 3 Peaks Challenge over June 12/13th to raise money for a worthwhile charity.

The plan was to start  to climb Ben Nevis at 5pm on Friday 12 June. After a safe descent the teams drove to the Lake District where they climbed Scafell Pike. The finished off the challenge by driving to North Wales where they climbed Snowdon. Their aim was to get back to the foot of Snowdon before 5pm on Saturday 13 June which they comfortably achieved. 

13th June - 2.00pm. Word has come through that Team 1 has completed the 3 Peaks Challenge in 21 hours 30 minutes. Congratulations to all those involved ... a superb team effort! Please read the blog on the website of Old Breconian Tori James for her reflections on the challenge ... the fainthearted can look away now!

13th June - 1.00pm. Team 1 have just arrived at the top of Snowdon safely ... an incredible effort!

13th June - 6.45am. Team 1 have just descended Scafell Pike and are bang on schedule. Team 2 unfortunately have been delayed by a puncture just before arriving at Scafell but Christ College's Tony Johnston has sorted things out here! There now follows a 5 hour journey to Snowdonia before they tackle their final challenge.

12th June 2009 - 8.45pm. Ben Nevis has been completed. Christ College's Rhion Johnston sent a message that the Scottish peak had been completed in just over 4 hours, and that the teams were now on the way to the Lake District.

They have done this in order to raise money for Schoolchildren for Children and hope as many people as possible will support them. The team is still looking for sponsors and donations and these can be made by clicking on this link.