A team of employees at Personnel Checks are completing the Snowdonia Challenge in July 2012.
The Snowdonia Charity Challenge is a hugely popular team challenge set in the stunning Snowdonia National Park. Teams of four are challenged to cycle 40 miles, climb Snowdon and canoe Lake Gwynant to raise funds to support men and women paralysed in sporting accidents.
Follow the team’s blog to see how their training is going along the way
Here is what they have been up to so far…
3rd March 2012
The team walked up Pendle Hill with their dogs and had soup and sandwiches at the Pendle Inn
10th March 2012
The first practice bike ride the team did was from Mitton to Whitewell (16 miles) starting at 9am from Mitton Hall. The team were fantastic, it was hard and raining but they were rewarded with hot chocolate and toast at the Inn at Whitewell half way round. Jodie also then decided to extend her mileage by completing another 14 miles on Sunday- go Jodie go!
31st March 2012
The Snowdonia Challengers next walk was a gruelling 13 miles, conquering the 7 fells of Coniston in just over 7 hours. Alice and Jodie were absolutely amazing climbing the following mountains and heights in this order:
Weatherlam 2502 ft
Swirl Hause 2630 ft
Great Carrs 2575 ft
Grey Friar 2536 ft
Coniston Old Man 2633 ft
Dow Crag 2555ft
Brown Pike 2237ft
When you think that Pendle Hill is 1800 ft you get the kind of day it was for them
6th April 2012
The team then climbed Helvelyn -the 4th highest mountain in England on Good Friday.
They set off at 6am to travel to Penrith for 2 hours up the M6. Then they started climbing the 3500 metre monster at 8am from Thirlmere. The weather, whilst dull to start, was clear and fine until about 3000 feet then the clouds came as well as the wind and you couldn’t see in front of your face but the girls did brilliant and conquered the mountain in just under 4 hours despite freezing biting wind at the top.
15th and 22nd April 2012
The CMR challengers have now rode twice a 24 mile route in the beautiful Ribble Valley starting at the Corporation Arms Longridge and cycling through Stoneyhurst, Mitton Bashall Eaves, Chipping and Longridge- They were brilliant and deserved a much needed pint in the Corporation Arms on completion! Sammy thought they were only doing 10miles on arrival at the car park so was in for a shocker but they did it and all got through. Pace is definitely speeding up now, confidence downhill and experience climbing the hills using the gears is all very obvious to see. Well done girls, you were all once again…BRILLIANT.
Saturday 28th April
Alice, Jodie, Sammy and Caroline did their biggest cycle yet! 30 miles throughout the Ribble Valley starting from the Ribchester Arms, with no stops for a hot chocolate or cake this time! It was very tough and the wind was against them which made it twice as hard but they made it and without a doubt was the hardest cycle yet.
Saturday 5th May
The team met at the Barley Car park at 10am, it took 3 hours to complete the walk up Pendle hill, which is approximately 7 miles. It was a good training session to get them prepared for next week – where the team will be doing 2 of the 3 peaks!!
As you can see from the training so far this is a going to take a lot of persistence and hard work but they are doing so fantastic and doing a great job raising money for a very worthy cause.
Wednesday 16th May
Alice, Jodie and Sammy completed a 7 mile bike ride after work, starting in Accrington they cycled along the canal to Altham, then through to Huncoat, finishing back at the office.
As the temperatures reached the mid 20′s this weekend and most of us were enjoying BBQ’s and sunbathing….
Saturday 26th May
Alice and Michelle completed a gruelling 10 mile walk on the Fairfield Horseshoe. Setting off from Ambleside and taking in; Low Pike, High Pike, Dove Crag, Hart Crag, Fairfield, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar – a height gain of 3443ft! The easterly wind on top was so strong they were nearly blown off. The girls did a great time of 5.25 hrs
Sunday 27th May
On Sunday in the heat of the sun the team cycled from Blackpool to Accrington - a 40 mile cycle! It got extremely hot along the journey and the climb out of Ribchester, Whally and Clayton finished them off – almost! A well-earned drink at the Hare and Hounds was much deserved at the finish.
Saturday 9th June
The team embarked on a 20mile cycle around the base of Pendle hill. Setting off at 10am from Barley Car Park they began the gruelling uphill struggle into Downham. Passing through Worston, on to the A59 cycle route to Sabden
It was at this low point in the cycle when they realised they had ran out of jelly babies! Jodie was close to tears! I think we can forgive her as she had just come back from 2 weeks in an all inclusive resort in Turkey!
Arriving back at Barley Car Park 5 hours later! The team headed off for a vodka in the Pendle Inn!
Saturday 16th June
Caroline, Sammy, Jodie and Michelle all climbed Ingleborough on Saturday, in the pouring rain! As they climbed the highest mountain in the Yorkshire Dales (2514 feet) the rain continued to pour down and both Sammy and Caroline’s walking boots leaked, so they spent most of the walk soaked and feeling very sorry for themselves… Despite the rain, wind and cold the guys completed the 10 mile walk in just under 5 hours!
Great practice for the big day…. 3 weeks to go now!
Thursday 28th June
Team Snowdonia hosted a charity night to raise funds towards the challenge.
All the girls at Cummins Mellor invited family and friends and enjoyed a night of wine, nibbles, beauty and fashion!
Poze Boutique, Clitheroe kindly brought along a beautiful selection of dresses, tops and accessories for everyone to try on. Several happy customers made purchases! Karen and Louise from Poze also generously donated vouchers for raffle prizes. http://www.poze-clothing.co.uk/
Sammy enjoying her makeover
Danielle from Ingleneuk Beauty salon, Salesbury demonstrated make up techniques with Bare Minerals make up and a few of the girls got a makeover! Ingleneuk kindly donated vouchers and a spray tan for the raffle. http://www.ingleneukbeauty.co.uk/
Other fantastic prizes in the raffle included a meal for two at the Clog and Billycock in Pleasington. A hair cut by John Thornber at Amanda Eastwood Hair, Clitheroe. Wine, Food hamper and Hair products.
A fun night was had by all and most importantly the night helped raise more funds towards the Snowdonia Challenge which the girls will complete next Saturday, 7th July! Not long now girls! You are going to be fantastic!
If you would like to support the girls and donate to this fantastic cause please follow this link,
http://www.justgiving.com/teams/cumminsmellor every donation will be greatly received.
Watch this space for the next update from the team….
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