Date: 7th July, 2017
A team from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue has won a national Three Peaks Challenge.
Each year, two Three Peaks events are held in support of the Fire Fighters Charity, with each team aiming to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – plus travel between each – in less than 24 hours.
On the second event, held on 29/30 June, the DWFRS team romped home as winners, and only missed out on a prestigious platinum medal – for finishing in less than 17.5 hours – by just three minutes.
Six personnel took on the three climbs: Station Manager Ade Hurren, district commander for Chippenham area; Watch Managers Dave Adamson, Jason Nightingale and Sam Legg-Bagg, all instructors at Devizes Training & Development Centre; Crew Manager Bob Waller and Firefighter Steve Taylor, both from Trowbridge fire station.
They were supported by a team of three drivers – Andy Edwards, Phil Peaple and Simon Green, all from the Training & Development Centre – who had their own moment of glory when they won the Safe Driving & Navigation award.
The challenge started at 6pm on 29 June at the base of Ben Nevis, where conditions were said to be the worst ever seen in the event’s 24-year history. Despite the heavy wind and rain, the team completed the climb and descent in three hours and 12 minutes.
Arriving at Scafell Pike at 3.30am on 30 June, there was time for a quick refreshment stop before the ascent started at 4am, with a return to base within two hours and 15 minutes.
The final drive was to Snowdon, where the weather had turned again, but the team persevered and completed their final climb to finish at the top of the mountain in one hour and 16 minutes.
With the driving times added in, and a ten minute deduction for kit checks, the final total time was an impressive 17 hours and 33 minutes. As well as being the winners of this event, the DWFRS team was third overall across the two challenges.
As well as the personal achievement of completing the challenge, the team were raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity. To support their fundraising, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/firefighterscharity