A Wet But Wonderful £134,709.79 for the Ford Ranger GLC of 2007
.jpg) The 11th FordRanger Great Lakeland Challenge once again demonstrated triumph over adversity as 20 teams battled gale force winds and driving rain to safely complete England’s longest, steepest and highest charity challenge. Despite the reduced team entry the teams pledged a fantastic £134,709.79 breaking a Great Lakeland fundraising record by pledging an average of £6,735 per team, the highest ever average team pledge. Congratulations to all the competitors, sponsors and marshals who, in spite of the weather, worked so hard to make the challenge such a success.
At 07.44 on Friday morning, 20 teams lined up on the start line at the bottom of Lake Windermere ready to conquer the 11th Ford Ranger Great Lakeland Challenge. With winds approaching gale force there was momentary doubt as to whether the canoe section could continue, but having consulted with the safety crews and taken the wind direction into consideration (it was behind them!), the teams set off for a long and at times challenging paddle. Three teams decided to see just how cold Windermere was and went for a swim, whilst Team 2 enjoyed their swim so much, they went for a double-dip!
 The weather got worse before it got better and as teams finished the canoe section and changed ready for the bike section, they braced themselves for a wet and wild ride across England’s steepest passes. Ironically the slower teams benefitted form better conditions as the gale force winds blew the rain storm away but this didn’t help 2 of the 20 teams who, despite tremendous effort, didn’t make it to the mountain start by the cut-off time of 2.00pm. The mountain section was still windy but fantastically clear with full visibility and great views all the way and the remaining 18 teams jostled for position and completed the event with a closely fought race to the finish line for first, second and third positions.....
Everyone’s a winner on the Ford Ranger Great Lakeland Challenge, but special congratulations go to: overall winners Team Amey who won the challenge bowl by completing all three sections in 9 hours 17 minutes and pledging a staggering £23,730.16. Genetically Modified Men (as seen above) did some phenomenal fund raising to win the Funding Bowl pledging an enormous £13,131.13, Cats Cream won the Fastest Time Bowl completing all three sections in an impressive 7 hours 55 minutes including changeovers. OMX were left stroking the canoe bowl with a windswept 1 hour 55 minutes; Serge’s Saharan Kayaking Club rode off with the Cycle Bowl in 2 hours 23 minutes and D&M Cycles ran away with the Mountain Bowl with a climbing time of 3 hours 11 minutes.
Team Rizla Rock n’ Ice were the winners of the Mixed Team Bowl having completed all three sections in 12 hours 19 minutes whilst Defender G4x4s took the Veteran’s Bowl with a total time of 8 hours 42 minutes. The Blue Lighters sped off in the Best Dressed Vehicle and Ogilvy’s Active Virgins won the Wooden Spoons by default having finished all three sections in a very respectable 10 hours 4 minutes. Congratulations to you all, but the real winners will be the disadvantaged children and young people throughout the UK who will benefit from your amazing hard work and dedication- thank you one and all.
SALUTE THE SUPPORTERS...
 The financial success of this event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and volunteers. Firstly a huge thank you to Ford Motor Company for supplying team and marshal vehicles as well as logistical support and teams on the event.
Special thanks to Mark Beal, Nigel Pointer and his team for supporting the event from Head Office and Joanna Lawrance from the Ford Event Team for handling the vehicle logistics and Tim and Simon for their logistical support and event dressing on the day. The vehicles were once again insured free of charge by Groupama and we thank Andrew Goldby for continuing their support. Thanks to Panavision and Audiolink who provided the marshal communication, HH Associates for keeping us in print, Activ8rehab for providing fitness advice prior to the challenge and Maximuscle for keeping the teams energised.
Thanks also go to Office Watercoolers for keeping the teams hydrated, and Peter Midwood, Marianne Ivory and the staff at YMCA Lakeside who did an excellent job once again providing canoe training and safety cover on the event. Thanks also to Nick Lancaster, Jackie Lancaster, Rachel Smythe and all the staff at The Langdale Hotel & Country Club who provided a fabulous venue and service, Lorna & Terry Graham and their staff from The Stickle Barn for providing a fab bar and BBQ at the finish, to the National Trust for allowing us to use Fell Foot Park, Low Wray Campsite and Wasdale Head, and the Rowand family for allowing us to finish the event at Stool End Farm.
Last & by no means least, very special thanks to the marshals who were subjected to hours of driving wind and rain and still managed to remain cheerful – we couldn’t do it without you. And finally to our Challenge Photographer Ian Richards and his colleagues Bob & Derek who did a fantastic job of capturing the event on film despite the appalling weather conditions.…. Thank you one and all….
Spoon’s new challenge website site has gone live. To visit, log onto www.spoonchallenges.com
If you are interested in entering a team in 2008, please contact the Challenge Office
on 01889 582889 or challenge@eventsunlimited.co.uk
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