POWERED by handfuls of jelly babies, hot brews and pork pies, three fell rescue volunteers successfully completed the Montane Spine Challenger race of the Pennine Way.

Joe Parsons, who took part in last year’s 108 mile, non stop race for the first time, was this year joined by fellow Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue team members, David Dixon, and Matt Richardson.

All three stuck together, and crossed the finish line at Hardraw , near Hawes, in a time of 34 hours 51 minutes, 44 seconds coming joint second in the mountain rescue section.

Joe, who knocked off about six hours of his time last year, said: “The race took its physical toll on all three of us, but I think if ever there was a real demonstration of the epitome of mountain rescue, we just did it. Supporting and helping each other without judgement, question or compromise. It was a great weekend out on the fells of England, doing something that we all enjoyed, and raising money for our mountain rescue team.”

Joe, from Carleton, David, from Threshfield, and Matt, from Grassington, were amongst 21 mountain rescue volunteers to take part in the race, which starts in Edale, Derbyshire, and runs alongside the longer 268 mile Spine Race, which this year was won by a woman, Jasmin Paris, for the first time in a record time of 83 hours, 12 minutes and 23 seconds.

Joined at the start by family and friends, and set off by the wail of a mountain rescue Land Rover siren, the three made good progress from the start.

“We stuck together as a team, walking every uphill, jogging the flat bits and running down,” said Joe,

It was a short four miles into the race, after climbing 1,200 feet onto the exposed Kinder Plateau that they hit the weather that was to accompany and torment them for the next 30 hours.

“Wind speeds of 35 to 40 mph rose to 60mph by nightfall, and the horizontal mist turned to drizzle, then rain. Soaked, and windswept, we made good progress to Hebden Bridge, and the only main checkpoint on our route, with hot food, beds if needed, showers and critically, our own pre-prepared resupply bags, containing dry clothes, shoes, food and so on,” said Joe. “ Every minute that we spent in the warmth was needed, but is also to be thought of as a penalty, for the clock doesn’t stop. The time limit to reach Hardraw is 60 hours. We didn’t hang around.”

From Hebden Bridge, there was a steep climb to get back onto the Pennine Way and then to the familiar section from Haworth, Cowling, Lothersdale and onto the Dales.

“It was 3.30am as we dropped down the grassy slope into Lothersdale, where members of the Craven Energy Triathlon club had set up camp, serving hot drinks and snacks, while collecting money for UWFRA. We had a lovely hot brew, a few jelly babies and a pork pie which spurred us on, to Thornton in Craven, and Gargrave, where UWFRA team members had turned out in force to cheer us on, despite it still being dark. The rain had by now eased, but the wind persisted. Our grit was being tested to the extreme, but forward we charged again.,” he said.

Race tactics did not come into play during the first 24 hours, but with the big ascents of Malham Cove, Fountains Fell and Penyghent still to come, the ‘Wharfedale Three’ started to think like racers. As a collective, they were in joint third place in the mountain rescue event, and wanted to keep it that way.

They declined a rest stop at the Malham Tarn field centre aid station, believing the steep climbs coming up would need all the time they had.

“Penyghent was closed by the time we arrived, with wind speeds on the summit reaching close to 85mph, it was deemed just too dangerous. After a short detour, we headed downhill into Horton-in-Ribblesdale. From here, the finish line isn’t quite in sight, but all the main obstacles have been passed. It’s now just 14 short miles to the finish in Hardraw.,” said Joe. “A long slow slog, all the way to Cam Houses, is followed by a descent into Hawes. This is the section which I hated last year, which tested me to within an inch of my sense of humour and survival.”

The Wharfedale Three were tired, and sleep deprived after being on their feet for 33 hours. The howling wind was strong enough to blow you over, and pain was creeping in to tired legs and bodies. It was dark again, and the light of our head torches was the only way to see,” he said. “A few pain killers, a swig of water and one last big push got us down into the street of Hawes, and only a couple of miles to the finish.”

The Wharfedale Three hope their efforts will succeed in raising £3,000 for the fell rescue service, which helps people and animals each and every day of the year. To donate, visit: uwfra.org.uk