IT was a most glorious sunny day for supporters of the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association’s fundraiser the Wharfedale Three Peaks Challenge as they made their way around the three routes during the team’s sixth annual event, writes team member David Dennis.

Some 375 adults and children signed up for the three challenges which all started and finished in Kettlewell with young families striding out on the four and a half mile route on the Valley Walk along the Dalesway and Paradise Path whilst the more serious walkers and runners tackled either the 22 mile three peaks route of Birks Fell, Buckden Pike and Great Whernside or the 13.5 mile two peaks route of Buckden Pike and Great Whernside

Needless to say the hot and humid conditions were not to be the day for personal bests from the many runners who take part every year but some remarkable times were still recorded

First home in the Three Peaks was Craig Gath in 3 hours 42 minute and 36 seconds followed by David Ashby in 3.48.53 and Heather Tuffs coming home in third place at 4.4.1. Third man home was James Baron in 4.5.27 with Victoria Morris second in the women’s event at 4.25.28 and Kerrie Bretherton third in 4.42.59

First back in the Two Peaks event was Will Hall in 2.23.56, second Dan Starkey 2 .24.50 and third Laura McCabe 2.28,5 third man home was Michael Ward 2.33.16, second woman Sarah Hodgson 2.33.16 and third Helen Freeman 2.51 31

Amongst the entrants we had mountain biker Thomas Stephen who we rescued following a crash in Guiseclffe Woods near Pateley Bridge with Thomas making a determined recovery to take part to fundraise for us He made it round the whole way to applause from some of the members who had attended to his injuries during his accident

Not long after the start we had to assist a female who was taken ill on the route to Firth Fell.

Early afternoon the team received a callout to an incident at Burnsall to assist the ambulance service with a male casualty. Along with dealing with our W3P event this placed a huge strain on team resources.

We are so pleased to have local companies supporting us, with Admiral Safety Services, Hope Tech Ltd, JACS DIY and Midgley Motors having been with us for a number of years and Pete Bland Sports, the Rendezvous Hotel and Moin Moin Bakerie in recent years.

Monies have yet to come in from some sponsored entrants but we are anticipating the event will have raised well in excess of £6,000. Next year’s event will be on June 27.