.
 Coldstream Guards 24 hour - 3 Peak Challenge!   
 (a big thanks to our sponsors who have already donated hundreds of pounds!)

The 3 Peak Challenge has now been completed and a big thanks to all of you who have sponsored the team.  The original post with information on this challenge is below.

Article written by Capt Johnstone (Team Commander)
Many readers will have heard of or indeed completed the Three Peaks Challenge. I certainly had a vague idea when Company Sergeant Major Wright (Support Company) approached me with the idea in order to raise money for Lance Corporal Simon Wiggins who lost his leg on our recent tour in Afghanistan. Not surprisingly volunteers were not difficult to find to go for a fast trip around the 3 highest peaks of England, Scotland and Wales. The tour is of course still fresh in our minds and the Guardsmen, Non Commissioned Officers and I felt that although Lance Corporal Wiggins was being looked after well by the Army we wanted to do our own part. After all, like all in the “Blue Red Blue Brotherhood”, we like to look after our own.  Click here to view more info of the Battalion's recent tour of Afghanistan

The Battalion recently returned from Afghanistan as part of 52 Brigade on Op HERRICK 7. We were split throughout the Brigade and beyond as 1 Company served their tour in Kabul with the remainder of the Battalion in Helmand. On return the Battalion reformed and had a homecoming march through Windsor to celebrate. Thankfully we returned with no fatalities but not without casualties. A number of good men were injured and have since healed well. One man who was not so lucky is Lance Corporal Wiggins who lost his right leg and fingers on his right hand in a blast from a pressure pad improvised explosive device whilst out on patrol in Garmisir.

Many of you might remember the newspaper articles and news clips showing Lance Corporal Wiggins lead the parade through Windsor on that sunny April day.


I think that the thought that “that could have been me” flows through every man’s mind and it is important that as commanders we recognise it - after all we work in an increasingly volatile operational environment and this thought is always in the back of one’s mind. The Guardsmen wanted to do something to show their respect for Lance Corporal Wiggins and his courage and fortitude throughout. They also wanted to help him financially. The aim was and remains to raise as much money as possible in order to help him buy a suitably converted car, and to also insure him for one year. The target is £30000. Of course there will be other fundraisers, but this is the first.


The Three Peaks as mentioned consists of the three highest Peaks in England, Scotland and Wales. Ben Nevis in Scotland (1344m), Scafell in England ( 978m) and Snowdon in Wales (1085m). The stopwatch starts when you touch the water of Loch Linnhe by the Crannog Sea Food Restaurant in Fort William. The team then has a quick drive to the base of Ben Nevis to start their run up and down and then on to Scafell in the Lake District followed finally by a move to Snowdonia where the team must summit Snowdon then drive to Caernarfon to touch the water by the Castle to complete the challenge and stop the watch!!



A team of 10 men were assembled to take on the task. A further 5 headed up the support crew including 2 medics and three support drivers. All were drawn from Support and Headquarter Company. Training together was minimal as the members were involved in various ceremonial duties, training and other events right up until we all got onto the minibus to depart.


The Battalion was on a Battle Camp in Warcop so we left and drove up to a Backpackers hostel in Fort William. Company Sergeant Major Addenbrooke and Company Quartermaster Sergeant Blackett headed up the admin team and of course lead with the majority of the driving.


We arrived at about 2100hrs. The Backpackers was an old home that had been converted into a number of dormitories. Once settled in we headed into Fort William for a pint or two (we managed to find a good Ben Nevis whiskey which helped lubricate our joints prior to setting off the following afternoon). The next morning was spent shopping for last minute bits of kit and food to stave off hunger and keep the energy stockpiles high for the 24 hour duration.

At 1650 (ummm, this number rings a bell!), the team touched water at Loch Linnhe then jumped back into the minibus and headed straight for the base of Ben Nevis. The weather was perfect as we started our jog upwards. There were a few other teams on the mountain and the response from other walkers was extremely positive. For those who have not braved the track up Ben Nevis it is very straight forward and if the weather is right a rewarding walk. The view is tremendous at the top and it was good to stop, if briefly, to look out over the surrounding area before quickly turning around to complete Ben Nevis in 3 hours. This was a good positive start for the team as many had been nervous about the initial mountain. We clambered back into the minibus and set off straight away, changing into dry kit as we went and throwing food down our necks before attempting to sleep, as CSM Addenbrooke battled the evening traffic on our way to Scafell.



We arrived at Scafell in the early hours of the morning having had a wake up prior to our arrival to allow everyone to change. The roads approaching the start point are full of twists and turns and for some it felt a bit like Postman Pat’s postal run. Needless to say both Sgt Pal and LSgt Page were both sick when we finally stopped! There was a light drizzle and the ‘clag’ was drifting in. We were met by Tony Martin, an old Coldstreamer, who had a 9 x 9 tent by the side of the road to allow the support crew to set up and prepare for the next leg once we completed this particular peak. His words of advice “It’s been raining all night and the rocks will be very slippery” echoed into the darkness as we jogged out compasses set to attempt our 2nd peak.



Visibility was poor as we started to ascend but we managed to get up there. The rocks were indeed slippery making the work laborious as we all tried not to snap an ankle while moving as swiftly as we could. For those who have not been to the top of Scafell, it is littered with rocks making movement slow in wet weather unless you want to spend a large amount of time falling over. We peaked to find a gentle fog blurring our view as we made our way carefully to the trig point for a quick photograph before our descent.



We took a slightly different route down. There was no real path and the team had to master balance as we tried to speed down a large grass covered spur. The rain had assisted in making the grass rather slippery and some of the team members did not have great grip on their running shoes. Guardsman Smith being one of these members, gave up standing up and covered 100m sitting down in double quick time. We had planned to complete Scafell in about 4 hours and managed it just under. The weather and our fatigue had not deterred us from our task. We all bounced back into the minibus to find hot dogs from the support team and food parcels prepared by Tony, for whose support we are most grateful.

We said farewell to Tony and jumped into the minibus to face the next driving leg to Snowdon. Injuries were starting to crop up. Blisters were being treated and the minibus generally stank of wet body, deep heat and tiger balm with a twist of hot dog and tomato sauce. No wonder CSM Addenbrooke kept his window open permanently.

Most of the team drifted off to sleep quickly once we had administered ourselves. We awoke to find that Saturday was going to be a beautiful day as the minibus started to twist and turn its way up to Pen y Pass and the start point for the final peak. We tried to stretch off as best we could. An initial recce of Snowdon had seen us go up and down the Pyg track in 2 hours and 7 minutes, but that was without having done any prior peaks. This time we were tired, aching and eager to finish.



Adrenalin alone set us off as the minibus door slid open and we burst out setting off at a run. It was a busy morning for Snowden and the track was rather like the M25 during rush hour with large groups stopping at bottle necks. We managed to get through with much positive support from our fellow hill climbers. The summit was enveloped in glorious sunshine. We had a quick photograph once all were assembled before starting the run down. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, the café at the summit was closed for refurbishment which stopped any hidden agendas for a quick brew at the top. The run down was quick and everyone kept up with the pace. Knees and joints were generally aching and blisters had mostly popped by this point. We must have made an amusing sight as we headed back down to Pen Y Pass. On our arrival we called the minibus forward having completed Snowden in 2 hours and 17 minutes. We all jumped aboard the minibus to head straight for Caernarfon to touch water to complete the challenge. There was a fantastic buzz amongst the team having just completed all three peaks. Caernarfon is about 35 minutes away and we touched water completing the task in 20 hours and 46 minutes, well within the time. This meant that by 1650 that day we had moved back to Capel Curig, had a shower and headed back out to the local pub for celebratory beers and some well earned pub grub.

The event itself is a most worthwhile challenge in itself, but the added incentive of knowing we were doing it to support one of our injured comrades made it all the more special. Lance Corporal Wiggins continues to show the tenacity and courage that made him such an effective soldier when he was in full health, and we look forward to seeing him hopefully return to duty with 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards as soon as he is able.

Any readers who may wish to contribute to his rehabilitation should contact Colour Sergeant Brady on 01753 75 5533 or send a cheque addressed to the Colour Sergeant made payable to “Central Bank, 1 Coldstream Guards” to:

1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
Victoria Barracks
Sheet Street
Windsor
SL4 1HF
(please ensure you write LCpl Wiggins Appeal on the rear of the cheque).

The Commanding Officer and all team members would like to thanks everyone for their support in this appeal, in particular Tony Martin who met the team after asking for a 'grid reference' in the middle of nowhere with a hot cup of 'much appreciated' tea.

For those who took part in the challenge, Tony sent the following message to the Commanding Officer;

To: Lt Col TW Gray
     Commanding Officer - 1st Bn Coldstream Guards

Sir,
Having read of the attempt at the 3 Peaks Challenge, in aid of L/Cpl Simon Wiggins, I went along to meet the team at Wasdale to give them some encouragement and support. I have to tell you that I was very impressed with what I saw. The team was well organised and in good spirits, if a little weary after the Ben Nevis leg. As a fell runner of many years experience I knew that Scafell would present quite a challenge as they set off into the wind and rain. The fact that they all got round in such a good time was testimony to their determination, but could not have been done without some very neat navigating, over difficult ground, by Capt Johnstone. Given the level of preparation possible for this challenge, the performance of everyone involved was outstanding .

Well done to Captain Johnstone, CSM Wright and the team. I hope the fundraising goes well, it deserves to.

Yours faithfully
Tony Martinex
2nd Bn
 

 
- SEE MORE IMAGES OF THIS EVENT -

All images from this event are available at the following link: http://shinycapstar.com/shinychat/viewtopic.php?t=3800
 

back to the top ...............

back to the top ...............

back to the top ...............

back to the top ...............

©Website and Customised Images copyright, designed and maintained by A.J Brady