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The Coldstream Guards - History in the making

  

   

 

    
     
   

.Challenge COMPLETE - over 650 miles in under 70 hours! CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND IMAGES

   

UK Gear - sponsors of the ultimate challenge 'Hougoumont or Bust' and outstanding provider of footwear for the whole team ..... it's the gear that makes a difference - 30% discount on all their shoes for all serving soldiers bought through army.net

 

30% discount on all UK Gear shoes for all serving soldiers bought through army.net - UK Gear,  sponsors of the ultimate challenge 'Hougoumont or Bust' and outstanding provider of footwear for the whole team ..... it's the gear that makes a difference - 30% discount on all UK Gear shoes for all serving soldiers bought through army.net

Go back to the main 'Hougoumont or Bust' page here ...

Hougoumont or Bust:
 .....challenge COMPLETE!
In the early hours of Thursday the 18th December the Hougoumont or Bust team completed the mammoth challenge of trying to run, row and cycle from Coldstream (Scotland) to Hougoumont (Belgium) over 650 miles!

The team set their own realistic milestone to complete the challenge of 85 hours which was sensationally smashed, and they completed the event in a total time of 69 hours 34 minutes 36 seconds.

The total distance was split amongst the team members who between them had to cover;

 a 470 mile run, a 27 mile row and a 147 mile cycle ride. 

WOII Mac Mcwilliams completes the last run of phase 1 WOII Colin Pote on completion of his last lap (doesn't look out of breath does he!) WOII Mac McWilliams takes over from WOII Colin Pote for the last lap of the challenge (complete with bandy legs) Support from the front The Whole Team at the front gate to welcome in WOII Mac Mcwilliams Look ............... it was cold! So please, no comments on the hat!!


The Hougoumont or Bust Challenge Team
 The team, challenge complete with LCpl Simon Wiggins and Stella the team mascot










  1 - WO2 (UWO) Gary Douglas
  2 - WO2 (CSM) Collin Pote
  3 - WO2 (CSM) Danny Morrell
  4 - WO2 (DSgt) Andy Jones
  5 - WO2 (RT) Gary McWilliams
  6 -  WO2 (CSM) Steve Taylor
  7 - WO2 (RQMS Lon Dist) Errol Flynn (WITH FLAT CAP!)
  8 - WO2 (RRWO) John Sheard
  9 - LCpl Simon Wiggins
  10 - WO1 (RSM) Andy Johnson
  11 - WO2 (TQMS) Spence Jones
             .... and Stella - the team mascot

Phase 1 of the challenge required each man to complete four 10.2 mile laps of Windsor and the surrounding area.  WO1 (RSM) Andy Johnson started the challenge and each man took their turn to run handing over at the front gates of Victoria Barracks.  The run phase ran continuously from Monday morning until late Wednesday evening where the team complete with weary legs jumped onto rowing machines for phase 2, to cover the equivalent distance over the channel to Calais split amongst the team (2.7 miles each).

DSgt Andy Jones starts the row WOII Steve Taylor mid way through the row phase WOII Gary Douglas getting a little 'massage time' from Sgt Andy Browell - Stella is on Guard! WOII Gary Douglas nearing the end of his row phase 
WOII Spense Jones mid way through his row phase The team admin area Doesn't the Padre get about! Sgt Andy Browell peforms his magic on DSgt Andy Jones The Regimental Sergeant Major (WO1 Andy Johnson) - first one on the rower 

Phase 3 started straight after the row and each member of the team took their turn to jump on the bikes to cover the equivalent distance from Calais to Hougoumont, 147 miles split amongst the team with nearly fifteen miles each.

As phase 3 of the challenge started it was clear that although the team was extremely exhausted, they had the bit between their teeth and finished just after 6am on Thursday 18th December .................... over 16 hours ahead of the estimated time!

As you can see from the times below, the team did extremely well - with outstanding performances from WOII Colin Pote (CSM 2 Coy) on the run phase, WOII Steve Taylor (CSM 1 Coy) on the row phase and the WOII 'Mac' McWilliams of the Mobile Recruiting Team on the bike phase (some would say he has a more streamlined head!)

Total times from the 'Hougoumont or Bust' Challenge
 
NAME   LAP 1  LAP 2    LAP 3  LAP 4 ROW BIKE TOTALS
RSM (Johnson)  1.27 03s  1.36 42s 1.33 06s 1.38 40s 22.50s 46.41s 7hr 24m 56s
RRWO (Sheard)     1.20 04s 1.21 09s 1.23 27s 1.20 54s 18.59s 46.24s 6hr 30m 57s
FOWO (Douglas)   1.26 15s  1.35 30s 1.39 43s 1.34 52s 17.32s 41.25s 7hr 15m 17s
CSM 1 (Taylor) 1.26 26s 1.38 05s 1.34 03s 1.42 22s *16.32s 53.11s 7hr 30m 39s
DSGT (Jones) 1.18 20s 1.25 29s 1.18 33s 1.30 05s 17.34s 51.04s 6hr 41m 05s
CSM 3 (Morell)  1.22 58s 1.19 45s 1.20 37s 1.23 45s 19.26s 46.49s 6hr 32m 40s
TQMS (Jones) 1.33 59s 1.36 01s 1.35 14s 1.33 08s 16.25s 45.46s 7hr 21m 43s
RQ RHQ (Flynn) 1.24 58s 1.34 15s 1.35 22s 1.31 48s 18.54s 47.36s 7hr 13m 53s
RTWO (McWilliams) 1.28 48s 1.33 11s 1.31 35s 1.34 34s 23.34s *41.22s 7hr 13m 02s
CSM 2 (Pote)  *1.06 30s *1.05 14s *1.08 48s *1.08 26s 19.25s 46.33s 5hr 36m 56s

*FASTEST TIME RECORDED

Well done to everyone!
 

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Media Interest:

The event also had quite a lot of media interest, with the Observer (above) featuring the article on their front page and a two page spread. 

A number of individuals have read about the challenge and sent in cheques - for that the Regiment is extremely grateful. 

Special thanks also goes to the Adjutant General Corps Detachment Commander, Lt Lisa Keevash, who also doubles as the Battalions Media Officer. 

It was because of the Detachment Commander's professionalism and determination that the media were informed of the challenge and took such an active part in promoting and publishing the event.

Read the articles below.






The Battalion were also very privileged that the local hot spot 'Chicagos Rock Cafe' offered to help and did a poster and collection campaign which also raised some much needed cash.



For more events at Chicago Rock Cafe visit www.chicago-rock-cafe.co.uk
 
 

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