£8,803 Raised in 2015

Michelle Kelly Award

On 28th June at the Longtown Mountain Rescue Team base in Abergavenny, Cardiff Outdoor Group welcomed Michelle Kelly to present an Award. The Award was to mark Michelle's amazing feat of endurance when, on 28th March 2015 she completed a triple Three Peaks Trial Gold Route Challenge in an absolutely incredible time of 19 hours 50 minutes.

Award Attendees:

Representatives from Cardiff Outdoor Group, Longtown Mountain Rescue Team and Abergavenny Town Council attended the event. In the attached photo, from left to righ, are:

Chris Lewis (Three Peaks Trial Coordinator for Cardiff Outdoor Group);

Jane Ormrod (Cardiff Outdoor Group Committee Member);

Michelle Kelly;

Councillor Nick Tatam (Abergavenny Town Council);

Luke Lewis (Team Leader for Longtown Mountain Rescue).

The Achievement
Michelle's achievement involved climbing over 15,000 feet in 60 miles. To put that in some sort of perspective to climb Mount Everest from Base Camp to the summit involves a climb of 11,500+ feet of ascent in 12 miles. So when you compare a triple Three Peaks Trial to that of climbing Everest you could argue Michelle's achievement was the greater!

The endurance needed was really extraordinary. Chris Lewis, who coordinates the event for Cardiff Outdoor Group said “I’ve completed a single 'lap' of the Three Peaks Trial a number of times and every time have ended the event exhausted almost unable to put one foot in front of the other so I am in awe of what Michelle has accomplished. Its a feat of endurance that went way above and beyond.”

Michelle started at 2:30am on that Saturday morning and with the support of family members who placed a number of glow sticks to guide her in the early darkness, she eventually finished the gruelling feat at 9:30pm in the evening. 

Michelle was asked if she is tempted to try four times and replied “Whilst it would be possible for someone to do the route four times in 24 hours but it won't be me”!

On presenting the award Chris Lewis said to Michelle “You are an inspiration to us all.”

Abergavenny fundraiser Michelle was motivated to undertake this huge challenge in memory of her nephew who died in October 2014. He worked for PGL who help under-priviledged children experience the great outdoors and Michelle raised over £900 for this great organisation.

Definition of Endurance

There are many sayings about endurance which perhaps give us some insight into what Michelle did on that day 28th March 2015. For example a definition often used for endurance is “It’s the power to withstand pain and hardships, it’s the ability to continue despite fatigue, stress or other adversity.”  And the writer JRR Tolkien put it another way and said “It’s not the strength of the body that counts but the strength of the spirit.”

What is the Three Peaks Trial Challenge?

The Three Peaks Trial Challenge Walk was set up in 1963 by local author Chris Barber. The event has taken place every year since with up to 900 people coming all over the UK to tke part and is made up of four different routes. The Gold Route is the original challenge; a circular walk over Blorenge, Sugar Loaf and Skirrid mountains. The Silver Route is a circular walk of about 15 miles with 4,000ft of ascent. The Bronze Route is a circular walk of about 10 miles and 2,000ft of ascent. The Platinum Route is a linear walk of about 17 miles and 5,000ft of ascent from Llanthony Abbey to Abergavenny over Bal Mawr, Pen Cerrig Calch and Sugar Loaf.

Inscription on the Award:

The inscription on the Award reads "Awarded to Michelle Kelly for the Outstanding Achievement of Completing a Triple Three Peaks Trial ‘Gold’ Challenge Walk  on 28th March 2015 in 19 hours and 50 minutes, the only person to have accomplished this remarkable feat of endurance". A photo of the Award is attached.

Event Report in the South Wales Argus

The SOUTH WALES ARGUS did a report of this year's  event. To read the article, 'More Than 700 Complete Abergavenny Three Peaks Trial', CLICK HERE. 

Runner Michelle Kelly Does the 'TRIPLE' Gold Route!

Michelle on top of Skirrid on her third lap!

Last year Michelle Kelly from Abergavenny amazed everyone by doing 'two laps' of the Gold Route. This year she did the incredible and went round THREE times in an extraordinary 19 hours and 50 minutes!  This is a truly amazing achievement.
Michelle started at 02:30 on Saturday morning and with the support of family members who placed a number of glow sticks (which they removed afterwards) to guide her in the early darkness she eventually finished the gruelling feat at 21:20. Michelle was asked if she is tempted to try four times and Michelle said it would be possible for someone to do the route four times in 24 hours but it won't be her!

Also Michelle said the main reason for doing the challenge was in memory of her nephew who died last October. He worked for PGL and Michelle was keen to raise some funds for this organisation who help under-privalidged children experience the great outdoors and so far she's raised in excess of e£900.

THANK YOU TO THE 716 WHO TOOK PART IN THE 2015 EVENT!!!!!!!!

Many thanks to the 716 walkers who took part in this year’s Three Peaks Trial! Another fantastic turnout!

Cardiff Outdoor Group would particularly like to thank:

• Longtown Mountain Rescue Team – LMRT for marshalling all the mountain top checkpoints. 
• St David’s Hospice Foundationation and North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation and Aftercare Charity who  helped marshall the event. 
• Councillor Nick Tatum of Abergavenny Town Council who helped in a number of roles.throughout the day.

The Charities and Fundraisers who supported the event:

• St David’s Hospice Foundation
• Cancer Research UK
• Velindre Cancer Centre
• Charity to Prevent Male Suicide in the UK
• Access Madagascar Initiative
• emmaus Homeless Charity
• Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue; 

We hope to see you all again at the 2016 event!

The first walkers back on each route were:

Platinum Route Lloyd Rees, 40, from St Albans and Owain Rees from Monmouth who returned at 12:55

Gold Route  The first 'regular' walker back was Richard O'Shea, 57 from Abergavenny who returned at 11:57

Ahead of Richard was Michelle Kelly, 44, from Abergavenny who began an incredible triple 'lap' Three Peaks Trial at 2:30am. Last year Michelle completed the walk then did something which was unprecedented in the long history of the Three Peaks Trial and did a second 'lap'! This year Michelle beat that incredible record and completed an astonishing triple Three Peaks Trial eventually completing the gruelling feat at 21:20 so taking 19 hours and 20 minutes. A truly phenomenol achievement.

Silver Route
Clive Vernon, 60, from Newport returned at 11:40
Bronze Route
Tom and Julie Skailes from Bath both returned at 13:20

Other News

North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation and Aftercare Charity

A group from the North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation and Aftercare Charity with their own support team entered a group including Chris Breakwell who'd had a triple bypass only last August! 
Longtown Mountain Rescue Team

Team leader Luke Lewis said: “It’s a big event in the team’s calendar and our members were on checkpoints on the mountain tops around Abergavenny for up to 12 hours in the wind and rain. 

“It was fantastic to see so many people taking part and doing so well despite the difficult conditions. However that did mean there was an injury when a woman, from Pontypool, slipped while descending Sugar Loaf. (Cardiff Outdoor Group have also sent their best wishes to the walker for a speedy recovery)

“As our members were there on the checkpoint we were able to give her immediate medical aid and we stretchered her off the mountain and took her to Nevill Hall Hospital in one of our response vehicles. She underwent surgery and is now recovering at home.”

Hypothermia

A Platinum Route walker had nearly completed the event but had to be taken to Neville Hall Hospital with hypothermia caused by the chilling effect of the strong winds  However he made a quick recovery and returned to the hall to collect his certificate.

Gold Route Walkers Check-in at Scout Hall

Please note that when you arrive for registration go to the Scout Hall (the hall on the right end, as shown in the sketch below) and not the Red Cross Hall/St John's Ambulance Hall used in previous years.

 

We are, of course, keeping an eye on the weather forecast. It currently looks like there's rain passing through on saturday morning and its going to be windy. If the forecast deteriorates then please check this blog for further information.

One final thing, the Crown in Pantygelli have asked that if you have wet, muddy boots then please take them off before going inside the pub.

All Routes Are Now Full!!

All Routes are now full. Thanks again to all those who've entered. 

Walker Raising Funds For C.A.L.M.

Three Peaks Trial 2015 entrant Jon Jones is fundraising on this year's Platinum Route for the charity CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably, which works to prevent male suicide which is the single biggest killer of men aged between 20 and 45 in the UK.

Jon says "My brother, Oliver, died last year. He had a lot of problems which got the better of him and things seemed hopeless. Tragically, he took his own life. Every day I wish I could tell him how much he is missed. I wish I could go back and give him whatever help he needed to get past his problems.

Oliver loved to go walking around his local area in Pembrokeshire. His passion for exploring is part of what inspired me to get involved in mountain hiking, and it has become an important part of my life. I always feel closest to Oliver when I am out hiking.

I want to raise money for a charity called CALM, which campaigns to reduce male suicide rates, because I want to help other people who are struggling with the same problems my brother had, and prevent them from resorting to such desperate measures."

If you'd like to donate to Jon's 'Just Giving' web page go to https://www.justgiving.com/Jon-Jones3/ or Click Here