Peaking Three Times

When an off-duty conversation between a group of executives from fashion retailer NEXT and Allport turned to personal achievements, the test that captured their imagination was the gruelling Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

The assembled agreed to take the challenge together and subsequently gathered on June 30th 2007 in the small village of Horton in Ribblesdale to start the course

Rising to a combined height of 7,100 ft. the Three Peaks of Yorkshire is one of the oldest established walks in the UK and by tradition - for those fit enough - the gruelling 23.5 miles must be completed within 12 hours.

Four walkers from NEXT and Allport joined with five guest walkers to face extreme conditions, in the wake of recent flooding.

The route - ordinarily arduous - was exceptionally difficult and makes the achievement of seven of the party extraordinary, as they completed the course in under 10 hours beating the target by over two hours.

Unfortunately, two party members - both successful 'veterans' of the challenge - including Gary Hutchins of Allport, got separated from the main group in torrential rain and had to navigate treacherous terrain, including bogs, to return safely to base camp.

In successfully completing the challenge Paul Britton from NEXT - pictured at the top of Ingleborough - raised £1920 for Cancer Research.