Three Peaks….three times….one incredible challenge

Conquering the Yorkshire Three Peaks is a huge challenge – but imagine trying to do it three times back-to-back.

Four super-fit fundraisers from Wolds Gymnastics Club are hoping to complete the epic endurance task – which involves running or walking 72 miles and climbing more than 15,000ft – in less than 30 hours.

Harry Sheader, Will Webster, Sarah Keyes and Ashley Gill are raising money for a special children’s defibrillator to be kept at the club’s premises and to buy a new set of A-bars for the 500 gymnasts.

Coach Harry, who is head of men’s gymnastics at the club, came up with the idea of the triple Three Peaks challenge, which will take place over Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th May.

He said: “We are all very excited to take on this unusual challenge, and we hope our hard work and preparation will keep our bodies fit and ticking through the predicted 30 hours, or maybe less if we can, we’ll be spending ascending and descending the nine mountains.

“It’s a big task, but we’ll be ready for it”

The Yorkshire Three peaks challenge involves climbing Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, which are part of the Pennine ridge in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

“Training is going really well, we are doing well,” said Harry, who believes he could get around the course in about 23 hours.

“I did one lap of the Three Peaks in February but we tried again about a month ago and were rained off.

“We got to the top in the middle of the night in 70mph winds and it was just too unsafe to carry on.

“We really need it to be as still as possible.”

Around 25 parents and gymnasts will meet them on the final stage to offer support and to tackle the ninth mountain alongside them.

The club’s own young gymnasts are also taking part in a special 72 challenge, where they will be sponsored to complete 72 activities – from burpees for the older members to running on the spot for 72 seconds for the youngest.

Harry was part of a team which completed one lap of the Three Peaks course in 2019.

Fellow coach Katie Nelson said: “When Harry first told me about the challenge, I thought he was crazy.
“I knew I personally wouldn’t be able to take it on three times as I vowed I would never do it again after last time. It was tough then. But I am here, and I am hoping to get round it all once on their final lap to spur them on. 

“Harry has put a lot of thought and time into the preparation for this. The training plans we have been following have been well thought through and at times gruelling, but it just shows how serious and determined he is to achieve it.”

As well as raising money for the defibrillator and gym equipment, the challenge is being taken on in memory of two Wolds Gymnastics Club coaches, Jaygo Beasty and Yvonne Wright, who died this year.

The club runs 35 classes per week and has almost 550 members, from those competing at national level to others involved for fun and to improve their fitness and mental health.