The history of our challenge walks in words and pictures
Up to date financial details and other information about our fundraising activities
Annual financial details of the totals raised from our Walkers and Corporate Sponsors
Information about The Three Peaks Challenge Walk and the surrounding countryside
Information about The Chatsworth Challenge Walk, and the Chatsworth area.
Preparation, Hints & Tips
Handy tips and sound advice for tackling those demanding challenge walks
Some interesting features associated with our walks
Information about us and why we raise the sponsored funds
All the other bits we couldn’t fit in anywhere else
chatsworth challenge
chatsworthchallenge.com
three peaks
challenge
threepeakschallenge.com
chatsworthchallenge.com and threepeakschallenge.com are organisers of sponsored challenge walks to raise money for the Dave Owens and Frank Goodall Memorial Fund in support of nominated charities to fund cancer research, prevention, and treatment.
Total funds raised so far
£197,708.98
including... ThreePeaksChallenge
The four charities we currently represent. All of the money raised on our walks go to the four listed cancer charities to fund the research, prev-ention, and treatment of cancer.
More information >>
9 Mile Walk
As we began the drive down the M1 to Derbyshire it quickly became very clear that this year’s walk was going to be unlike the previous two walks I had participated in before… the sun was shining for starters! It turned out to be the hottest day of the year!
We arrived in Baslow in good time, only to discover that the parking arrangements were going to be a little more interesting this year; the
1. The 9 Mile Walkers team photo
2. Not for the squeamish! This is what happens when you wear new shoes!
old, with a replacement hip! Ed.]. Then to add to the chaos we were left scrambling around to find a scrap of paper and a pen to write a note to leave in the car window to tell whoever cared that we had paid for parking in the shop! All this and we hadn’t even checked in yet!
1. The 9 Mile walkers ‘Team Photo’
Finally we were all assembled, maps and directions in hand… photo time. “SMILE” (that’s you too Walter)! This is Walter, the boxer dog’s, third year too, and off we go. Did I mention that it was the hottest day of
2. The painful art of walking 9 miles
The first half of the walk started well, everyone seemed to pick up a good pace and we were soon all into our stride, climbing over stiles, negotiating kissing gates and avoiding cow pats! It wasn’t until we were heading for the first check point that Julie (who is only used to walking around the shops at The White Rose Shopping Centre) mentioned that her feet were a little sore. As the photo shows, her feet certainly were a little sore. Julie continued on for the next 5 miles in a pair of borrowed flip-flops! [The SAS always carry a spare pair of Flip-Flops for rough terrain manoeuvres! Ed.]

parking meter was not working. Now, under normal circumstances you would expect that in a situation such as this that parking would be free. No no no no no, this is Baslow. All parking fees should be paid for in the tiny little shop run by the lovely lady who only has one speed and cannot possibly perform more than one task at once! [Steady on Rachel, she is 95 yrs
the year? [Walter the Boxer is to the left of the picture, showing his obvious contempt for the Baslow Paparazzi by mooning at the camera. Ed.].
4. Julia & Lisa looking for the easy route down!
3. Walter prepares to take Eddie Messenger for a walk.

4. I can see the pub from here!
As we made it to the Hunting Tower it really did seem like we were only a hop, skip, and a jump from the Devonshire Arms and the end of the walk. Little did we know…what goes up, must come down. The last two miles were pure grueling joy! Joy that the end was in sight and that we were looking like coming in with a rather respectable finish time, and given the condition of poor Julie’s feet this was quite an achievement! The grueling part was that it was all down hill; not so easy when your feet and legs ache (ok so I know we have only done the 9 mile walk, but it’s the most exercise we have had since we did the 9 mile walk last year; not to mention that the last two stiles were not dog friendly and with Walter being a wuss this meant that he had to be lifted and carried over them). It truly had been an eventful nine miles!
And so finally we made it back to Devonshire Arms for a well earned drink and a sit down, before heading back to The Fox & Hounds for a well deserved warm roast beef sandwich and a pint! [and very nice it was too Rachel. Ed.] Can’t wait to do it all again next year! (RM)
3. Walter and Eddie Messenger
Walter meanwhile wondered what all the fuss was about and even though he was panting, (after all it was the hottest day of the year!) he was still raring to go. The next 5 miles were the toughest, but the scenery was magnificent. Well worth the climb to the top of Warren Moor.
This was our fourth walk in the Derbyshire Peak District, and after the three previous years during which the weather ranged between wet and very wet, this year the great sun god finally shone upon us and we were bathed in glorious sunshine and warm weather throughout the day. Perhaps a little too hot as it turned out, but having endured
several years of the aforementioned bad weather, none of the regular walkers complained too bitterly. It is after all, the middle of June.
Four happy faces, all looking fit and healthy. Chris McGee, John Williams, Steve Mason, and Jim Dixon smile for the camera as they get ready to start the 22 Mile Walk (click to enlarge)

Gerard Mitchell, our ever present organiser and walker, gives us his usual account of the longer course the walk takes as it winds it’s way via Chatsworth, Edensor, Bakewell, Alport, Birchover, Rowsley, Beeley, and finally back through Chatsworth. For our shorter walk this year we welcome our new Chatsworth Challenge walking correspondent... Rachel Martin, who is the Landlord (should that be Landlady)? of the Chatsworth Challenge adopted official pub, the Fox and Hounds in Batley, West Yorkshire, and who trekked the shorter course walk with her own four legged hound, Walter the Boxer. As they set off at 06.00 hours and 11.15 hours respectively on the Saturday morning of the walk, the only thing that stood between them (and the rest of our walkers) and a glorious and enjoyable June weekend was 22 miles and 9 miles on a hot sunny day... and Germany in the last sixteen knockout round of the World Cup! (see sidebar) (PL)
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2010 Walk : Chatsworth Challenge
22 Mile Walk
1. The usual 06.00 hrs start for the 22 milers
With only forty walkers taking part in this year’s walks it wasn’t one of our biggest events to date. However it was certainly
1. The usual 06.00 hrs start for the 22 milers
2. The Britannia Kitchen Ventilation lads set the pace
3. Pete, Graham, and John at the Beeley Checkpoint
4. The Mitchell Mafia at Beeley Checkpoint. Janine, Clark Kent, Clare, Gerard, and Martin
lads to set the pace and stretch the field a little. Without a cloud in the sky and the scent of bacon strong in their nostrils it’s all smiles at this stage; but it’s still only 08-45.
3. Beeley Checkpoint
The Three Amigos; Pete Graham & John. In this photo all three groups of the events participants are represented. Pete is 16 miles into the 22 mile walk, Graham is 3 miles into the 9 and John as one of the support team is at the middle checkpoint. Phil and Wendy Lynskey must be around somewhere but they’ve not quite made it into shot.
[Actually, Wendy and I left earlier to set up the final checkpoint to check in all the walkers, calculate the individual completion times, compile the spreadsheets, and write up and distribute the certificates. Not that I’m the type to complain as you know]...
4. More drinking at the Beeley Checkpoint
By 12.45 the strollers of the 22 mile walk have made it to the second checkpoint in the chocolate box village of Beeley. Most of us were flagging a bit at this stage, so we were all extremely relieved when Superman

one of our most enjoyable. The sun shone right from the start, leaving rainwear totally redundant. 22 walkers took up the 22 mile challenge this year (I suppose it was 24 if you count Steve Newton’s dogs) and as always it was excellent to see all the new faces amongst the regulars. Due to the 06-00 hrs start it was cool when we left Baslow but by the time we’d got through Edensor and down into Bakewell it was already turning into a warm one and it was only 07-30.
2. 4 miles to the breakfast checkpoint
After Bakewell the route climbs again onto the long straight farm track before dropping down into the villages of Alport and Youlgreave. The two villages are typical of
the Derbyshire Dales villages in that area and are well worth a visit. With small mills built beside the river they used the current to turn the waterwheels which provided the power to turn the fleeces into wool. With the first checkpoint and breakfast at the Red Lion in Birchover only four miles ahead it’s a good opportunity for the Britannia Kitchen Ventilation
appeared out of nowhere to save the day. However, we were a bit taken aback when our superhero’s first action was to kick off his trainers and join us in a beer.
5. The All England Ladies National Obstacle Race. A race incident occurs when 2nd place Clare Mitchell (sunglasses) complains of wilful flatulence by the front runner.
6. Louise and Pat back at the final checkpoint for a welcomed glass of beer. Come on girls.. You’ve finished the walk, you’ve had a couple of beers, you feel like dancing, we have a pole... It’s not rocket science !
With sixteen miles behind us and only one more stage to go (although it does include the long drag up onto Rabbit Warren Moor) it’s time for a glass of liquid refreshment. Fortunately it was the stuff that refreshers the parts that other beers don’t reach and we were soon up and off again to take on the hill.
5 . The graceful art of stile-hopping !
Halfway up the hill the walkers have to cross what would in horse racing terms be referred to as a double ditch. No sooner have you climbed over the stone stile being negotiated by Barbara before you are up again to get over the shaky wooden fence. Stella may look to be stuck fast on the fence but she is actually going through her 5-4-3-2-1 count down before her double jet pack kicks in to send her shooting her past the couple currently striding out in front. Clare may look to be caught between two stools [Come on Gerard, that’s no way to talk about Stella and Barbara. Ed.] and unsure which way to go next, but whether it was by jet power on under their own steam everyone made it to the top.
6. Final Checkpoint at the Devonshire Arms
With the hard work over for another year [except for the website editing to do! Ed]
there's plenty of time for a refreshing pint back in Baslow. As is customary, Phil & Wendy have set up the final checkpoint at The Devonshire Arms and due to great weather we are able to make full use of the tables at the front of the pub. After being out all day it was pleasant to take advantage of the shade offered by the parasols. Louise and Pat look remarkably fresh after their efforts. They give the impression they could finish their glasses and go round again. (GM)
If you took part in this year’s walk, and want to take the challenge again, OR...
If you’re reading this for the first time, and wish to take part in our annual walk, click on the following links for more details.
Page Acknowledgements
Text : Philip Lynskey : Gerard Mitchell : Rachel Martin
Images : Gerard Mitchell : Steve Mason : Louise Lavelle : Julia Maloney : Rachel Martin
Walter appears by courtesy of the Fox and Hounds Public House
© www.chatsworthchallenge.com
chatsworthchallenge.com are organisers of fund raising challenge walks in support of the Dave Owens and Frank Goodall Memorial Fund to raise monies for nominated charities in support of cancer research, prevention, and treatment.
Saturday, the 26th of June (walk day) therefore, landed right in the middle of the usual national frenzy of St. George flags, bunting, and all manner of related red and white in support of the great cause.
The relatively quieter country-side of Chatsworth and the surrounding estate proved to be a sobering, albeit temporary, distraction.
Germany (Lat. Sunbedus Reservus Germanicus Bastardus)
England. (Lat. Sender Victorius Appian Glorius)
2010 is, or was (depending on the time you read this) a Football World Cup year, and by the morning of the walk England had limped through the qualifying group stage by way of disappointing matches against Algeria, USA, and (by a better performance) Slovenia.
Their reward was to be drawn against our old ‘friends’ Germany in the first round of the knockout round of the competition.
Follow these links to the other areas associated with this page
From Our Charities - 2010
Comments from the Charity Organisations we support
Below is a collection of just some of the many kind comments we have received from the recipient charities we support through the Dave Owens and Frank Goodall Memorial Fund. The value of every participant’s work in raising monies for the fund can be readily seen in their thanks.
On behalf of Cancer Research UK I would like to thank you for your kind donation of £3,168.21 raised from your sponsored walk around the grounds of Chatsworth Estate. I would be most grateful if you could forward our thanks to all those who helped raise such a staggering sum...
Simon O Leary
Head of Volunteer Funding
I am writing on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support to thank you for your kind donation of £2009.30 raised at the Chatsworth Challenge in memory of Dave Owens and Frank Goodall. This will really make a difference to people affected by cancer.
Diane Beckett
Fundraising Support Assistant
Thank you so much for supporting Marie Curie Cancer Care by organising the sponsored walk in the grounds of the Chatsworth estate, and raising £2,109.30. I do hope that you had a good time in the process.
Clare Priestwood
Community Fundraiser
Oesophageal Patients Assc.
Thank you so much for your letter enclosing a cheque for £703.10 payable to the OPA, and raised by a sponsored walk in memory of Dave Owens and Frank Goodall.
I trust you will be able to express our grateful thanks to all who contributed. I am looking at our file of letters to you some seven years ago when you set up the memorial fund. It is so good to have your continued support over the years. Wonderful, and thank you again.
David Kirby
Chairman
Julia and Lisa on the home run back to Baslow, do a bit of body pumping to show they have what it takes to climb a small mountain!
[looks more like they have what it takes for a good pub brawl. Ed.]
Julia and Lisa ‘pumping up’ before the final leg to Baslow (click to enlarge)
(fund total raised to date after current walk year)
Reservoir Foxes! (Must get this next bit the right way round)... The Foxes and Hound team pose for the camera before setting off.
(left to right) Walter the dog, Rachel, Julia, Julie, Lisa, and Ruth from The Fox & Hounds pub in Batley.
Walter’s head is just out of shot, but his nose is stuck into some unfortunate victims crotch.
The Fox and Hounds Team pose for the camera. (click to enlarge)
We couldn’t leave the page without saying thanks also to Walter, the Fox and Hounds racist boxer dog who features prominently on this years page.
He’s noisy, gulps down his beer, begs all your crisps, and breaks wind at any convenient moment, and so had much in common with many of our usual nine mile walkers.