Over the weekend of 9-10 July Matt completed the Peak District Ultra Challenge taking him in a 100 km figure of eight from Bakewell showground to raise money for the Harry Lownds Memorial Scholarship.
Peak District UltraChallenge start
The first day’s route wound its way in baking sunshine through the grounds of Chatsworth to Baslow and Calver then on to Wardlow and Tideswell, Miller’s Dale, Taddington, Deep Dale, Monsall Head, Great Longstone and back down to Bakewell. Despite the day’s heat a chilly night in a tent by the finish line ensued – sleep was interrupted by finishers of the non-stop challenge including Becky’s cousins James and Tom Kerry who were raising funds for Mesothelioma UK in memory of their Dad, David.
The second day took Matt first to Over Haddon and then through Lathkill Dale to Monyash where he was joined by his sister Ruth. She accompanied him along the High Peak Trail to Minninglow before parting ways at Longcliffe. Matt continued down into the head of the Via Gellia and up past Ible to the home turf of Bonsall Moor and Brightgate. From there the route wound down to Wensley and Darley Bridge where his sister Helen joined him. Helen was joined at Darley’s Whitworth Park by Becky and her brother Neil who joined them for the final stretch of the challenge through Rowsley, up behind Haddon Hall and down to Bakewell showground once more.
With Gift Aid and match-funding from the University of Sussex’s 60th Anniversary Fund in total Matt was able to raise over £4,000 for the Memorial Scholarship – enough to keep it running for another year.
