In recent years it has become a tradition that on the last Sunday of term a group of Year 11, 12 and 13 pupils accompanied by members of staff attempt the challenge to run from Ellesmere College to the summit of Snowdon.
Weather conditions this year were particularly favourable and the 2 teams of 11 raced against each other and the clock aiming to beat the school record of 10 hours 46 minutes although just finishing is an achievement in itself. The teams started at 4am from Ellesmere Colleges gates and raced to the summit of Snowdon, a journey of about 75 miles.
Running in pairs, each leg was about 3 miles long and each member of the team completed at least 5 legs during the challenge by everyone touching the summit stone. The first team to reach their destination, in 11 hours 55 minutes, was led by Year 11 Dominic Simpson and Sixth Form leaver Alex Owen. The second team was a little behind and their final push was led by James McCarthy and Bryn Phillips, both Sixth Form leavers.
The annual Snowdon Run traditionally supports the charity, Chernobyl Continuity as well as the national charity Breast Cancer Research. The challenge was instigated in 1999 and Dr. Ranjit Chatterjee, Head of Middle School, has run the challenge since 2004 and each year participates himself, mainly on the cross country routes as well as acting as carrier of a rucksack of summit treats. As an avid runner himself, he enthused numerous participants to train with him over a number of weeks to help prepare themselves for the challenge. James Baggaley as Housemaster of St. Lukes, one of the Sixth Form boys houses led one team along with Ian Richardson (Sarahs Dad!) whilst the other team was led by Ranjit and Alex Murphy, PE teacher and Rugby Academy Coach.
The two girls who participated in the run were Zoe Evans, Head Girl and Lower Sixth Form student, Sarah Richardson, who immediately went on to complete her practice Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award walk in Wales. In support of the team and to bring everyone back to Ellesmere College, two of the Schools mini-buses were driven by Gareth Owen, Housemaster and Sue Richardson, Housemother, who had also given up their day to support the event.
As in previous years, the team was enthusiastically greeted at the top of Snowdon by a few family members who had walked up, with one younger brother having carried a tin of homemade cakes to distribute to the runners as they reached the summit.
Ranjit Chatterjee commented, Every year this is a team effort, with each member being focused on reaching the summit in record time. Once all the sponsor money has been collected we are expecting to be able to donate over a 1000 between the charities and a core group of us are looking forward to doing it all again next year!
Photo: Domanic Simpson and Bryn Phillips celebrating reaching the summit
15th July 2011 Back to News