At the end of an amazing 48 hours it was time to party, and what a party it was, with Spoon mascot, ‘Woody’, making a rather spectacular appearance on the dance floor to celebrate his birthday year. Well done to all the teams on their fabulous achievement.
 

Sixty summit for Spoon – a peak by peak account

A record number of 60 teams headed for the summits, around half of which had never taken part before.  The weather as always threw down the gauntlet from the start, with the prospect of the wind and rain adding to the worries of the some of the new challengers on the start line. As the teams, waterproofs and thermals at the ready, willed for a change in the weather, a break in the clouds lifted spirits and piper, David McKay, gave the teams a fantastic send off.  First peak conquered and all teams safely home, albeit the last ones in the dark, everyone headed south to Helvellyn. 

A few hours of snatched sleep later, some in hotels, but many at Threlkeld Cricket Club, and teams gathered for a six am start at the base of the shortest peak to conquer.   The last teams were cheered over the finish line and everyone headed for Wales. 

The second peak of the day, proved a challenge for some and the finish line closed as night descended.  All vehicles headed for Holyhead and a few more hours sleep on the overnight ferry to Dublin.
 

Early on Saturday, the Spoon Challenges Ford vehicles headed across Ireland to the final peak, Carantouhill.  Hard hats were donned and teams, including three formed from team drivers, tackled the Devil’s Ladder with varying degrees of dexterity!  As always the river crossing provided the mountain’s entertainment and teams’ descents were quickened by the thought of the Guinness and the expert hands of the six-strong massage team. Teams crossed the finish line to the sounds of ‘Tuatha’ the Spoon Challenges Irish Band, cow bells rung loudly by marshals, supporters and challengers who had already made it home and the welcome smells of massage oil and bacon butties!

Spoon challengers stir smiles at Lochaber

At the foot of Ben Nevis, the Lochaber Hydrotherapy Pool in Fort William, the start point for the challenge for the last 18 years, is a fantastic example of how the funds raised by Spoon challengers really make a difference.  The pool, to which Wooden Spoon has contributed, has recently been completed and now 300 disabled and deprived children that live at home or in residential facilities in the immediate area will benefit from the pool. After registration at the Nevis Centre, teams and marshals visited the pool and met trustees of the project to see the facilities and hear about the plans for the future and how it will make such a huge difference to the region.

Rewarding awards 
 
Everyone’s a winner on the Four Peaks Challenge but special congratulations go to this year’s prize winners and contenders for the Challenge Bowl. The Challenge Bowl was hotly contested with a number of teams vying for the honour with great times recorded and amazing fundraising amounts pledged. Last year’s winners, The Flyers, managed to successfully defend their title, pledging a fantastic £34,789 and completing all four mountains in a swift 8 hrs 4 minutes.  First runner’s up for the Challenge Bowl were the winners of the Veteran’s Award, the Rovers Returned’ with a total climbing time of 42mins and £13,500.  In third place, were the Yorkshire and Scottish Combination of Bob Andrews, Gareth Pickles, Brian Elsegood and Graeme Genty of ‘Your Round’, whose vehicle was a strong contender for the Best Dressed Vehicle. The team pledged a stunning £22,709 and completed the peaks in 11 hours, 12 minutes and 3 seconds.
  
Va Va Victory from HMS Victory flew the flag and pledged a victorious £33,483 and for the second year running, won the Most Funds Raised Award. The Old Buzzards motored up and down all mountains in a roaring 8hrs 18mins and won the Fastest Time Award. On their challenge debut, Sark Girl! s Get High soared and took the Ladies Award in a time of 13hrs 32mins and £6,600 raised. The Mixed Team Award went to veteran four peakers, The Wooden Tops with a climbing time of 11hrs 56mins and £11,510 raised.
 
Great times were recorded on each of the peaks, with Vivaro winning the Ben Nevis Award with a climbing time of 2hrs 46mins. http://www.4peaksake.com/ surfed up and down in 1 hour 30 mins and won the Helvellyn Award whilst Morgan Ashurst Two took the Snowdon Award with a climbing time of 2hrs 18mins. Vivaro Vets made it a Vivaro double and won the Carantouhill Award with a time of 2hrs 54mins.
  
Peaks and Troughs won the battle of the car park to take the Best Dressed Vehicle Award and last but by no means least the Wooden Spoons were awarded to The Devon Girls on Top who bravely completed all four mountains in a knee buckling 22hrs 5mins. Congratulations to you all, but the real winners will be the young and disadvantaged who will benefit from Wooden Spoon projects all over the UK and Ireland.  Thank you one and all!