Janet Pitt-Lewis - quietly contemplates the fifty miles ahead of her ... and which curry she might try once done! Rarely seen and quick on her feet, Janet set a new course record finishing in 13 and a half hours at 2030.
Leon, Lawrence and Ken proudly sport the Will4Adventure colours.
Will says his rousing words before uttering the executive command - off you go then!
fresh faces at dawn ...
Jack Barber (centre) looking on and standing confidently with his British Army desert boots. Meanwhile Danny Dawson (front right) dressed head to toe in his "old skool" bargain basement outfit from Decathlon grapples with the details of the last hill skills weekend as he considers the mammoth task of navigating 50 miles across the Peak District.
Monty raring to go ... not this year lad - it'll be fifty miles by the boot of my car this time
And he's off - hot on the heels of Janet
... and following in the footsteps of Janet and Danny are the pack - led here by Tracy Ford. We knew she'd finish but the odds were against her not blubbing when she had done so.
Alex Spratt aged 14 and accompanied by his two cousins Simon and David Clarke. This lad very nearly set a new record as being the youngest to ever complete the full fifty. Alas Paddy's bacon butties at 43.2 miles were to be the last flavour of his long day. Well done lad!
Ian Kozalinksi of the LDWA comes back for another year of punishment.
Lawrence (almost being rude) Ken and Leon set off at a cracking pace ... maybe too fast for some ...
Chuck Robinson decides to rejoin us once again. Walked the first 25 and then retired (as planned) to help out as a support driveer for his muckers in tow. What a star. (Also the author of a great comedy moment for the finish).
Janet grapples with her secret of success - two slices of my wife's flapjack. While others struggled through Baslow at 15 miles Janet was setting off for an appointment at the Balti King on Glossop Road.
Danny comes in second at 2230 probably having walked an extra 10% for good measure. A first rate performance - well done!
Jane Heilbron, Sarah McDermot, Ken Dench, Sarah Hunt and Adam Warburton, refreshed with hot coffee and Phill's baking, looking good from my side of the minibus at around 2215 on High Rake.
More marshals than walkers. Sweetie (centre - having deserted his post!), Lizzie, Paddy and Chuck at the legendary bacon buttie stand at Fox House.
The long day takes its toll
Paddy adds his secret ingredient - only to be found in his trouser pockets ...
Mike Ball finishes, (for the third year running) and in third place at midnight. He set a personal best and then passed out at the gate! Luckily for him I caught him on the way down.
Not sure what happened to the picture here ... Paul Turner, Simon Clarke, James Spooner and David Clarke all come in between 10 past and 20 past midnight. Proud effort!
Paul Turner and Ian Kozalinksi finishing at ten past midnight.
James Spooner at 10 past midnight
Simon and David Clarke finishing at 20 past midnight. Looking pleased with themselves but forgetting that they'll have to do it all again just so that their cousin Alex might have another go at finishing next year!
Peter Cross and Elaine Butler coming in at 0300 - their faces say it all!
Liz seago and Lawrence Parker finishing at 0410
Caroline Emmerson (second time finishing) with Steve Harris at 0410
Phil Dakin, Ian Thompson and Rob Trimmings finish at 0425
Tracy Ford finishing and getting a hug from Phill before the mandatory bit of blubbing - we knew it!
James Carter, Tracy Ford, Nick Hancox and Joe Firth come in at 0530 ... first time round. Unfortunately James' girlfriend wasn't there to see it ...
rather sheepishly, you will see here James and Nick finishing a second time ...
Sarah and Adam accompanied by Phill at around 0600. (Not sure on this timing since by now my own head was getting a bit muddled)
A dawn finish for Jane Heilbron, Sarah Hunt, Adam Warburton and Sarah McDermott in at around 0600.
Chris Taberner and Richard Porter finishing around 0110.
Neil Roberts and Zoe Brown come in hobbling at 0630 - for many miles we didn't think they'd do it. Perseverance and drive lead them to the finish - well done!
