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Three Peaks Challenge Record
We are often asked what the definitive record is for the Three Peaks Challenge, as a team may have completed in some 16 or 17 hours. This is, in itself, a fantastic achievement. Personally the quickest time I've managed is a little over 18 hours, and even being a little fitter, a little wiser, and perhaps driving a bit above the legal speed limits - I don't think I would ever knock more than an hour or so off the total time taken.
If you read the notoriously unreliable Wiki Three Peaks page, you will see how contributors claim a record challenge time, or 'know' someone who's completed in 15 hours or so, then someone else deletes their claim stating it's impossible. Very little on Wiki ever seems to be based upon fact with any identifiable source or witnessed record of the attempt, and many people state so called 'facts' which are actually unresearched personal opinion.
Defining the actual format of the challenge to be recorded in hard enough. Some people consider the start to be at sea level (dipping the foot in the sea) whilst others start at the nearest parking area. Some people will consider the challenge complete for timing purposes once they have reached the summit of the final mountain (having climbed, and travelled between the mountains) whereas others finish at the base of the mountain, and others complete once the team again reach sea level.
I've been involved with this challenge since first completing it in 1996, and have good friends which have been involved with the Three Peaks Challenge since the early 70's. We have records of friends, teams and competitions or races including the traditional 'driving the route', running the route, cycling the route, and of course, completing the sailing challenge a number of times. These achievements are recorded by old newspaper articles, timing cards, event results, photo's, etc., but the actual recorded times come no where close to the ACTUAL Three Peaks Challenge record.
Whilst researching the Three Peaks record, I was lucky enough to come into contact with a number of potential record holders, being able to interview them, or their relatives, and get to see their proof of recorded time. I will detail below the fastest recorded time starting and finishing at sea level, and the previous record, and the earliest record I've found starting and finishing at the base of first/last mountain.
If you would like to challenge these records with a faster time, please send full details to me, but remember that any challenge record needs to be thoroughly timed and witnessed/recorded to be accepted as legitimate.
Please join our Three Peaks Challenge Facebook Group..! Individual Mountain Records.
Before you scroll down to see the actual Three Peaks Challenge records, bear in mind the quickest recorded times for two of the individual mountains. They may be a lot quicker than you think...
The estimated walking time for Ben Nevis, starting and finishing at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre (a 10 mile return walk) is some 6 to 8 hours. During the 3 Peaks you need to aim for a target time of 5 hours if hoping to complete within a total challenge time of 24 hours. The annual Ben Nevis Race sees runners starting and finishing a little further away than the visitor centre.
Currently the record is held by Rob Jebb, Bingley Harriers, at 1 hour 29 minutes.
When attempting Snowdon, many 3 Peaks teams will start and finish at Pen-Y-Pass, thus hugely reducing the climb and distance from a Llanberis start/finish. The annual Snowdon Race is also 10 miles long, using the Llanberis option, and you should remember that Three Peakers are aiming at a 4 hour target time...
Currently the record is 1 hour 2 minutes, held by K Stewart.
Although I'm not aware of any officially recorded times for Scafell Pike (either from Wasdale or Seathwaite) I do know fell runners that have completed it in under 1 hour 20 minutes.
Triumph In The Three Peaks - 1956: 16 hours 30 minutes
Charles Fackler, Bob Monkman and Stanley Iveson become involved in a double race to try and beat the standing record of 20 hours for the Three Peaks Challenge. I have numerous photo's, and a few really interesting reports, which I will post onto Flickr for you to read. Their challenge was sponsored by Triumph and they completed the challenge using three Triumph cars. Current info here.
Total time is from base of Ben Nevis to base of Snowdon.
No other supporting evidence found live on the internet at this time. Information from Charles' son.
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Joss Naylor & Frank Davies - 1971: 11 hours 54 minutes
Joss Naylor MBE is a well respected fell running, born and bred in Wasdale. Frank Davies hails from Ambleside, and both have distance and endurance running in their blood. Joss is a sheep farmer, still living and working in Wasdale, and at 72 still runs each day.
Joss holds, or has held, many endurance running records, and has a standard challenge event in the Lake District named after him. Before Joss attempted this challenge, the record (starting and finishing at sea level) was 12 hours 27 minutes, set in 1964 (holders unknown). Again, I intend to post information onto Flickr. Joss completed the challenge in a rally prepared Ford Capri, and some info can be found here.
Total time is from sea level to sea level.
Joss talks about his challenge on this BMW Three Peaks video.
If you have any info to supply, please email richie@merseyventure.com
Further information regarding the Three Peaks Challenge record or Yorkshire Three Peaks route.
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