Carantounhill

The ferry docked in Dun Laoghaire at 05:45 and from the Ferry port, the team had another 205 mile drive across Ireland to Dunloe which took them a little over 4 hours. 

The weather decided to give them a break and at the bottom of the mountain the sun shone for our wonderful team.
What a difference a day makes!

The forecast predicted moderate winds of 15 mph and temperatures of 13 degrees C with sky slightly obscured by cloud (I think that means partly cloudy in my language)



Carantounhill, located in County Kerry, is the highest mountain in Ireland at 3414ft (1039m)

 The 3.9 miles to the summit seems much longer, especially on the way back, and remember that our girls will be exhausted by this time.The average time taken in 2012 for this climb was 4 hours 25 mins. 

At Carantounhill, the drivers sometimes join the climbers in what is known as the 'Driver's Challenge'. As you might expect Tanya was not daunted by this challenge. She joined the three  amazing climbers, Jill, Vicky and Hannah and the four of them set off for the fourth and final peak at 10:56 but it was not to be an easy climb.

picture courtesy  of www.johnsmyth.ie 2009

When they reached the most difficult part, the Devils Ladder - with its loose rocks and sheer drops - things started to go wrong. The team were shocked as they witnessed a climber from another team slip, and the marshals had to be called to assist. This unnerved them, particularly Hannah who has been courageously fighting an issue with heights. Hannah found that she couldn't continue!

Jill, Vicky and Tanya continued on to the summit but their triumph was a little dimmed because of their missing team mate.

However on their return, found that Hannah had waited for them at the Devils Ladder so at 17:22 our four magnificent Hunnies crossed the finish point, exhausted yet euphoric; giving them a time of 6 hours 18 mins for the climb and a time of 49 hours and 20 mins for the entire challenge.Tears of pride and joy at the completion of this monumental challenge was order of the day!

The team were awarded the Wooded Spoon prize and even managed to get Phil Vickery to autograph the wooden spoons.

One of the other Chesterton Humberts teams were awarded a prize for the most money raised.

Well done Chesterton Humberts Hunnies! The team should have called themselves the Chesterton Humberts SUPER Hunnies. 

We applaud you all.