Challenge success for Rosway Walking Club

The sense of achievement was palpable in the Carlton Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe on Saturday, May 28, when members of Rosway Walking Club and their families and friends gathered to celebrate a fantastic day for the club. They had safely and successfully completed a 32 County Highest Peaks Challenge in Aid of Mountain Rescue Ireland. The day started at the crack of dawn with texts to base camp that climbers were already at the base of Carrauntouhill in Kerry and were making their way to the summit. Climbers in Louth and Mayo also had early starts. Members of the club manned 'base camp', which was in the foyer of the Shearwater Hotel. Texts and phone call were coming in all day from the teams of climbers all around Ireland letting base camp know when they had started, summitted and were down safely from all the highest peaks. Base camp was also the starting point for four local walks during the day which were well supported by members of Rosway Walking Club and members of the public. Voluntary subscriptions could be made on the day at 'base camp' to enter into a draw for a six month gym membership for a couple for the Shearwater Hotel. The 'base camp' team raised €600 on the day and well done to Laurna Carey, Taughmaconnell, whose name was drawn out. The last of the climbers were down from Galtymore on the Limerick/Tipperary border in the late afternoon where a new member of the club climbed their first ever mountain, while the walkers from the Archaeological and Historical Walk of Ballinasloe returned to the Shearwater close to 8pm. It was a long day, which was marked with a celebration at the hotel. All climbers gathered to return the 32 county flags which were pictured at the highest peaks earlier in the day with some members doing two counties. Stories were told by all those who braved the elements. Wind was a factor on many of mountains with one team managing to climb Mount Errigal in Donegal before making their way to the rugby match in Limerick. The Meath climbers met 21 druids with bodhrans in hand and witnessed their tributes to the whitethorn tree. Teams told stories of having to take off socks and boots in order to cross rivers and other teams took great pleasure bringing other county flags to the peak of the mountain they were climbing. The Dublin flag appeared on Arderin on the Laois/Offaly summit while five Roscommon natives took great delight in holding the Roscommon flag on the top of Benbaun, the highest peak in Co. Galway. Two was the minimum amount of climbers on any mountain, but most teams had more. Credit must be given to Ballinasloe Active Retirement, which got fully behind the challenge and travelled to and climbed the highest peak in Longford. The club was also delighted that Mountain Rescue was able to join them on many of the mountains during the day, including Galway and Wexford/Carlow and also joined them in the celebrations in the Shearwater Hotel afterwards. In 2009 Mountain Rescue's 12 teams responded to 296 separate incidents, assisted over 416 people, treated 154 of these 416 who were injured, recovered ten people who died in the outdoors and returned them to their families. This equated to over 13,642 person hours or 1,703 working days. This is all done voluntarily and with little recognition. These numbers increased in 2010 due to harsh winter conditions and the teams being called upon to support ambulance crews unable to reach casualties. You can still support the 32 County Highest Peaks Challenge by making a donation into the following account Ballinasloe Credit Union; Account - 32 County Charity Challenge; Account Number - 02708801; Sort Code - 99 10 15. This account will be open up to the end of June. The club thanked the Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, The Countryman Pub in Creagh and Sheridan Stores for their sponsorship of the event. Rosway Walking Club also thanked the organising team who put in many hours to ensure the event was a success and congratulated and thanked all those who participated in walks or climbs during the day. More information on Mountain Rescue Ireland can be found at www.mountainrescue.ie or on Rosway Walking Club at www.roswaywalkingclub.blog.com