Prima Solutions Adventure Challenge 2007 post-event report

The great British weather added an extra challenging dimension to the second Prima Solutions Adventure Challenge, exclusively for the fashion & retail sector, which took place on Sunday 16th September 2007 in North Wales? Snowdonia National Park.

Nevertheless, the 11 participating teams, recruited from 9 companies ? including Banner, Drapers, Hugo Boss, Marks & Spencers, USA Pro, and event sponsors Prima Solutions - were unfazed by the torrential driving rain and 60mph wind speeds, as they biked, hiked and canoed their way round Snowdonia in good time and good spirits.

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On your bikes!
The day?s proceedings kicked of at Beddgelert Forest early on Sunday morning, where teams assembled for their first briefing of this 12-hour multi-activity challenge ? a tough 2 ? hour strategic mountain bike ride over rocky undulating terrain. This involved collecting as many orienteering points en route around the forest within the fixed time as possible, to avoid incurring penalties. Several of the checkpoints also offered bonus point to teams, upon completion of a mental challenge.

Conditions started out fine, but it wasn?t long before the early morning drizzle had settled into driving rain, which continued and got progressively worse throughout the whole day.

Once back at base camp, there was no let up to proceedings, where teams were tasked with completing a mental challenge of dropping wooden ?CARE packages? into the correctly marked ?continents? [buckets]. Then it was a quick turnaround, before embarking on the second challenge of the day ? a climb up Snowdon?s Llanberis path. Unfortunately, due to the worsening weather conditions ? with severe gusts and torrential rain, teams were unable to reach the summit, as the mountain guides were forced to drop the summit point to just over halfway up the mountain.

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Teams race to complete their challenge!
Teams then had just one more activity to complete; 30 minutes canoeing around picturesque Llyn Padarn. Despite the pouring rain, all but one team managed to complete this final stage of the challenge and without capsizing, before it was a grateful return to the Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis for hot showers, dry clothes, a much-needed hot meal, and a celebratory beer or two.

At the post-event reception, the weary but jubilant teams were presented with medals and t-shirts. Speeches were given by CARE UK Chairman, Richard Greenhalgh, who spoke about the challenges facing CARE?s work, while Prima Solutions? MD and enthusiastic team participant John Norman praised the dedication of this year?s teams and fellow colleagues. In particular Banner ? our current Fundraiser of the Month - and the event?s top fundraisers Marks & Spencers, for not only raising a fantastic ?15,000, but also making the fastest time overall, at 8 hours 5 minutes.

A special award was also made to exclusive media partner and participating team Drapers, for their support in helping recruit and promote the event to the fashion and retail sector.

The reception culminated in the final challenge of the day - on the dance floor! A remarkable turnout of participants demonstrated that they still had enough energy left to strut their stuff enthusiastically into the wee hours.

Collectively, teams raised a fantastic total of ?60,000 ? which exceeds last year?s total of ?55,000. John Norman expressed his delight at the result, saying: ?We are extremely pleased that so many of last year?s participating companies came back on board for the second Prima Solutions Adventure Challenge, and helped to beat last year?s fundraising total. Despite the weather, we had a really fantastic day, and are already looking forward to next year. We would like to extend our thanks to the fashion and retail sector for making such a valuable contribution to CARE International?s excellent work in challenging poverty.?

CARE Challenge Fundraising Manager Michele Evans, added: ?This is a great result for a demanding challenge, and teams should be very proud of their achievement. Congratulations and a sincere thank you to everyone for contributing to this success - we look forward to welcoming you back next year!?

To get a feel for what the event is all about, or just to relive the day?s events, click here for our event photo gallery.

If you?d like to register your interest for the 2008 event, please click here.

Prima Solutions Adventure Challenge 2007 Team Results

 

Team

Name

Call

sign

 Biking Snowdon Canoe Penalty

Briefs

Total

Time

Marks & Spencer Conflict 02:30 02:05 00:30 00:30 02:30 08:05
Price & Buckland Farming 02:30 02:05 00:32 00:30 02:30 08:07
CARE UK Project 02:30 02:17 00:31 00:20 02:30 08:08
Crystal Martin Water 02:30 02:15 00:33 00:30 02:30 08:18

Prima Solutions

Team 3

 Trade 02:30 02:59 00:34 00:20 02:30 08:53
Banner Urban 02:30 02:38 00:48 00:30 02:30 08:56

Prima Solutions

Team 2

Health 02:30 03:08 00:30 00:20 02:30 08:58
USAPro Climate 02:30 02:57 00:42 00:40 02:30 09:19

Prima Solutions

Team 1

Educa-

tion

 02:30 03:02 00:38 00:40 02:30 09:20
Drapers Market 02:30 03:03 00:39 00:40 02:30 09:22
Hugo Boss Shelter 02:30 02:13 N/C 00:20 02:30 07:33
 
 

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CARE challenge are an in-house charity fundraising team. We offer many exciting charity events that you can join. All our charity challenges offer amazing adventures outdoors and lots of our activities take place over adventure weekends. If charity runs are your thing, then we have lots to offer - 10K runs, half marathons and many other running events. Or, how about cycling events for charity? We certainly have lots to offer in the charity cycling department. There are charity rides where you can cycle London to Brighton or you can even do a charity bike ride from London to Paris, if London to Brighton isn't far enough! We also have some charity walks and hikes. Later this year we have a sponsored walk that is 25 miles long in order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of CARE International's UK office. If activities outdoors and adventure weekends get your adrenalin pumping, then why not sign up for one of our mountain challenges? We have numerous charity challenges on mountains over the year from three peaks challenges to 24 peaks challenges - if you think you're up to it! For many of our charity fundraising events you can register as a teamleader or part of a team. We believe our charity challenges offer great teambuilding activities and are really great for team events. So if you're interested in corporate team building through a great charity challenge then the CARE Challenge Series is for you. Click here to see all our charity challenges.