Starbucks Adventure Challenge post-event report

It was with excitement that 41 teams of Starbucks Partners and Support Crew descended upon Glamorgan University in South Wales on Saturday 5th July to prepare for the third Starbucks Adventure Challenge, this year in the Brecon Beacons. They had signed up for a Challenge and that is what they received, overcoming many obstacles throughout their weekend in Wales!

Teams were greeted by the CARE Challenge Team to check in and receive the first of their briefings, splitting them in to their two groups, Dingete and Sirte (villages in the Haraghe region of Ethiopia where Starbucks are supporting CARE community projects). The Challenge would see teams hiking, biking and canoeing around the Brecon Beacon National Park. Teams in Dingete would start on the Mountain in the morning and Sirte would get on their bikes.

All Partners were settled in to the student halls, bringing back fond memories for many, and there was an early start for all as the coaches arrived to pick them up at 5.15am on the day of the Challenge – Sunday 6th July. Just as they were about to arrive at Challenge Base, deep in the National Park, Mother Nature threw her first challenge of the day at participants, in the shape of a large tree which had fallen to block the narrow road!!

With no other route available, this is where we saw the first examples of team spirit and resilience from all the Starbucks teams who, without complaint, climbed through the tree and were shuttled up to Challenge Base in all available vehicles (including the back of a transit van!) or took on a little extra walking, and arrived in good spirits and raring to go. The Challenge Team were there to greet them and teams gathered in their respective ’villages’, as all were given an enthusiastic greeting from the local midge population – who were very loving! Once everyone (teams, CARE staff and marshals) were in place it was time to start the briefings and get the Dingete teams on the mountain and the Sirte teams on their bikes.

Teams took on part of the well known Brecon Horseshoe route in the mountains and as part of their Challenge they were given the task of carrying a bucket of water for 2km. In many communities in Ethiopia women often have to walk around 10km to collect water for their families – as the Starbucks Partners soon found this is not an easy task! The next part of the Challenge was to complete a 25km mountain bike course which included some demanding up hill sections – rewarded with an exhilarating cycle down hill to take them to Pontsticill Reservoir for their canoe relay. The weather forecast for the weekend was changeable and it lived up to that, swinging from torrential showers to attempts at sunshine – which were short lived...

During the switch over of activities teams were treated to well deserved bacon rolls and a hot drink courtesy of the Starbucks support crew, which went down extremely well and a special thank you must go to those support crew members whose cheers (and refreshments) were much appreciated by all! Once the day was over, it was back on the coaches (the offending tree had now been cleared!) and back to the University for a well earned dinner, speeches, presentations and a party at the Student Union bar. Many found the energy to populate the dance floor and stretch out those weary muscles with an enthusiastic boogie!

So, it was an all round Challenge for all those who took part and everyone should be really proud of themselves for their achievements throughout the day. But the real achievement of the weekend has to be the £52,000 raised to support CARE projects in coffee growing communities in the Hararghe region of Ethiopia, an amount which will make a real difference! A special mention must go to Team CHARITY who pledged over £5,000 and were presented with a framed CARE project photograph.

On the physical side a mention must go the fastest teams (who were rewarded with Champagne and a gift for Ethiopian communities from the I CARE catalogue) James Garner lead the overall fastest Team (CONGO) who completed the whole Challenge in a speedy 6 hours 58 minutes. They were closely followed by Richard Wightman and Team LEGAL.

CARE Challenge Event Manager, Neil Munro, had this to say:
“This years Starbucks Adventure Challenge was a huge success! It was fantastic to see so many Starbucks Partners coming together from all over the UK to take part with such commitment and enthusiasm. There were great displays of team spirit throughout the day, and everyone overcame various obstacles with great humour to make the whole Challenge a rewarding experience for all those involved. The real achievement has to be the fundraising total of £52,000 for CARE’s work in Ethiopia, funds which will make a real difference!”

Team Results

 

Team Leader	Callsign	Mountain Route	Bike-Canoe -Bike	Recovery & Briefings	Total Time
James Garner	Congo	02:24	02:49	01:45	06:58
Richard Wightman	Legal	02:57	02:34	01:45	07:16
Kenneth Tudhope	Support	02:48	02:55	01:45	07:28
Steve Hubbard	Sudan	03:00	02:50	01:45	07:35
Eddie O'Grady	Georgia	02:56	02:57	01:45	07:38
Eelco Van der Zande	Water	03:30	02:29	01:45	07:44
Guy Croot	Conflict	03:24	02:40	01:45	07:49
Derek Graham	Teacher	02:44	03:22	01:45	07:51
Adam Bishop	Finance	03:21	02:55	01:45	08:01
Adrian Thurston	Market	03:13	03:04	01:45	08:02
Steven Langley	India	02:57	03:29	01:45	08:11
James Terry	Health	03:20	03:10	01:45	08:15
Derek Breakenridge	Student	03:28	03:06	01:45	08:19
Natasha Bunkevich	Kenya	03:21	03:14	01:45	08:20
Steve Aitchison	Dignity	03:09	03:26	01:45	08:20
Steve Falcon	Egypt	03:42	02:59	01:45	08:26
Michael West	Family	03:28	03:14	01:45	08:27
Alan Clubley	Orphan	03:46	03:00	01:45	08:31
Emma Spencer	Nepal	03:25	03:23	01:45	08:33
Rowan Isaacson	Business	03:44	03:06	01:45	08:35
Julia Crowcroft	Justice	03:35	03:16	01:45	08:36
Lucy Roller	Education	03:38	03:15	01:45	08:38
Simon Roberts	Darfur	03:30	03:31	01:45	08:46
Ray Smith	Food	03:30	03:31	01:45	08:46
Susana Suarez - Dosil	Campaign	03:23	03:39	01:45	08:47
Thomas Reid	Project	03:51	03:11	01:45	08:47
Vikash Prasad	Shelter	03:49	03:15	01:45	08:49
Jan Dalton	Urban	03:17	03:54	01:45	08:56
Christopher Kite	Charity	03:43	03:28	01:45	08:56
Lucy Jacobs	Africa	03:17	03:55	01:45	08:57
Abel Azdad	Thailand	03:23	03:56	01:45	09:04
Stephen Collins	Trade	03:34	03:46	01:45	09:05
Paul Scott	Climate	03:26	04:03	01:45	09:14
Andrew Kozlowski	Cuba	03:31	03:59	01:45	09:15
Victoria Ross	Programme	03:45	04:18	01:45	09:48
Cindy Ross	Uganda	04:19	03:58	01:45	10:02
David Argent	Zambia	04:00	04:17	01:45	10:02
Lynda Gibbs	Jordan	03:48	04:30	01:45	10:03
James Preece	Farming	04:16	04:25	01:45	10:26
Geraldine McMahon	Ghana	04:51	03:55	01:45	10:31
Gisela Almeida	Peru	04:27	00:00	01:45	06:12