Mirfield Rifle Volunteers take on Three Peaks challenge

Members of a veterans group in Mirfield are getting ready to put on their hiking boots for queen and country as they prepare to walk 23 mountainous miles in a day.

The Mirfield Rifle Volunteers are taking part in a Three Peaks walk in the Yorkshire Dales next weekend to raise money for charity.

And despite the group’s ageing limbs, organiser David Horrobin believes the group can belie their advancing years through their rigorous training regimes and military determination.

“We have an average age of about 60, so it will be a little bit more difficult for us!” he said.

“Most of us have been training every weekend, walking 13 miles at a time. Obviously it is different once you are out there, but I think we are quite well-prepared.

“I used to do walks like this regularly, but I haven’t done one for about 15 years so it will be a challenge for me!”

The Three Peaks walk takes in the mountains of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent, with ambitious walkers regularly challenging themselves to scale each of them within one day.

The group, which consists of seven men and three women, plans to stay overnight in the dales before setting off at around 6am the next morning.

Though David, 56, has served in the Gulf and the Falklands with the Royal Artillery, he is still keen to minimise the risks to the group.

“We plan to complete the walk in about eight hours,” he said. “The reason we are setting off so early is to beat the weather – it is as hot as it has been recently, it won’t help to be walking in the afternoon.”

Coun David Pinder, who is also taking part in the walk, added: “There has always been a friendly rivalry between marines and paratroopers within the army, and we have one from each of them in our group – so that’ll add to the competition!”

The walk takes place on Saturday August 2, and the group will be raising money for the charities Blind Veterans UK and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

For more information on the walk or to collect for a sponsorship form for the group, speak to Tim Wood at the Old Colonial in Dunbottle Lane.