Spine racers have backbone to finish

UP for the challenge . . . David Wyatt, Gary Jones, Nicky Torr, Iain Airth, Paul Mayall and Chris Maylor

SIX daring volunteers are launching the New Year with a gruelling quest — taking on the inaugural Mountain Rescue “Spine Challenger” race.

David Wyatt, Paul Mayall, Iain Airth, Gary Jones, Chris Maylor and Nicky Torr from Oldham Mountain Rescue Team will join teams from along the Pennine Way to tackle the arduous 108-mile race on Saturday.

The race, which will run alongside the public competition, asks participants to cross a challenging section of the Pennine Way from Edale to Hawes in 60 hours. The rugged nature of the race adds to the mental challenge. Competitors must handle navigation and severe winter weather. Generally only half the entrants finish the race in the allotted time.

The team has been training hard and aims to raise £1,000 for OMRT. Matt Torr, Oldham MRT chairman, was due to tackle the course but pulled out after aggravating an old injury, has switched to the support team and will be supplying food, drink and encouragement to participants.

Matt, from Delph, said: “I’ve been involved with the race for the past two years, supporting our treasurer David Wyatt who completed the 264-mile Spine Race last year. The event cast its spell on me. Watching tough men and women being slowly physically and mentally deconstructed made me question whether I had the mental fortitude to take it on.”

You can support the team at www.justgiving.com/OMRT-SpineTeam2016.