Back to the Home Page Want to visit the Gallery Want to visit the Forum? Want to get in touch with us?
The Coldstream Guards - History in the making

  

   

 

    
     
   

.Hougoumont or Bust - the ultimate challenge sponsored by Uk Gear - 30% discount on all their shoes for all serving soldiers bought through army.net

   

UK Gear - sponsors of the ultimate challenge 'Hougoumont or Bust' and outstanding provider of footwear for the whole team ..... it's the gear that makes a difference - 30% discount on all their shoes for all serving soldiers bought through army.net

 

30% discount on all UK Gear shoes for all serving soldiers bought through army.net - UK Gear,  sponsors of the ultimate challenge 'Hougoumont or Bust' and outstanding provider of footwear for the whole team ..... it's the gear that makes a difference - 30% discount on all UK Gear shoes for all serving soldiers bought through army.net
 

For Day 3 (Wed 17th) please click here        -         For Day 4 (Thu 18th) please click here
 

Hougoumont or Bust - The challenge is on! (more images & videos added at 13:00hrs - 16th Dec 08)
PHASE 1 of 3 - 470 mile run
Mon 15th & Tue 16th December 2008

At 0900hrs on Monday the 15th of December with a severe chill in the air, phase 1 of the Hougoumont or Bust Challenge began with WO1 (Regimental Sergeant Major) A Johnson leaving barracks for the first of many 10 mile circuits around Windsor.
The challenge is for the team to cover over 650 miles, the equivalent distance from Coldstream (Scotland) to Hougoumont (Belgium) in a run, row and cycle - 470 miles run, 27 miles row and 147 mile cycle ride.

The event is a sponsored event to raise money for LCpl Simon Wiggins, a member of the Coldstream Guards who was injured in the Battalion's tour of Afghanistan.

WOII John Sheard, a member of the challenge team spoke on the reasons behind this event:

Due to his determination and strength of character Simon has made a remarkable recovery and is now coming to terms with life as an amputee. He is 22 years old and wants to live his life like any other 22 year old. The major problem in his life at the moment is his lack of independence, and he is totally reliant on friends and family to move him where and whenever possible requiring substantial logistical planning.  The entire Battalion are also being asked to contribute one day’s pay to help improve Simon’s life. Simon is entitled to a mobility grant from the government but this like other processes, it is proving laborious and frustrating. Modern soldiers need to be flexible and proactive, the Coldstream Guards is a modern thinking Battalion and they want to help one of their own NOW!”

The original post on this event can be found by clicking here.

The team (all of which are over 35) consists of the following Warrant Officers:

 · WO1 (RSM) Andy Johnson
 · WO2 (RRWO) John Sheard
 · WO2 (UWO) Gary Douglas
 · WO2 (CSM) Steve Taylor
 · WO2 (DSgt) Andy Jones
 · WO2 (CSM) Danny Morrell
 · WO2 (TQMS) Spence Jones
 · WO2 (RQMS Lon Dist) Errol Flynn
 · WO2 (RT) Gary McWilliams
 · WO2 (CSM) Collin Pote

Phase one (the run through Windsor) began this morning and each member of the team will work in turn (non-stop) to complete the route (10.2 miles) until a distance of 470 miles is covered, the equivalent distance of Coldstream to Dover.  Each member will have to complete four laps of the 10 mile circuit (which most aim to complete within 1hr 40mins), this will take them through the night, through tomorrow and well into Wednesday Afternoon (17th Dec).  Anyone that is in the local area are most welcome to come and cheer the team along who will be running the following route:
Hero and all round good sport, DSgt Jones parades ready for his stint bearing injuries!
           START: Victoria Barracks
             Left onto Sheet Street
             Windsor High Street
             Dachet Road
             South Lea Road (Farm Shop)
             Straight Road
             St Peters Road
             St Lukes Road
             Crimp Hill (3.9 miles)
             Bishopgate Road
             The Great Park (Bishops Gate)
             Right fork down the hill
             Straight over at the cross roads
             Green Gate to the Copper Horse
             Up the Long Walk towards the Castle
             Finish at Victoria Barracks
           END:    Change over

The second phase of the 3 part challenge will see the team jump onto rowing machines to cover the distance of 27 miles (an equal distance over the channel from Dover to Calais), with the final phase on cycle machines to cover the distance of 147 miles (equal to the distance from Calais to Hougoumont).
 

back to top

Lap times at present:

 
NAME   LAP 1  LAP 2    LAP 3  LAP 4
RSM (Johnson)  1.27 03s  1.36 42s    
RRWO (Sheard)     1.20 04s 1.21 09s    
FOWO (Douglas)   1.26 15s       1.35 30s    
CSM 1 (Taylor) 1.26 26s    1.38 05s    
DSGT (Jones) 1.18 20s 1.25 29s    
CSM 3 (Morell)  1.22 58s 1.19 45s    
TQMS (Jones) 1.33 59s

see day 3

for latest

 lap times
RQ RHQ (Flynn) 1.24 58s      
RTWO (McWilliams) 1.28 48s      
CSM 2 (Pote)  *1.06 30s      

 

back to top

Videos from Phase 1
(The 470 mile run) are below (videos are held on YouTube and will not run on DII):

Part 1 (day time)                                                               Part 2 (day time)
 

Part 3 (day time)                                                               Part 4 (day time)
 

Part 5 (night time)

 

back to top

Images from Phase 1
(The 470 mile run) are below (hold mouse over for more info):

Morning of Day 1 - Phase 1

The challenge is just about to begin The RSM leaves ast the first man cheered on by members of the Battalion. The RSM moves off into the distance, 10.2 miles to go! WO2 John Sheard warms up ready to take over from the RSM
Hand over from the RSM and WO2 Sheard The RSM ready from some 'hydration' after the stint - ready to go again in a couple of hours!
LCpl Barnes (RRT) and the team about to hit the town with collection tins The support team - Right, SSgt Mark Allen (Bn PT Guru) and Left Sgt Steve Jones (Master Tailor)


Evening of Day 1 - Phase 1

More of the Support Team - Left, LSgt Andy Browell (Med Cover) & Right, Gdsm Gary Hargrave (Driver) WO2 Andy Jones hands over with a smile to WO2 Danny Gibson The Admin Area, for late night replens The Med Cover Wagon
TQMS Jones hands over to RQMS Flynn Late night Med Centre Relief
CSM Morrell hands over to TQMS Jones Sgt Jones & SSgt Allen pose for a quick snap
DSgt Jones hands over to CSM Morrell Lap times being recorded

Morning of Day 2 - Phase 1

WO2 McWilliams asking if he can be excused the next run ....! (not really) Capt White (Recruiting Officer) and DSgt Jones The Support Team checking the time of the next runner Supporting the runners. RQMS Flynn hands over to CSM Pote (who has the fastest time at the moment) Med Cover leads the way for CSM Pote down the Long Walk
WOII McWilliams in the back of the ambulance ready for his next stint. WOII McWilliams, all changed and ready to pose - sorry go
CSM Pote coming towards the finish of his 2nd lap CSM Pote pushing it out, could he beat his time?
Handover from CSM Pote to WOII McWilliams CSM Pote ran 10.2 miles in 1hr 6mins on lap one & 1hr 5mins on lap two!

The Team would like to thank the Support Staff for all their help:

· SSgt Mark Allen
· Sgt Steve Jones

and

Captain White: Sponsorship Coordinator - WO2 Gibson: Team Coach & Tactician - WO2 Stokes: Logistics Technician - WO2 Hewart: Team Dietician - WO2 Plews: Transport Manager - Sgt Green: Assistant Transport Manager - Sgt McHugh: Medical Supervisor - LSgt Browell: Assistant Medical Supervisor

Read more about this challenge here .....
 


UK Gear - sponsors of the ultimate challenge 'Hougoumont or Bust' and outstanding provider of footwear for the whole team ..... it's the gear that makes a difference - 30% discount on all their shoes for all serving soldiers bought through army.net

back to top

Can you help?  .....donations greatly appreciated


  If you’d like to help, any donations are greatly appreciated, please send a cheque,
  made payable to 'CENTRAL BANK - 1 COLDM GDS' to:

  Hougoumont or Bust
  LCpl Wiggins Appeal
  Central Bank
  1st Bn Coldstream Guards
  Victoria Barracks
  Windsor
  Sheet Street
  SL4 1HF



More information can be found by giving WOII John Sheard a ring on 01753 755598 or sending us an e-mail at ShinyCapstar (admin@ShinyCapstar.Com) where we can pass it onto the Recruiting Team for you.

On the reverse of the cheque please write ‘LCPL WIGGINS APPEAL’.

 P L E A S E    D O    N O T    S E N D    A N Y    C A S H.
 
 

back to top

  
     
     
 

©Website and Customised Images copyright, designed and maintained by A.J Brady