Richard Dunwoody Plans to Walk One Mile 1,000 Times in 1,000 Hours Recreating 'One of the Greatest Human Feats Ever Attempted', 200 Years On
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Richard Dunwoody plans to walk one mile 1,000 times in 1,000 hours Recreating 'one of the greatest human feats ever attempted', 200 years on... “He’s mad but you’ve got to admire someone who is giving up sleep and effectively walking a marathon every day for 42 days for charity.” Olympic swimmer Mark Foster On 29th May 2009 at 11.30pm, Richard Dunwoody will start a 1000 Mile Challenge and walk the same mile 1000 consecutive times (from the Bedford Lodge hotel in Newmarket up the Bury Road to a post half a mile away and back again) for a 1000 consecutive hours with the last mile up the home straight of Newmarket racecourse just before the Darley July Cup on 10th July 2009 In 1809 Captain Robert Barclay Allardice was bet that he couldn’t walk 1000 miles in 1000 hours for 1000 Guineas – meaning he had to walk one mile in every consecutive hour 24 hours a day – the challenge therefore taking 42 days with the maximum an hour and 20 minutes sleep at any one time (if you walk back to back miles in different hours). He completed the challenge on 12th July 1809, losing three stone in the process with his challenge hailed as ‘one of the greatest human feats ever attempted’. 200 years on, champion jockey, polar explorer and BBC presenter, Richard Dunwoody MBE will recreate this challenge walking the same mile 1000 times in Newmarket – 1000 miles in 1000 hours, but this time to raise a substantial sum for charity – Alzheimer’s Society, Sparks, Racing Welfare and Spinal Research. In doing so, Richard aims to set an example to the nation to promote Walking the Way to Health, raise much necessary charity funds during tough economic times, as well as to promote sport in the build up to the 2012 Olympics. Famous faces will join Richard along the way and the University of Ulster School of Sports Studies will conduct an important physiological and psychological study into how the body copes with such a super test of human endurance. There will also be simultaneous walks around the country for those seeking to actively participate in fund‐raising as well as to follow Richard example in walking their way to better health. For information on how to get involved visit www.dunwoody1000mile.com or contact Liz Ampairee [email protected], 01276 856220, 0773 333 1945 Richard says: "My South Pole expedition last year was tough, but this might take it to a completely different level! 42 days with very little sleep could drive me to breaking point, but we’ve set ourselves an ambitious fund‐raising target…and that’s what this challenge is about." Richard will blog the challenge every day on www.dunwoody1000mile.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook where you can make friends with the 'Richard Dunwoody‐Challenge’ The British Horseracing Authority is acting as an official partner for Richard on his incredible challenge. “Richard Dunwoody really IS Mr Incredible. His fundraising efforts over the years have been tremendous and we thought it would be tough to ‘cap’ trekking to the South Pole. But the ‘1,000’ miles walk does just that…you feel exhausted just thinking about it! It’s so typical of Richard ‐ a man for whom no challenge is too big or too bizarre to take on.” Sparks co‐presidents Gabby and Kenny Logan ABOUT RICHARD DUNWOODY Three times Champion jockey Richard Dunwoody is one of Britain’s most successful jockeys ever. He was at the forefront of English National Hunt racing in the 80’s and the 90's, winning the Big Three races – the Grand National (twice), the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. When he hung up his reins at the age of 35 due to injury in 1999, he had won a record 1,699 races. He is best known for his partnership with the legendary Desert Orchid on whom he won seven races. Richard was awarded an MBE in 1993 for services to his sport. In December 2008 he was also awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of the University of Ulster in recognition of his contribution to equine sport. Since retirement from racing, Richard has forged a new career as a racing pundit for the BBC, sports columnist, and inspirational speaker. He has also become involved in polar exploration, racing to the magnetic North Pole in the 2003 Polar Challenge, and in January 2008 completing a gruelling 680‐mile, 48‐day trek to the South Pole unresupplied, and on a new route, one that Shackleton intended to take back in 1915 but was unable to achieve. He hailed this as his ‘greatest achievement’ to date... For further information and to view Richard’s showreel please see www.lizampairee.com/richard.htm ABOUT CAPTAIN BARCLAY Captain Robert Barclay Allardice was born in Scotland on 25th August 1779 (the summer in which the Derby and Oaks were first run) to Robert Barclay, the ‘Great Master’, 5th laird of Ury, and his second wife, Sarah Ann Allardice. Born into this ancient Scottish family he grew up with money, prestige and privilege, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and took over from his father as the 6th laird of Ury at the age of 17. In an era of gambling and sporting achievement, Barclay’s first sporting wager took place in August 1796, the month of his 17th birthday, when he was challenged to walk six miles inside an hour. In 1801 he then walked 110 miles in 19 hrs 27m in a muddy park and in 1805 he walked 72 miles between breakfast and dinner. The ultimate ‘1000 miles in 1000 hours for 1000 guineas’ bet was wagered by James Wedderburn Webster in 1808 and the bet, worth over 16,000 Guineas if he succeeded (in side bets in addition to the original) was the equivalent of over 320 years average income at the time (a farm labourer earned approx. 50 Guineas a year). Barclay set off on the 31st May 1809 walking the same mile to a post on Newmarket Heath and back again, and completing the challenge on 12th July at 3.27 pm ‐ and this made headline news across the breadth of England as an athletic event that challenged the very limit of human capability. .