Teams competing in the 2007 Ford Ranger Great Lakeland Challenge (May 18) had to contend with south westerly gales on Lake Windermere and driving rain on the passes and were only offered some respite from the elements thanks to good visibility on Scafell Pike.

The result, however, was the same - a huge sum of money was raised in aid of disadvantaged young people throughout the UK and Ireland.

Stockbrokers, engineers, motor industry executives, marketing professionals, fire-fighters and IT experts were among those who dug deep into their energy reserves to canoe the length of Lake Windermere (10.5 miles), cycle 26 miles over the Wrynose and Hard Knott passes and climb Scafell Pike inside 12 hours.

A total of £134,709.79 has been pledged for rugby's charity, Wooden Spoon, which uses the money to fund capital projects that will benefit children and young adults who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially.

In its eleventh year the Challenge has set a new record with the average sum per team reaching an all time high of £6,735.

The fastest time - seven hours and 55 minutes - was set by a quartet from the BP CATS Gas Terminal on Teeside, while a vehicle finance/marketing communications team raised £13,131.13 and was duly awarded the Fundraising Bowl.

Meanwhile, the Challenge Bowl - which recognises the best overall performance in terms of time and funds raised - went to a team sponsored by integrated support services company Amey plc. The colleagues not only completed the event in very respectable nine hours and 17 minutes, but also raised a staggering £23,730.16.

more follows 2/ A team comprising software development specialists and a stockbroker maintained a steady rhythm on the lake to finish in a time of one hour and 55 minutes and lift the Canoe Bowl, and there was just a hint of friendly rivalry as teams from Warrington took the cycling and fell running honours. The Cycle Bowl winners conquered England's steepest passes in two hours and 23 minutes, while the recipients of the Mountain Bowl - awarded to the team setting the fastest time over Scafell Pike - crossed the line in three hours and 11 minutes.

The Mixed Bowl was a family affair as psychologist Brian Metters, his daughter Sharon, her fiancé Michael Clack and Metters family friend (and support driver) Keith Johnson completed all three elements of the 2007 Ford Ranger Great Lakeland Challenge in 12 hours and 19 minutes to record the best performance by a team of men and women.

The Veterans Bowl acknowledges the quickest time by a team whose members have a combined age of 120 years or more and went to a quartet of marketing consultants who were certainly not showing their age when they stormed home in eight hours and 42 minutes.

An extra element of fun is provided by the Best Dressed Vehicle category and this year was no exception. The trophy went to a team entered by Ford's special vehicle preparation facility, who decked out their Galaxy to look like an emergency response vehicle.

"The weather is always an unknown quantity but, no matter how difficult the conditions, our intrepid Challengers have the last say. They just keep pushing on, despite their aches and pains, knowing that the money they raise will make such a difference to the lives of less fortunate young people," said Wooden Spoon chief executive Geoff Morris.

"The Challenge would be nothing without them but, equally, we couldn't achieve what we do without the support of our volunteer marshals and Ford, which once again came up trumps by supplying vehicles for all those involved."

Wooden Spoon's next Great Lakeland Challenge is scheduled for May 2008. If you would like to enter a team contact the Wooden Spoon Challenge Office on 01889 582889 or email challenge@eventsunlimited.co.uk for further information, or visit www.spoonchallenges.com