'Doubling' The Across Wales Walk
'Doubling' The Across Wales Walk |
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'Doubling' the Across Wales Walk: making an un-supported crossing from Aberystwyth to the start of the event at Anchor, then completing the full event - 90 miles total.
Three 'supermen' at Aberystwyth before
starting their double-crossing in 1998:
Philip Gwilliam, Richard Rosser and Clive Lungmuss
Photo: courtesy of Richard Rosser
In the mid-1980’s a strange and, to some, inexplicable form of self-flagellation made its mark on the ‘Across Wales’, that of ‘doubling’ the event i.e. starting at Aberystwyth on the Friday before and walking through the night to the start, then walking back to Aberystwyth with the normal event. The first and foremost exponent of this taxing ritual was Richard Rosser who, since 1986, has ‘doubled’ the event twelve times! Others have also risen to the challenge: Peter Stevenson, Peter Gretton and Clive Lungmuss have shared this ‘madness’ with Richard on a number of occasions, often sharing the same mid-Wales barn for one hour of snatched-sleep on the ‘outward’ leg. Neville Tandy also has one ‘double’ amongst his 30 other conventional completions. However, 1997 and 1998 has seen a remarkable double from Philip Gwilliam: not only did Philip complete a double crossing, but he also set the joint quickest time on that year’s event!
If the idea of walking 90 miles in 36 hours interests you, then contact Stuart Lamb who will be able to put you in contact with the regular 'double crossers'. If you decide to go ahead, please indicate your intention on the entry form.