Opus Energy in the 3 Peaks Challenge
On
the 16th and 17th July 2005, two teams from Opus
Energy took part in the Three
Peaks Challenge. The challenge is open to all employees, in the end the
teams were highly representational of all aspects of the Opus Energy business:
Customer Services, Sales, Risk Management, Accounts, IT and Data Management.
The event itself starts in the Scottish Highlands on day one taking on Ben Nevis (1,334m). Then it’s time for the support crew to take the teams down to the Lake District for an early morning ascent of Scafell Pike (978m). The final mountain to tackle is Snowdon (1,085m) in North Wales on day 2 but the biggest challenge of all is that all three mountains must be completed in less than 24 hours.
The challenge started at a rather murky Glen Nevis in the Scottish Highlands on the Saturday lunchtime, where Opus Energy’s two teams, along with the other 18 teams assembled to gear themselves up for the ascent of mountain number one: Ben Nevis (1,344m).
Despite the drizzle at the start and cloudy conditions at the summit, the climb went well and with the support crew having prepared hot food and beverages to replace lost energy, the team were all feeling positive and energised that the first part of the challenge had been completed.
After a brief pit stop on the M6 for re-fuelling of the minibus and some walkers, it was off to Scafell Pike (978m), located in the Lake District. The 5.00am start time and replacing the backpacks on already sore shoulders was a little shock to the system, but once the teams started walking they found that their legs automatically knew what to do and they started to enjoy the scenery, the camaraderie and the challenge of the second climb.
The walk was steady and the climbers took comfort from knowing they had
completed the highest peak already. The conditions were equally as poor
with the climbers 
walking
through more rain and mist but both teams completed the challenge in aprox
5 hours. After meeting back at the minibuses the teams had a chance to prepare
for the third and final mountain and the drive across into Wales!
On arrival at the finishing point for the final mountain the weather gave our teams a huge boast as the clouds parted for the first time to show blue skies and sunshine. The Opus Energy teams limbered up again and tried to mentally prepare for the climb up Snowdon (1,085m) both teams knew they had a chance of completing this challenge in under the 24 hours deadline. The second of the two teams would have to push very hard to achieve this as some time had been lost on the previous mountain however, with great encouragement from the support teams and the Care team, there was a quiet air of confidence.
Great Success! - after putting in the final effort, both teams met the
challenge of conquering the 3 highest peaks in Great Britain in under 24
hours. Although limbs were tired and the teams had picked up the odd blister
here and there, everyone was proud of this great achievement. The question
that started to be discussed on the return home, was "what challenge
could Opus Energy undertake for
the next year?", but as people caught up with missed sleep, thoughts
were more of soothing the aching limbs in a hot bath and then toasting our
success!