Friday Fun - Ladies Night

As you might imaging when the ladies at Up and Under plan a night out it isn't normal.  So it was this week when a group of staff and friends visited the local climbing wall.

Getting started - everyone off the ground

The night, supported by the Group,  started off with a little traversing and then got more serious as the newly initiated climbers began their assault on the wall's various problems.  This wall isn't at all easy being either vertical or overhanging. 

As the evening progressed everyone got higher and higher, coming to grips with the unfamiliar skills.  On top of the climbing the ladies had to be introduced to the intricacies of harnesses, ropes and belaying techniques.

 

Lorna and Sue

Emma at the big red button

Kaye crossing a red line

Sue about to reach the top

I believe Sue was the star of the night, not just for her ascents to the top of the wall, but for not breaking a single finger nail ;o)  From the comments I have heard it looks as though this might not be a one off.

Thanks to Lorna for organising the evening.

Weekend Volunteering

Two members of the Up and Under team spent the weekend at the Conway Centre on Anglesey assisting with adventure activities over the weekend.

One spent two days with groups walking in the Glyders.  One day was graced with near perfect weather conditions.  The views from Tryfan were exceptional, especially when nearby Glyder fach was shrouded in tumbling cloud.

The other team member spent two days coastal traversing, assisting the centre instructor to safely facilitate two groups of ten youngsters in climbing and open water swimming activities around the dramatic coastline of Holy Island.

We have supported less well off youngsters in attending this centre for a number of years and this type of interaction helps us to understand both the needs of, and the benefits to, the young people we help.

On Saturday evening another 100 people got to have their own Olympic Torch moment when once more Andy's Torch did the rounds.  For some this was the highlight of another fantastic weekend at the Conway Centre.

Mountain Biking Mayhem

Ring now to secure your team place!

01270 5899615

places available to all staff members, customers & friends



Pic from the last time we did it



Over trhe weekend of 22nd - 24th June The Up and Under Group will be participating in the 24 hour Mountain Mayhem Mountain Biking event.  We have three teams entered and you can be part of this great adventure.

We have 15 places available in total.  Sporting prowess and fitness is not neccessary, but enthusiasm is essential.  Come on girls we need at least three of you!

Places in our teams will be awarded on a ballot basis so get your name in before the 8th May, email Simon or Andy.


Each team will be mixed and contain 5 riders who share the riding duties in a relay throughout the 24 hours.  There is camping at the event and we have a number of ideas to make your weekend as much fun as possible.

Event details http://www.wigglemountainmayhem.com/

What a week!

Earlier in the week we were runner up in the Sentinel Business awards in the Training Excellence category, but last night things got a lot better with The Up and under Group winning the ‘Mornflake Oats Award for Innovation’ at the High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise.

Making it even sweeter the certificate was accompanied by a cheque that just about equaled our annual turnover in our first year of operation, 25 years ago, in 1987!


In other news Rob Hughes completed the Cheshire Cat Cyclosportive on Sunday (102 miles) and made it up Mow Cop killer mile.

No surrender! Rob rides up the Killer Mile

Tom Hutchinson representing Up and Under DH race team came 3rd in category in the 2011-2012 Winter series round 4 at Cannock Chase.
http://www.rootsandrain.com/race928/2012-mar-25-2011-12-the-winter-series-4-cannock-chase/

All in all a pretty good week

Up and Under Downhill Race Team Latest

Supporting sporting teams has long been a part of what we do at Up and Under and in 2012 we will be supporting our very own downhill bike race team, the following is a report from their first outing:

Pearce Cycles Downhill Series 2012 – Round 1

The Up and Under downhill race team (Rob - Hughes, Director Up and Under Limited - , Tom and John) had an encouraging first race of the season – Pearce Cycles Downhill Series Round 1 at Bringewood near Ludlow.


After a fairly relaxed day of practice on Saturday with dry dusty conditions the mood was a bit tense come Sunday morning, as the ground was damp the sky was grey and the open section was a bit slick. However, at the end of practice the track was dry.

First Runs:
John sets off 5th in category and sets a solid time of 2:41.227

Tom roles down the hill 23rd off the line to provisionally take 1st in category with a 2:34.610, after pulling an ‘ET’ over the finish jump. Crowd loving it!

Rob follows him down as his 30second man to take 1st by just over half a second (Up and Under in positions 1 and 2).

A further 29 riders come down in category pushing the team to 12th, 13th and 31st but second runs remain!


Second Runs:

John makes it down knocking almost 2 seconds off his first run, maintaining 31st position.  Tom feeling the pressure collects two trees in the last section (no real harm done) but still crosses the line taking 0.23 seconds off his first run time, finishes 18th.  Rob has an impressive incident free run taking just over 3 seconds off his first run time, finishing in 9th (target of a top ten result achieved).

Full results at:
http://www.pearcecycles.co.uk/results_pcss12_round_1
and for the extra stats:
http://www.rootsandrain.com/race1217/2012-mar-18-pearce-cycles-1-bringewood/

Bring on round 2! (At Hopton Woods, Nr. Craven Arms on the 21st & 22nd April)
Free camping for anyone that wants to

Up and Under Challenge 25

So next week we celebrate our 25th Birthday.  We will be doing lots during the year and we will keep you informed of the various activities.

The first event we are revealing is an opportunity for you all to join us, get active, have some fun and challenge yourself.  "Challenge 25" is your sporting roadmap to our action packed 25th birthday year.  There will be prizes galore, opportunities to get your picture on the web site and lots more.

Se the details below:

Click to enlarge!

Just to make you smile

Are we are mamils

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10965608

Well it made me smile (until my wife goes shopping for shoes that is)

Directors Cribb

Ok we got you with the title, but you are not expecting country house splendour here are you? You are right.

Taking full advantage of the recent chilly weather Andy and Simon set out to dig themselves a mountain top retreat.

So the weather started off fine, but soon deteriorated.

But with a bit of shovel work (about 4 tonne) a home was excavated and the kettle put to good use.
For those with a head for the figures the snowhole had two entrances, three rooms, two wardrobes. was 7m from front to back and had a maximum span of 2.5m. The snow was over a metre thick over the highest part of the cave. The temperature inside was a consistent zero degrees whilst outside it was horrible!

Marathon Success

Andy and Lorna successfully completed their respective marathon challenges with Andy finishing in 3 hrs 12 mins whilst Lorna battled hills and rain to complete the Windemere marathon in 4 hrs 53mins. Thanks to all who helped us to raise £3500 for the Eric Swan bursary.

Details www.upandundergroup.com/community.html