It has been some 1500 years since Centurions last visited our shores and at least 17 years since Centurion Challengers were last seen in Beechen Cliff. But now in 2 AD 23 noble Centurion challengers stood on the steps of the school ready to embark on one of the most arduous tasks of all .. . to walk 100 miles in 48 hours . . resting only to take food and water and to be forced to camp between the hours of midnight and dawn. That’s 100 miles in 36 hours – 3 miles an hour, every hour.
Those challengers who completed the adventure on time would have their names etched in gold on the board of Centurion legends and the stories of adversity faced would be told for many years after their passing from the school.
The first Centurion walk took place some 40 years ago and the parchments etched in bander fluid recording past glories were only recently discovered by an adventurous group of school archaeologists including Sam Pegler rummaging through Mr Thompson’s files that had been gathering dust for a decade or so.
The plan to revive the Centurions Challenge was taken up by the Interact Club of Bath. A group made up of students from Beechen Cliff and Hayesfield, who work together raising money for two charities. Whilst Julian House is relatively well known around Bath, the second charity, Thembalitsha is a charity supported by the two schools’ in a link in South Africa.
And so it came to pass that on the allotted hour of the allotted day after briefings, Geography field trips and much fund raising that the 23 gathered on the oelitic limestone steps facing south toward the rolling hills, the sun still high in the sky but slow falling to the west that the final photo call concluded the preparations. A short speech by Pat Colbourne was followed by the sound of the ignition of a small charge of a non deflagrating explosive mixture from the portable starting device.
The challengers began to move initial to the west ( health & safety ) and across the playing fields south to the road link that would take them eventually north to the canal before heading east to Devizes base camp some 22 miles away . . . . All roads don’t lead to Rome . . . following the twists and turns of the old water way as they went . . .
Devizes Rugby Club set on the canal bank was the encampment of choice, its soft green grass making an excellent mattress for our tried walkers and the enormous plate of energy giving pasta in a rich but not too spicy source was to replace the expired energy reserves and to equip them for the day to follow . . a 56 miles round trip to Hungerford !
We lost a challenger at some 12 miles out the first to succumb to foot fatigue the scourge of mortals with unprepared feet.
The boldest challengers arrived at around 21:00 hours keen to go on but had exceeded the cut off time so they quietly rested as their fellow challengers arrived over the next 2 hours . . .
Feasted well, all retired to their tents by midnight leaving the washing up and preparations for the morning to the Praetorian Guard that had prepared the site earlier in the day.
The sun rose early . . and by 4:20 challengers had began to stir from their slumbers. The morning meal was a wholesome affair of bacon, eggs, cereal, fruit juice . . . . Centurions eat their fill and prepared for 06:00 the time to move again down the canal path to St Lawrence Church in Hungerford.
Passing many points of historical and cultural interest our challenges walked in the bright sun . . . occasionally followed by light rain but they walked . . .
There were many false dawns. . . the Church in Little Bedwyn gave some a false hope that they were there . . . but there were many more miles to go.
By 14:00 hours the elite challengers had reached the Church to be greeted by a small luncheon feast of the finest school flap jacks, fruit and apple pie . . .
Touching the Church door seemed to reinvigorate some challengers but did cause others to understand the reality of the task that was about to unfold . . they had to walk back . . . feet were tended, massaged, dressed, socks changed, soothing lotions applied and encouragement given but for some it was too late . . 6 exhausted challengers now retired and wearily made they way to the minibus for the journey to Devizes vowing to restart the next morning to complete the final leg home and there by gaining ‘Centurion Miles’ that would acknowledge their gallant efforts.
The remaining challengers now fought against physical frailty and the clock to complete the return leg.
Time past slowly for some walkers and progress was meagre . . . another challenger now succumbed to pain of sore blistered feet . . so we were down to 15 Centurions to make the 28 mile trek back to our temporary home. 8 hours to Hungerford and 8 hours back . . . . with 10 minutes for lunch . . .
At 22:32 hours the advance party of Centurion challengers arrived at the camp and over the next 2 hours the remaining groups wearily made there way to the comforting light of the encampment. Few words were spoken . . . . feet were comforted as best they could . . much damage had been done that would not pass overnight and the pain of walking was not going go away by the morning . . . the meal was a subdued affair with century walking in slow motion zombie mode. The camp was silent that night.
The clouds had now passed over and the clear sky meant the Saturday night would be colder than the Friday night , so our challengers wrapped up to keep warm and had soon retired for the night.
5 hours passed the Sun had started its arch across the sky and our challengers woke painfully from their slumbers to the last 22 miles to Bath and glory .. . . but not all would restart. 2 more fell by the way side . . . and we were down to 11 potential Centurions.
As the challengers left at 6:00 hours we broke camp, transporting tents, personal items and the weary closer to Bath and home. The final check points confirmed the approach of the weary travellers and the up hill route from the canal to the School was tackled with easy as new sources of energy propelled our noble challengers. Up the slope of the lower field and onto the flat before taking the final steps to the doors of the school our challengers were heartily welcomed by the gathered crowds.
And that was it .. . . . the first arrived at 14:00 and the last man at 17:30. Damaged feet were now inspected and the horror of 36 hours of walking had taken its toll . . .Blistered feet were released to the air and the gaze of the gathered crowd . . fluids were drained and sore ski anointed. . . . .
Many, many thanks to all those who helped to make this possible from within and outside the school . . . their names will be recorded in the next article with quotes from the walkers. . . but special thanks go to John Thompson at Devizes Rugby and all his staff and David Pegler for his diligence in checking the walkers and time keeing duties.
The Centurion Challengers were :
Thom Guy, David Orpen, Olli Bottle, Shaun Rowe, Joe Copestake, Will Barber, Daniel Roberts, Sophie Groves, Joel Flint, Josiah Cavaciut,i Jonathan Chorley, Matthew Abrew, Matthew Rabenda, Jamie Winchcombe, Cameron Ashwin, Ben Walters, Aaron Scott, John Stuffins, George Emery, Gabriele Warwick, Ieuan Pitts, Joe Stroud, Alex Copestake
Finally . . . all Challengers will receive a Centurion Challengers Certificate to confirm their participation, mileage, and times but only those who complete the challenge in full will receive a Centurion Medal, Centurion Tie and have their names etch in gold on the Centurion Board of honour.
This not the end. . . those wishing to undertake further endurance walking challenges should await further information for details of events in planning for October.
What does it take to be a Centurion?
The Facts and figures . . .
Challengers that entered 24 - Challengers that started 23
Challengers that walked 100 miles 12
Total Miles walked by Challengers 1783 miles
Challengers Number of steps 19,969,600
Total Challengers Walking Time 567 hours 21 minutes
Centurion Radio interviews 3- Interview Time on radio 7 minutes 35 seconds
Centurion Articles in Bath Chronicle 3 – in BCS Newsletter 6
Weight of Pasta uncooked 3 kgs – Cooked 18 kgs – Eaten by Challengers 15 kgs Eaten by Max 3 kgs
Weight of Rice uncooked 5 kg – Cooked 15 kgs – Eaten by Challengers 13 Kgs – Eaten by Max 2 Kgs
Bacon Rashers 180 – Eggs 36 – Milk 20 pints – 6 litres of Squash – Sandwiches Eaten 83
Water Drunk at Check points 250 litres of Water – 4 First Aid Kits – Pain from blisters constant . . .Blister Plasters – 73 and counting . . .
Challengers Socks used 53 pairs – now with holes 5 pairs - lost 3 pairs – boot laces replaced 3
Photocopying 354 sheets of A4 – Paid for by Mr Randall ( 25 A3 colour sheets )
Marshal’s Mobile phone minutes 241 – Texts messages 3 – Meetings 4 – Days from idea to day of Challenge 37 days – Forms filled in 5
Horse boxes 1 ( 0 horses )- Gas Bottles 1 - Mini bus miles 143 Tents 6
Bouquets of Flowers 2 & Bottles of Wine – 3 bottles of Bucks Fizz – 53 Handshakes
Favours to be returned 3
Entrance Fees £360 – Money Raised ( expected £875 but should be more . . )
Determination by Challengers immense . . . .
And too many good memories to count . . .
Mr R Stewart
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