TRAILBLAZING WOMEN TOP THE BILL AT THE KESWICK MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL
A trio of fearless females will join the line-up at this year’s Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival from 14 to 18 May 2008.
The action-packed event will feature talks from some of the most celebrated explorers from around the globe, as well as opportunities to get involved in your own adventure – whether it’s walking, climbing, mountain biking or water sports.
Among the speakers at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake will be three amazing women – Dervla Murphy, Jo Gambi and Justine Curgenven. Each has conquered amazing heights and each has a very different story to tell.
Dervla Murphy is an Irish nurse turned travel writer, who has ventured to some of the most remote landscapes in the world - on bicycle, pony or foot. She set off on her first solo trip from Dublin to Delhi in 1963 armed only with one change of clothes, a toothbrush and a .25 automatic pistol in her backpack. Since then she has explored Madagascar, Nepal, and Africa, often encountering life-threatening situations - including being attacked by wolves in the former Yugoslavia and running into Kalashnikov-toting soldiers in Ethiopia.She will be interviewed on stage at the festival by the Chairman of the Wainwright Society and presenter of Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, Eric Robson.Eric says: “Dervla is a truly formidable woman – she’s nearing her eighties yet has lost none of her spirit for travel and adventure. She reminds us all that life is for living.”
Award-winning adventure film maker and expedition kayaker Justine Curgenven will premiere a new documentary charting her toughest challenge to date – sea kayaking 1700 miles around New Zealand’s South Island. Justine started out only last month (January), together with Barry Shaw, and hopes to complete the circumnavigation in April, just a month before her appearance at the Keswick Mountain Festival. She says: “This is one of the most challenging circumnavigations that can be undertaken in a kayak. The swell on the south and west coasts rarely drops below 2 metres, with hundreds of miles between sheltered landings. Gales are common and can arrive quickly, so we have to expect many surf landings and launchings.” If she is successful she will be the first woman to complete the epic journey. Either way, she will share the highs and lows of her adventure in a film that will also show the stunning scenery and wildlife of New Zealand’s South Island.
Also speaking at the festival is Jo Gambi who entered the Guinness World Records for the fastest female ascent of the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. She is also only the second British woman to have climbed Everest’s North/North East Ridge.
Even more remarkably she tackled the Seven Summits alongside her husband Rob whilst he was in remission from cancer for the second time. In spite of many setbacks and facing death high in the Himalayas, they persevered and fulfilled their dreams. Jo will reveal their very moving and romantic story of survival with words and pictures.
Martin Lankester from the Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival says: “We’re proud to have such a fantastic set of speakers who promise to thrill, move and entertain festival audiences. These three women sum up the essence of the festival. Their determination and grit in the face of real danger is awe-inspiring.”
With increased sponsorship from Jennings Brewery, this year’s mountain festival is packed full of opportunities to enjoy your own adventure. Expert guides will also help visitors to follow in Wainwright’s footsteps on the high fells like Scafell Pike or on more gentle walks through the lowland valleys. Other activities will include canoeing, climbing and navigation courses.
New additions to this year’s event include a Bike Village and an Activity Base on the shores of Derwentwater where you can experience a flavour of what’s on offer at The Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival.he many other activities will include canoeing, climbing and navigation courses.
Competitors prepare to splash, spin and dash in the North Lakes
Keswick will play host to one of the toughest endurance sports in May, with plans for the town’s first triathlon for some years. The event will be a highlight of this year’s Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival, which takes place from the 14th to the 18th of May. The race to enter the Keswick Triathlon, which will be held on the Saturday (17th May), has been almost as competitive as the event itself. Entries only opened in mid-November but all 300 of the places have already been snapped up.The competitors will have to push themselves to the limit as they swim 750 metres, cycle 35 kilometres and then run a further 8 kilometres.
Rob Wilkins from TriHard Events, who are organising the new triathlon, says: “We’re really pleased to be part of the Keswick Mountain Festival. The venue for this triathlon is superb and the course has to be the most picturesque in the country.
“There are no mega climbs on the bike and competitors won't have to use their hands on the run. So it will be an ideal event for people who want to have a go at their first triathlon, as well as providing an early season challenge for enthusiasts of the sport.”
The competitors will start from Crow Park with a swim in crystal clear Derwent Water, which in May is still likely to be icy cold. The cycle section follows a route towards Thirlmere before turning into St John's in the Vale and then joining the A66 for a short and fast downhill section back towards Keswick and a ride around the lake.
The run follows a footpath along the lake shore and then up to the much photographed Ashness Bridge and over Walla Crag (325 metres) before dropping back down to finish in Crow Park. As well as the start and finish line, all the changeovers will take place in Crow Park, so it will provide an excellent location for people to watch the race.
In addition to the main open race there will be a relay category for teams of three - one swimmer, one cyclist and one runner. The Keswick Triathlon has attracted competitors from across the UK and a number of Cumbrian fell runners are among those who will be joining the starting line up.
Martin Lankester from the Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival says: “We’re delighted that this triathlon is taking place in Keswick. Triathlons are very much the new marathons, they’re exciting events to watch as well as take part in.“So it’s an excellent addition to the action packed line up of events at this year’s Festival. Hopefully it will become a major annual event.”
As well as being the focus for the triathlon, Crow Park will be the main Activity Base for the Festival, with a range of activities and demonstrations for all the family to try out and watch.
Other activities that people will be able to watch or take part in during the Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival include guided walks, talks by leading mountaineers, canoeing, climbing and navigation courses.
Mountain Festival Set to Reach a New Peak
Plans have been announced to expand Keswick’s popular mountain festival in 2008 following an increase in support from Jennings Brewery.
Next year’s event will now be renamed the Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival and is set to include even more opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts and novices to enjoy a wide range of exciting and adventurous activities.
Martin Lankester from the Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival says: “We’re delighted that Jennings has agreed to increase its sponsorship of the festival. It will enable the 2008 event to be even bigger and better than this year’s and help us to make the festival the UK’s leading celebration of the great outdoors.”
Among the new features at the 2008 festival will be a Bike Village organised by Keswick Mountain Bikes Ltd. Visitors to the festival will be able to watch performances by expert stunt riders and to learn some impressive bike skills with Cycle Active that they can have a got at themselves. There will also be opportunities to try out some of the latest bikes and to go bike orienteering. Another exciting new element throughout the 2008 festival will be an Activity Base on Crow Park, on the shores of Derwent Water. The Activity Base will have a range of activities and demonstrations for all the family to try out and watch, including a climbing wall, zip wires and raft racing.
Organisers say it is the success of the 2007 event and the increased support from Jennings Brewery that has enabled them to step up their plans for 2008. Gaynor Green, Marston’s Marketing Manager: “We are delighted once again to be associated with the Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival. An event which brings people to the Lake District, encouraging them to explore this wonderful countryside, sampling the local Jennings ale whilst here.”
During the festival the Theatre by the Lake will again play host to a series of inspiring talks. World famous mountaineers Sir Chris Bonington, Doug Scott, Andy Kirkpatrick and Mick Fowler will be sharing some of their epic climbing tales. A number of other big name speakers will be confirmed in the months ahead.
Sir Chris Bonington is also a patron of the Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival. He says: “Without doubt the Keswick area is THE centre for the outdoor enthusiast, there is so much that you can do - wonderful hill walking, superb rock climbing, biking. I don’t think there is anywhere better in the British Isles for the outdoor person to enjoy such an extensive range of activities!”
Expert guides will help visitors to trace Wainwright’s footsteps on the high fells like Scafell Pike or to follow more gentle walks through the lowland valleys to seek out some hidden gems.
Last year a series of special interest walks proved to be particularly popular. In 2008 a new set of walks will give people the opportunity to discover more about fell farming industry, take part in bird watching, help with footpath conservation, do a bit of dry stone walling, try their hand at landscape photography or have a go at mine exploration with expert guides and instructors. Other activities will include canoeing, climbing and navigation courses.
For media information please contact Paul Gardner or Jon Perkins on 015394-42436.
