A team of women intend to pull a car all the way to the top of the Lake District’s highest pass on Mother’s Day.
The Ambleside car pull is being revived after a break of five years, and fitness instructor Ursula Brendling’s 30-strong team is aiming to break their own record – and raise money for charity.
The challenging feat will take place on Sunday March 30 when the car will be pulled for 3.1 miles from the town centre to the summit of Kirkstone Pass, a gradient of 20% in places. At 1,489 feet (454 m) this is the highest motor road in the Lakes.
On the same morning, a team of 15 men will also attempt the challenge. Among them will be Ursula’s son, Barney. Her daughter Nina, a meteorologist based in Scotland, will be in the women’s team. The women are aiming to break their own record of 1 hour, 2 minutes and 27 seconds set in 2019. They have also completed the challenge in 2015 and 2016.
Ursula said: “This year’s team is probably the strongest I’ve had as we started training back in November. The car-pullers need the ability to walk up steep hills quickly. I can’t give away my training secrets but the girls have to be able to walk or run to the top of Kirkstone Pass from the post office in 45 minutes by the end of March.
“They need pushing strength so we practise with a running harness and weighted tyres while walking up a 20% incline. I am so excited to be training these amazing women to do this extraordinary challenging, superwoman power event.
“Many are ultra runners who say it is harder than running the Lakeland 50 due to the intensity involved.”
She added: “But pulling a car three miles up a fell is nothing compared to being diagnosed with a terminal illness. That’s why we want to raise the money for our local hospice, St Mary’s in Ulverston.”
They have a Just Giving appeal here.
The team consists of business owners, housekeepers, cafe staff and charity workers, ranging in age from 23 to 62. They have event T-shirts made by local firm Coniston Corporate, and they are sponsored by Save Windermere, Spedding Electrical and Rush Clothing, Ambleside.
The challenge was set up some years ago by Dave Reynolds senior who died last year. His son, David is in charge of managing the event.
Ursula, who runs many popular fitness classes in the town, trained as a fitness instructor in 1994 at Loughborough University, and qualified as a Level 3 personal trainer in 2012. She also teaches carbon literacy and management skills.
