Children in Need Tube Challenge 2007

[ping pon]

What happened

What happened about what

[Starkey7]

It was sort of my fault...

I wonder if they've finished yet.

[Garion]

What happened

What happened about what

You said they were an hour behind schedule. What happened? Just delays etc?

="Starkey7"] It was sort of my fault...

Oh wicked now we have someone to blame =] only joking.

What happened? Cant be that bad.

[gasman]

Post-challenge update courtesy of the lovely free wi-fi on the Oxford Espress bus...

We made the last fast Met train to Amersham, and Soupdragon and GU successfully completed 274 stations in something around 19h 45m. (All other challengers ended up splitting up / having to skip stations at various points.) Shoreditch was originally timetabled, but had to be skipped, and I don't think there were any tears shed at that decision...

Unfortunately Jack and James had to abort at Finchley Road after one of them (sorry, didn't catch which one of them...) sustained a leg injury running out of Stanmore.

So, GWR missed by a country mile, but we believe this may be the best Children In Need time ever!!!

Many thanks to the Brown clan for introducing me to the delights of Zone D, and for the ride back to Hillingdon!

[Soup Dragon]

It all went a bit pear shaped at Oxford Circus, when we tried to do a quick un-planned change from Bakreloo (SB) to Central (EB). Starkey was in support and on arrival at OC he was on the platform to greet us with the news that a Woodford via Hainault train was departing in 30 seconds. Foolishly in a rush of blood I agreed that we should go for it and went dashing through the packed tunnels of OC with the rest of the group behind. However we all got seperated and when Starkey, Kevin, Matt & Myself arrived at the Central line platform there was no sign of Jack, James & Jamie (the 3 J's) It was really my fault for considering the change with such a large group of people, and unfortunately because we could not find the rest of the group we had to push on without them hoping they would do the same

Eventually we re-surfaced at Canning Town and were now an hour behind schedule, we managed to get in contact with the 3 J's to find out that they were stuck going around the loop to Woodford via Hainault, so on arrival at Stratford we decided to go straight up to Epping first and do the loop later.

Both teams eventually re-united at Ealing Broadway and continued onwards always remaining around an hour behind schedule. We evntually decided to ditch Shoreditch as this would have jeapordised us arriving back at Baker Street in time for our final train to Amersham. Even then we only made the last train with 4 miuntes to spare

Jack & James aborted at Wembley Park as Jack had earlier sustained a knee injury, all being well they plan to finsih the stations they missed later today

So in the end is was just Kevin & myself that managed to complete a 274 in a time of 19h39m20s, which was almost 3 minutes quicker than last years CiN attempt and we visited one extra station (last year we missed T4). The current total raised between both teams stands at £1548.90 with more money pledged.

Many thanks to all that turned out to support us (Starkey, Scrixsi, Gasman, Tangy, Dudey) on what was a very cold day.

[Garion]

Sounds like you all had a fun day Let me know if you're doing this again next year. Because I'll only be doing one subject next year, I should have loads of free time

[nozzacook]

Sounds like it was a cracking day and was sorry I could not make it and a big well done for attempting it with such a big group

[Soup Dragon]

The initial smiles soon vanished!

[jamesthegill]

I've done my writeup now, it's on the blog if anyone wants a read.

Thanks to all who supported, both by donating and by being there on the day. I'll probably do it again, but when I'm a lot fitter!

[jamesthegill]

Oh, and you can download an mp3 of Soup Dragon on the radio here

[Soup Dragon]

Media whore

[Dr Who]

Wow!!! We have got to get her along next year.

[joy54]

Just to inform you that I had a look on Geoff's website and you weren't actually the first to use a Chesham start as Geoff did on his first 3 attempts, I believe this was prior to a timetable change this was quicker than starting at Amersham. But don't think anyone can dispute your the first with a Chesham start and Amersham finish.

PS. sorry I couldn't make it up to the Central line to meet you.

[Soup Dragon]

Steven, thanks for pointing that out. We were not sure if Chesham had been used before. I know we had looked at it previously but the route then depended on a -1 minute connection at Moor Park!

Thanks for offering to come out and sorry I never called you back, it all got a bit hectic after I spoke to you at Woodford. We were trying to meet up with the rest of the team at Ealing Broadway and I realised that I'd lost my ticket, think this must have happened when I rushed to get on the train at Woodford!

[Going Underground]

Just to let all know i had a phone call from Soup dragon and going undergrounds mum ( my nan) and she told me that so far it has been a complete disaster for starters earlier the team got split in two with Soup Dragon and GU together i dont know how this happened seeing as they are the fastes and slowest member of the team and they satyed seperated for quite a while. So over all they are about 1hour behind scedule

I am not the slowest anymore........ Much training over the last year has seen an improved performance........