| Three Towers Hike | |||
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| Location | Berkshire/Oxfordshire | ||
| Country | England | ||
| Date | 1978- | ||
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The Three Towers Hike is a Scouting-organised, downland hiking competition held annually (usually the third weekend in March, but sometimes as late as April) covering footpaths in West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. It is organised by Reading Central District Scouts with the support of Taceham Hundred District Scouts from the Scout County of Royal Berkshire of the Scout Association.
It is a competitive event, without an overnight camp (although teams must be equipped to bivouac if the conditions are severe enough to warrant it). It was first held as a senior event (Walkers over the age of 18) but now includes three other age groups.
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The date for the next event will be Saturday, 14 April 2012. The event accepts registration from 1 November the previous year.
The first Three Towers Hike took place during the 1970s, when only the Senior event was available. Originally based around the North and West of Reading, the hike gets its name from the three large water towers that were passed.
In the 1980s the route was significantly altered to include more rural paths in West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire.
Since its beginning, the Hike has run every year with few exceptions. The most notable being in 2001 due to Foot and Mouth concerns.
Officially not against the hike rules at the time, one team on the 2003 Junior Event swam across the River Thames during the race after finding themselves several miles up stream of the nearest bridge. The team then went on to complete the event but were later disqualified and a new hike rule was added to prohibit this in future.
The Hike normally comprises four different events, each of different lengths and following a slightly different route. In 2012, and for one year only, there will be five events.
This is the founding event, open to entries ages 15½ or older. The total length of the Classic Event is 70km (43-45 miles) depending on route taken.
Following the popularity of the Scout Event, in 2003 the Explorer Event was added. This Event is open to any Explorer Scout or Ranger Guide aged at least 13½ but under 18 years. The Explorer Event covers a distance of 45km, or around 28 miles.
The ScoutPlus Event will be introduced in 2010 for scouts aged 13 and 14 . The ScoutPlus Event covers a distance of 40km or about 24 miles.
The Scout Event was introduced in the 1990s for scouts aged up to 16 years (later reduced to 14). The Scout Event covers a distance of 25km or about 17 miles.
In 2012, in honour of the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, a fifth event called the 'Jubilee' event will be held for one year only. This will be an open event for teams aged 16 or over and will cover just 20km. This is to encourage participation in the outdoors adventure that the hike tries to promote.
Records[1] do not include times before 2003
| Category | Time | Team/Hiker | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest Team | 09:48 | Southern 50 Rejects | 2008 |
| Fastest All Female Team | 13:06 | Bogey, Gandalf + Dor | 2005 |
| Fastest Individual (Full team didn't complete) | 11:04 | Callum Godding | 2010 |
| Slowest Finishing Individual | 19:07 | Andrew Harvey, David Marshall | 2010 |
| Category | Time | Team/Hiker | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest Team | 06:37 | 10 Blisters and counting (Loddon District) | 2009 |
| Fastest All Female Team | 09:30 | Team 121 (Loddon District) | 2007 |
| Fastest Individual (Full team didn't complete) | 09:01 | Ryan Guerin | 2011 |
| Slowest Finishing Individual | 14:49 | Steven Milan, Jessica Paine | 2003 |
| Category | Time | Team/Hiker | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest Team | 07:22 | No Name Yet (1st Reading YMCA Scouts) | 2010 |
| Fastest All Female Team | 07:46 | No Name Yet (1st Reading YMCA Scouts) | 2011 |
| Fastest Individual (Full team didn't complete) | 08:48 | Tanita Webb | 2010 |
| Slowest Finishing Individual | 12:18 | Kieran Tarry, Graham Mott | 2010 |
| Category | Time | Team/Hiker | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest Team | 04:36* | The Taceham Elite (2nd Thatcham Scouts) | 2008 |
| Fastest All Female Team | 05:05 | Banana Rama (99th Reading Scouts) | 2008 |
| Fastest Individual (Full team didn't complete) | 04:51 | Mark Mills | 2003 |
| Slowest Finishing Individual | 12:06 | Annie Jackson, Joseph Knight, Lee Dickinson | 2010 |
* Whisky 5 Alpha (5th Woodley Scouts) recorded a time of 04:14 in 2007, when the Scout event rules allowed for older teams
The Three Towers Hike has adopted the Scout Association's branding style including the use of the SerifBlack font family in Scout Purple and Green. It's self-developed i.HIKE brand has raised the event's visibility and is now recognisable as part of the hike's collateral.