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Blindness doesn’t stop Pete from conquering the Peaks
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| Keighley's Peter Sutcliffe (left), who is registered blind, completed the Three Peaks race on Saturday. Charlie Marshall (right) of Keighley & Craven Athletics Club was one of Peter's guides. |
After Peter Sutcliffe of Keighley was registered blind in 2004, he accomplished one of his goals by completing the Three Peaks race on Saturday.
The annual race, which is its 54th year, had the special distinction of hosting the 2008 World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge which meant the race had one of its highest quality fields ever.
But this did not deter Peter, 48, a member of Keighley & Craven Athletics Club, from accomplishing a goal he had set in 2006.
With the help of guides to pick his route over the steep rocky paths Pete completed the race in just under five hours (4.53.42). He came in 574th place, which was better than 131 of the 685 people who finished the race.
Peter said: "It was a fantastic event. I really enjoyed the atmosphere.
"The words of encouragement from fellow runners and spectators couldn't help but put a lump in your throat.
"And the support I received from the club (Keighley & Craven) was fantastic."
Although he took a few tumbles on Saturday, Peter has come a long way in the last few years.
With regard to his eyesight, Peter said: "I began to notice a problem with bright light on holiday in the Canary Islands in February 2002. I was referred to Moorfield's eye hospital and registered as partially sighted in December 2002.
"The diagnosis was that I had a rare form of retinal dystrophy which only affects about 20 people in the whole of the UK. The specialists believe that the problem is probably hereditary caused by a defective gene but probably triggered by some form of virus.
"Whatever the cause, matters continued to deteriorate and in July 2004 I was registered as blind and advised to retire from my professional accountancy practice.
| “The words of encouragement from fellow runners and spectators couldn’t help but put a lump in your throat.” | | Peter Sutcliffe of Keighley |
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"Giving up a business I had worked hard to establish from scratch and dearly loved was heartbreaking and my life was certainly turned upside down.
"Suddenly I found myself with time on my hands, a luxury not enjoyed for over 20 years when I was single and working for someone else. I desperately needed something to fill the gap, something which I would enjoy but also provide me with the self esteem essential for my personal sanity.
"I joined KCAC in April 2005 and after hearing about the Three Peaks race in 2006, set myself the crazy ambition of competing in and of course completing this fantastic event. Today I am proud to be able to boast mission accomplished."
Peter completed Saturday's race with the help of four guides: Charlie Marshall and Gary Chapman, both of Keighley & Craven AC, Colin Moses of Bingley Harriers and Simon Hassell, an Ironman triathlete from Cullingworth.
After setting a goal two years ago to run in the Three Peaks, Peter had to first qualify for the annual race.
So last year he ran in the Wharfedale Half-Marathon and the Yorkshire Half Marathon. His times were good enough to allow him to enter the Three Peaks in 2008.
Although he enjoyed it, Peter said that this will be his first and last Three Peaks.
He vowed: "I'll never do it again. It was a challenge to do, it's been done and I can tick that box."
Now his next goal is to run in the 2009 London Marathon, which he also needs to qualify for. His journey to qualify begins with the Edinburgh Marathon in four weeks time.
3:19pm Thursday 1st May 2008
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