News Story Date : 10 June, 2009

1000 Miles in 1000 Hours

Twice Grand National Winner, Champion Jump Jockey for three seasons and motivational speaker Richard Dunwoody is currently taking part in a huge challenge to walk 1000 miles in 1000 hours.

Yesterday morning (3rd June) at 2.58am Richard reached the first landmark of the challenge when he reached the ‘100 miles in 100 hours’ milestone.

Richard started the 1000 mile walk on Friday 29th May at 11pm and aims to complete it on 10th July. He will finish by walking the last mile on 10th July at approx 2.20pm up the home straight of Newmarket racecourse on Darley July Cup day.

In 1809 Captain Robert Barclay was bet 1000 guineas that he couldn’t walk 1000 miles in 1000 consecutive hours and this was hailed as ‘one of the greatest human feats ever attempted’ Richard’s attempt two centuries later has been hailed as mad by some such as Olympic swimmer Mark Foster,“He’s mad but you’ve got to admire someone who is giving up sleep and effectively walking a marathon every day for 42 days for charity.”

The charities that Richard is walking the 1000 miles for are Racing Welfare, Alzheimer’s Society, Sparks and Spinal Research. Richard has said of the first 100 miles “I’ve had great support so far as well as a fair bit of stick from the Newmarket stable staff, but generally things have gone well. Just 900 to go….!”
When he hung up his saddle at the age of 35 due to injury in 1999, he had won a record 1,699 races and endured 672 falls (a record which he still holds!). He is best known for his partnership with the legendary Desert Orchid on whom he won seven races. Richard was awarded an MBE in 1993 for services to his sport.

To read more about Richard and to book him as a speaker (for after the 1000 mile walk) visit http://www.inspirationalspeakers.co.uk/index.php/profile/richard_dunwoody_mbe/