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National Training Weekend 2008

Eighteen delegates descended on the town of Cromford, near Matlock in the Peak District for the final national event of the year.

The weekend is based outdoors which is ideal for training & development. Aimed at working in teams to tackle problem solving tasks, improve communication skills, develop team work and to see how we react when we leave our comfort zone.

After a Friday evening when we all got to know each another, Saturday started off in glorious sunshine, ideal for the day ahead which would be spent in the lovely setting of the Peak District. Following a short drive the 3 groups would be dropped off at different locations, armed with maps & directions  the fun began.

The following 6 hours would be filled with solving problems to earn clues which would assist us in our next leg, together with the main activities which included a Tyrolean Traverse, Abseiling and weaselling

The day ended with all 3 groups arriving at a rendezvous point with the final obstacle requiring all groups to work together to achieve the final task. This was done and the day was over, and off we set to discuss the day over a cool beer at a local public house.

The excellent weather continued on the Sunday where the delegates could opt for their preferred activity for the half day that remained.� Many chose level 2 caving, and the remainder opted for an abseil from a disused railway bridge over a flowing river. Both demanding trust and encouragement from our fellow team members.

The staff from Acclimbatize were fantastic and once both groups had met up for lunch and done the de-brief they then awarded the prize for best delegate to Phil Eke from Denny Bros well done Phil.

 Video Link:  http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sYA5199Fk8c
shows Andrew Tait going down a zipcord (Death slide) over the valley between two trees and not quite over the rock at the National Training Weekend last year, entitled 'Ginger Splat'!

All that was left to do was to hit the roads with the window down for the drive home, thinking back over a great weekend.

The YMP organisation would like to show its appreciation to Ann Drayton & Peter Handcock for all their efforts in making the weekend a great one to remember.