By Matt Scorer

College Principal Mr. Hunter was an unlikely participant in this year's Great Kinder Beer Barrel Challenge based around the village of Edale. 

Mr. Hunter found himself as the he only team member who wasn't an elite fell runner. He said: "When I was asked to take part I didn't realise what I was letting myself in for! For a fifty year old man I'm relatively fit and do quite a bit of running. I was expecting everybody else taking part would be pretty much the same. Instead I was on a team of elite fell runners and I have never been so scared in all my life. Running whilst carrying a barrel of beer down steep slopes is terrifying - take it from me!"

To add insult to injury Mr. Hunter was in such a rush to get to another engagement he didn't even get to sample the beer once the team reached Edale! Mr. Hunter said: "How many people would carry a barrel of beer five miles and then not even get to drink it? If I ever do it again I will make sure I can sample the beer before I have to leave!"

The original challenge was laid down one bleak January night in 1998 when Edale shepherd Geoff Townsend complained to the landlord at the Old Nag's Head pub that they had run out of his favourite beer.

Geoff jokingly offered to fetch a barrel of the brew from the Snake Pass Inn, only three miles away as the crow flies, but with 900ft of ascent and descent in between. The landlord agreed that if Geoff succeeded he could have the barrel and its contents.

So the thirsty shepherd gathered 12 locals to help carry the barrel on a borrowed mountain rescue stretcher. He won the bet, shared the beer with his team and raised £1,200 for Edale School in the process.

Today all proceeds still go to community activities in the Village. Mr. Hunter added: "On a serious note it is great to be able to help out and raise money in, and for, the local community. It is important that the College supports the community to say thank you for all the support the community offers the College."