Explorer of the Year 2004 Winner

This year's prestigious Explorer of the Year award goes to the Scoot-A-Long team. A group of world record holding fundraisers from Plymouth led by John Duckworth.

The award was presented to the team on the Caravan Club stand at the National Boat, Caravan & Outdoor Leisure Show, NEC Friday 25th February 2005.



John Duckworth, Simon Parrot, Geff West and David Benham all have disabilities, but that didn't stop them embarking on a 4,800 mile odyssey on mobility scooters around the coast of England, Scotland and Wales to raise over £10,000 for Plymouth Shopmobility.



A fifth member of the team, Richard Woods, drove the support van and towed the team's all important accommodation a 1984 Elddis Whirlwind.

Setting off on May 5 in a hammering hailstorm the team reached a glorious top speed of eight miles an hour on their journey, which included traversing the Scottish Highlands. Surviving the hail, thunder and windstorms it wasn't until the team crossed the border into Devon that the sun broke through the clouds.

This latest challenge was motivated by the charity's desperate need for new scooters and new powered chairs.

John Duckworth said: "People told me it was impossible for someone disabled to travel this distance, which spurred me on to do it.”

Two years ago, John Duckworth and Peter Baldacchino completed around 3,500 miles on the North Sea Cycle Route through seven countries on a similar scooter, but did not accurately record their distance.

The previous records for the furthest distances travelled on a mobility scooter remained at 1,700 miles for a team and 1,312 for a single person. But this most recent three-month feat set new Guinness world records.

John now holds the record for the longest journey by a single person on a mobility scooter, at 1654 miles.

Congratulations to the Scoot-A-Long team. You are worthy recipients of The Caravan Club Explorer of the Year Award for 2004. The team not only scoops the coveted title but also receives a solid pewter 'e' award and a Tom Tom Go personal satellite navigation system, which is bound to come in handy on their next adventure.



What is The Caravan Club Explorer of the Year?

The award recognises the achievements of anyone who has undertaken a fantastic journey, taken a caravan or motorhome to the extremes, or even used their vehicle in a very unusual or exceptional charity fund raising way.