THEY may still be feeling bruised, busted and totally shattered.
But Kevin Bower and Craig Lee can proudly claim they completed their three-day sponsored ‘Grassroots Rugby League Challenge’.
Over the weekend, the brave duo ran to all eight amateur rugby league clubs in the Huddersfield area – a total distance of 32.6 miles! – and then followed it up by walking the route again before completing their task by cycling the same journey on day three.
During their daily trip they called in at Emley Moor, Lindley Swifts, Meltham All Blacks, Moldgreen, Newsome Panthers, Slaithwaite Saracens, St Joseph’s and Underbank Rangers, with every club now ready to benefit financially from Bower and Lee’s exploits.
The big Huddersfield amateur RL supporters, who are behind the increasingly-successfully Rugby4tots scheme, hope to raise at least £2,400 from their challenge in order to hand each club a minimum of £300.
And Bower is confident that target will be reached to reward what he has described as the biggest physical challenge of his life.
“I’ve successfully completed the Three Peaks challenge in 24 hours in the past, but what Craig and myself have just done is far harder,” said new St Joseph’s coach Bower.
“As amateur rugby league players, we’re used to being battered around a rugby league pitch, but the pain we felt after this was something else. Trying to walk at the start of this week was almost impossible!
“But even when we were in the middle of the challenge, there’s no way we were going to give up.
“It would have been quite easy, but the support we received along the way was incredible and definitely played a big part in keeping us going.
“Steve Hardisty from the Giants’ development team joined us for the first 12 miles of the run on day two, while Joe Flaherty and Tom Beaumont were around for the walk.
“We also got loads of text and Facebook messages on the way round offering us encouragement, while we also received a great amount of support from a lot of the Huddersfield clubs. For instance, when we arrived at Meltham All Blacks on Saturday afternoon after they’d played their game they made sure we were well fed and watered.
“Yes, it was tough, but to complete the challenge was also incredibly rewarding. In fact, we’re already thinking about doing something similar in the future to help support our local clubs, but at this very moment getting some well-earned rest is top priority!”
Bower has already been pledged over £2,000 – with Mark Rattigan having donated £600 alone! – and anyone else interested in supporting their efforts is asked to contact Kevin on 07523 868402.
And the picture shows Giants mascot Big G is on hand to provide his support for (from left) Craig Lee, Steve Hardisty, Kevin Bower on the run as they prepare to start the challenge.