STRAPPING rugby players are swapping the pitch for canoe paddles to take on an extreme sports challenge.
Huddersfield Rugby Union Football Club (HRUFC) members Adam Hirst, president Mark Birch, Mark Howlett and Ryan Groves are competing in this year’s Great Lakeland Challenge – the UK’s toughest charity event.
In less than 12 hours, teams have to canoe England’s longest lake, cycle over the steepest pass then conquer the highest peak.
The challenge certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted, but the fit men are confident they can hold their own against the 30 teams taking part.
Adam, 3rd team captain for the club, said: “It’s been quite difficult striking a balance between the fund-raising and training, but we are all really looking forward to the challenge.
“We’ve been training quite hard, doing a couple of mountain bike rides a week. The canoeing part of the challenge is something new for us, but West Yorkshire Canoe Club have lent us a canoe and we’ve been out practising.
“It’s been hard work, but good fun. We’re expecting the toughest part of the challenge to be the climb at the end because we’ll be exhausted by then!
“We’re hoping to do well. A lot of us are rugby players and architects and there’s another team of architects from Leeds taking part who we want to beat!”
For the challenge, the team will have to canoe the 10-mile length of Lake Windermere and cycle 26 miles over the 1 in 3 gradient Wrynose Pass.
Finally the group need to navigate the nine mile route from Wasdale Head to the Langdale Valley in the Lake District.
The gruelling event raises money for charity Wooden Spoon, which funds projects all over the UK to improve the lives of disadvantaged children.
Last year, Adam’s group took part in the charity’s challenge to climb four of the highest peaks in the UK and Ireland in 48 hours.
They came 13th out of the 63 teams taking part and raised more than £4,000.
This year they hope to equal, if not better last year’s result.
Adam said: “We thought fund-raising for this year would be a bit more difficult given the economic climate, but we’ve had a great response so far.
“I’ve played rugby for most of my life and this is a rugby charity which I’ve been involved with for a long time.
“The charity is fantastic because it looks to improve the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children through sport.”
The Great Lakeland Challenge takes place on September 11.
This Sunday the team will have a fundraising stall for the charity at a family fun day to mark HRUFC’s centenary year.
The event at Lockwood Park runs from 9.15am to 4pm and will include team pictures, stalls, refreshments and friendly rugby games.
Those who can’t attend but still want to make a donation should visit www.justgiving.com and search for any of the team members, names.
