44 Spoon Challenges There’s just no stopping the Raging Bull
Former England and British & Irish Lions hero Phil Vickery will be competing in three challenges for Wooden Spoon this year and while the world cup winner may have retired from rugby in September 2010, that clearly hasn’t dulled the competitive edge of the vast Cornishman. In 2011 he won the coveted Celebrity MasterChef title (beating journalist Kirsty Wark’s salmon and actor Nick Pickard’s crab with his scintillating scallops), before jetting off to commentate on the World Cup in New Zealand.
More importantly though, the man known throughout his career as the Raging Bull, found the time to complete the TNT Great British Bike Ride for Wooden Spoon. The agonising 330 mile bike ride from Lands End to Twickenham took five full days of cycling - quite the feat for the former prop who clocks in on the North side of 19 stone. However, despite the aches and the pains, the blisters and strains Phil is keen to go one better and this year will not only be competing in the TNT Great British Bike Ride, but also the Four Peaks AND the Great Lakeland challenge, and you can join him.
At the end of June Phil will be joining one team as a runner in the four peaks challenge, scaling four of the highest mountains in the British Isles in less than 48 hours. Tackling Ben Nevis, Helvellyn, Snowdon and Carantouhill will certainly be tough, but Phil is clearly not a man who shies away from hard graft, “I’m not a great runner, but I enjoy a challenge and will give most things a go,” said our soon to
But Phil certainly won’t be taking on these challenges alone, and is keen to encourage people to take part, and maybe even join his team. “Hopefully I’ll inspire other people to do it – if I can do it then anyone can! After three back operations, two shoulder ops and disc replacement in my neck, canoeing, cycling and running are not exactly the best for me, which is why I’m driving for the Lakeland, but everyone is there for different reasons and at different stages of fitness. It’s about setting your own personal goals and achieving them while at the same time raising money.” To be part of Phil’s team for either the Four
be intrepid mountaineer. “The Four Peaks is something I wanted to do last year but the timing was off.”
“I’m not 100% who’s in my team, but I’ve had a chat with Gareth Chilcott and Jason Leonard (both of whom have participated in previous Four Peaks events) and they have told me the driver is the key to success!” This should bode well then for one lucky team in September when Phil will be competing in his second challenge of the year, driving for a team competing in the Great Lakeland Challenge.
The Great Lakeland, like the Four Peaks has a team of three, supported by their driver, canoeing across England’s longest lake, Lake Windemere, cycling up the two steepest passes in England, Wrynose and Hardknott, and then scaling, on foot, England’s highest peak, Scaffel Pike, and all in under 12 hours.
Spoonews Autumn 2011
www.woodenspoon.com
Peaks, or the Great Lakeland all you have to do is get in touch with the Challenge office and whichever team pledges the highest amount for each challenge will be joining Phil up the mountains for the Four Peaks, or counting on him as their personal chauffeur for the Great Lakeland.
“Come along, have a good time, make some friends and you will find yourself part of something very special. When you go and see these projects and see what a difference your money has made then it puts everything in perspective.
“It’s a privilege to raise money that’s going to have a positive impact on someone’s life, yes Wooden Spoon is a rugby charity, but it crosses over so many boundaries and there is something for everyone. You’re as important as anyone else and we can all make a difference.”
For more information on challenges contact our Challenge office,
challenge@eventsunlimited.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52