Sponsored by
Police take on ultimate triathlon
It's a sporting challenge verging on the insane, never tried before - but for an elite police team, including Wigan's Phil Unsworth, it is an exciting mission that must be completed for the charity.
The chief inspector and his super-fit colleagues are in training for a mind-bogglingly epic triathlon which involves cycling from John o'Groats to Land's End, running from Land's End to Dover, the swimming the Channel to Calais!
Crazy? Well the only saving grace is that the 1,421-mile, non-stop, week-long slog will be done in relay, with team-members snatching short naps and grabbing quick meals in support vehicles and boats while some of their 20 colleagues continue on the next stretch.
No-one will be on the road or in the water all the time, regardless of the single stop-over they are allowing themselves in Dover, but there is no question it will be a shattering experience for all concerned.
The goals are not only to complete an unprecedentedly tough venture, but also raise as much money as possible for the When You Wish Upon A Star charity, which sends children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses on special trips,
The bulk of the team are from Greater Manchester Police's Tactical Firearms Unit and Phil, who lives in Wigan, was drafted in because he used to be in tactical aid 15 years ago and knows many of the participants.
Phil, 44, reckons the group, which includes 10 athletes and will be split into two teams, is up to it.
He said: "It is a daunting challenge by any stretch. You try to break it down into sections and it sounds OK when you talk about John o'Groats to Edinburgh until you discover that is the same distance as Lancaster to Bristol. It's almost 400 miles between Land's End and Dover too, so we are breaking that down into 70-mile stages.
"We are getting sleeping bags and going to be taking it in turns to race and sleep. Some will do more than others and it all depends on individuals' fitness, but we'll get there in the end. What better cause could there be than the When You Wish Upon A Star charity?"
In a show of support, the team will be joined by Greater Manchester's Chief Constable Michael Todd for the North Western stretch of their cycle journey.
Organiser Insp Tony Hughes said: "The enthusiasm and dedication of the team is unbelievable. In fact one of the biggest problems is trying to stop them going too mad with the training."
To sponsor the challenge contact Tony Hughes on 0792 028 7804. Phil Unsworth (0774 787 1668)has made a special request to local businesses to sponsor him.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Wigan
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
