Sculthorpe leads way as Rowing Challenge raises cash

A few months ago I accepted an invitation to take part in the Carnegie Rowing Challenge.

I would, I was told, be in a team of five and we would just be doing a few five-minute bursts all in the name of charity. Bring it on, I thought; just like a little session in the gym.

Such idiotic thinking meant I did not do as much preparation for yesterday as maybe I should.

Junior Journos consisted of myself, Gareth Walker, Wayne Gardiner, Paul Bennett and Neil Barraclough and, well – we did not look quite as lithe as some of the athletes who embarked on the rowing marathon of 42,195m.

The event was in aid of Try Assist, the Rugby Football League's Benevolent Fund which helps amateur and professional players who have been injured playing the sport.

Former Great Britain captain Paul Sculthorpe set about the distance on his own and completed it in two hours 46 seconds but, more remarkably, Dave Woods, the BBC commentator who had initiated the whole idea and – let us just say is no professional sportsman – came in close behind, and not far off our team time.

His was an outstanding effort but there were similar tales all around the sports hall at Leeds Metropolitan University.

It was typical of the rugby league community that people from so many different areas got together to make it happen.

There were former players Jimmy Gittins and Pete Stephenson, both paralysed playing the sport, continuing their remarkable efforts, as did ex-Hull FC full-back Steve Prescott who defied the cancer he is battling to do his bit again just as he had memorably on a lung-busting cycling trek from Perpignan to deliver the matchball for the Carnegie Challenge Cup final at Wembley last summer.

On the eve of the fourth round of this season's Challenge Cup when Super League teams enter the fray, there were plenty of their representatives on show.

Wakefield assistant coach Paul Broadbent – who captained Sheffield to Cup success against Wigan at Wembley 12 years ago – rowed and Leeds Rhinos, Hull FC, Hunslet, Drighlington and Oldham all did their own Sir Steve Redgrave impressions.

Royce's Gym from Wigan, with a squad seemingly as big as an NFL team, got all scientific, swapping over after just 15 pulls, team-mates holding their feet down and even doing warm-ups in between rows.

We were not as hard-core but rolled in at two hour 52 minutes 56 seconds and no complaints. Well, apart from one. A Super League referee team including Richard Silverwood, Ian Smith and James Child edged us by five minutes. Apologies everyone.

To donate to the charity visit www.rflbenevolentfund.co.uk