Hull and East Yorkshire Sporting Heroes and Champions Awards 2009

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2nd September 2010

First Hull Trains set to conquer the Loch Ness Monster

First Hull Trains set to conquer the Loch Ness Monster

A team of staff from First Hull Trains will travel to Loch Ness on September 11, but the Monster they will face is no mythical creature.

They are heading to Inverness to take on the 120k duathlon, the First Monster Challenge to raise money for First Group's nominated charity, Save the Children.

First Hull Trains is entering two teams in the team relay challenge this year and one employee is taking on the 120k challenge solo, even competing in the Iron Monster.

The event has drawn in some big names in previous years with Nell McAndrew and Gavin Hastings competing last year. This year, Olympic Gold Medal 400m hurdler, Sally Gunnell, is lined up to compete in the team relay event alongside Gavin.

This year's sold out event is testament to the hard work of First Hull Trains' parent company, First Group, which receives praise annually for the hard work that goes into the Monster challenge.

Ian Dunn, operations manager for First Hull Trains, who is competing in the event for the third year running said: "It's a really fun, enjoyable event which keeps you fit and healthy. The scenery is gorgeous and time and time again the organisation of the whole event is spot on. The day before the Monster, myself and a colleague, Ian Waller, are going to swim across the Loch Ness which is about two miles, as a warm up to event."

Ian is competing with fellow First Hull Trains team members Steph Young, Vicki Biggs, Julian Redfern, Sam Hook, Kelly Todd, Coreanna Dutton and Faye Matson.

He added: "We're entering two different teams from First Hull Trains and there's a little bit of friendly competition between us at the moment. Last year, we challenged the younger team and we beat them, we're hoping for a similar result this year but it is all good fun and we're pooling our fundraising. We have a target of £1,350 and so far we've raised just under half of that."

The event, which starts in Inverness and follows the Great Glen Way along the north side of Loch Ness, consists of eight stages - four running and four cycling. Each competitor completes one of the running stages and one of the cycling stages and at the end of each stage is a checkpoint where teams hand over to the next competitor.

The mountainous countryside makes the 120k relay even more challenging for the teams, but Ian Dunn says that that's half the fun.

He added: "In the past two years, my cycling leg has been up a mountain side and it's been a challenge, this year someone else has opted to do that leg which is a relief but I did secretly quite enjoy the challenge.

"The shifts we work mean we ca'’t all train together, but we've been teaming up and running together in groups where we can. Ian Waller, who is doing the Iron Monster has been putting a lot of work in, doing up to 15 miles of running in preparation."

31st August 2010

HOTTEST DERBY IN RUGBY LEAGUE GOES CULINARY IN THE DEVILS KITCHEN!

HOTTEST DERBY IN RUGBY LEAGUE GOES CULINARY IN THE DEVILS KITCHEN!

Divided by allegiance, the badge on their chest and the colour of their apron! Two of Rugby Leagues bitterest of rivals went head to head once again this season, but this time... in the kitchen!

Hosted by the Hallmark Hotel near Hull the hottest battle ever was set between the sides as Hull FC and Hull KR went head to head to deliver a three-course meal to 40 guests each to raise funds for sport in the region.

The teams headed straight from the comfort of the training ground to the heat of Devils Kitchen, with players, coaches and club staff all taking part to raise funds for the KCFM Smile Foundation and Hull and East Yorkshire Sports Awards, who will distribute the takings amongst various worthy sporting projects in the region.

The teams, which will include some notable faces such as Hull FC's Danny Houghton and Ben Cooper as well as their colleague from across the River Hull, prepared, cooked and served a delicious meal to a ravenous selection of guests, including eight rather hungry members of the Black and Whites first-team squad, who in turn donated the money they feel was justified for the food they have received.

The exciting evening was a concept that has been worked up by KCFM Smile Foundation Charity Manager, Andrew Barber, who has now completed six Devils Kitchen raising over £30,000 for charity.

The Hull Derby Devils Kitchen is one of a number of events that both clubs and KCFM are supporting in the run up to this year's Hull & East Yorkshire Sporting Heroes and Champions Award which take place on December 2nd 2010.

The awards, which were launched for the first time last year, don't just celebrate the tremendous achievements of our regions professional athletes but focus heavily on the work and commitment of those people who contribute a great deal to the ever prospering amateur and junior sports projects in the area.

David Townend of First Hull Trains, the organiser and sponsor of the awards, said, "All the professional clubs have fully got behind the awards and it's great to see the players and backroom staff taking to the kitchen and coming out of their comfort zone to support the charitable aspect of the awards."

All seats were taken for the fantastic evening's entertainment and the heat was on for each team to produce the best meal from a menu consisting from Ballotine of Salmon with horseradish crème fraiche and handmade granary bread to a dessert of team colour themed brandy snap baskets and Chantilly cream.

The ingredients for the menu and venue were provided free of charge by the New Hallmark Hotel, formally the queen Elizabeth Hotel in North Ferriby.

General Manger Emma Patterson said, "Devils Kitchen is a great way for us to support charities and sport in this area, and we certainly put the teams through their paces."

Meanwhile, Hull FC Chief Executive James Rule added, "We have been involved with the HEY Sports Awards and the KCFM Smile Foundation for some time now and are proud to be supporting events like this and ultimately helping to generate some funds to help local sport at an amateur and community level in our region.

"I mentioned in my blog on the HEY Sports Awards website recently about the importance and stature of sport in this region, which relies upon the junior and amateur networks and therefore the more events like this the better."

He added, "Having said that, I am not sure exactly how good the Hull FC team's culinary skills will be, but I know Ben Cooper, our Strength and Conditioning coach, has been getting excited for weeks and has even been practising!"

Hull and East Yorkshire's Sporting Heroes and Champions Awards 2010 sponsored by

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