logo
Directors prepare to climb North Africa's highest peak

Directors prepare to climb North Africa's highest peak

Rhyl Journal13-05-2025
The directors, Ron Davison and Dafydd Roberts, are from Gamlins Law and will be climbing Morocco's Mount Toubkal in aid of St Kentigern Hospice.
The climb is expected to take five days, beginning on Wednesday, May 21.
Mr Davison, managing director, and Mr Roberts, fellow director, will tackle the 4,167m (13,671 ft) peak alongside ten other climbers.
For Mr Davison, this challenge comes hot on the heels of the London Marathon which he recently completed in aid of St Kentigern Hospice.
Mr Davison said: "Until I started training for the marathon, I'd never even run a park run, so it was a pretty fast learning curve.
"It was an incredible experience running the marathon, but also massively demanding.
"My goal was to try and run or at least jog the whole distance and I'm delighted I was able to achieve that."
He added that he was "just pleased" to finish the marathon in 5 hours and 47 minutes, given the conditions and the cramp.
Mr Roberts has been preparing for the Mount Toubkal climb by tackling several mountains in recent weeks.
This includes climbs up Yr Wyddfa via Crib Goch, Nantlle Ridge in Eryri (Snowdonia), and Elidir Fawr.
Ron Davison with children Molly and George (Image: Supplied) Both directors also undertook a 22km walk in the Clwydian Hills along Offa's Dyke.
Last September, the duo successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
This was in aid of Prostate Cancer UK and LawCare.
Mr Roberts expressed his enthusiasm for the forthcoming challenge in North Africa.
He said: "We're looking forward to getting out to Morocco and taking on the challenge of Toubkal.
"It should be a fascinating experience with the climb due to last five days and staying in small guest houses with the local Berber community as well as a night in a mountain refuge before the final push for the summit."
He also highlighted the extreme weather conditions with temperatures at the summit expected to be around -5 degrees Celsius.
Ron Davison running the London Marathon (Image: Supplied) The hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care to patients with life-limiting illnesses, and supports their families across Denbighshire, West Flintshire, and East Conwy.
Services are delivered free of charge to patients and their families.
The hospice, which includes a 12-bed inpatient unit, employs 95 staff, supported by a large team of volunteers.
It costs over £4.4 million a year to run.
You can support Mr Davison and Mr Roberts' climbing effort by donating online.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Paula Radcliffe: Eilish McColgan could break British record
Paula Radcliffe: Eilish McColgan could break British record

The National

timea day ago

  • The National

Paula Radcliffe: Eilish McColgan could break British record

In 2003, Paula Radcliffe set a British marathon record of 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds and in the 22 years since, no British woman has ever bettered that mark, which was a new world record at the time. Indeed, no one has even come close, with the next best time by a Brit a whole six minutes slower than Radcliffe's mark. There is, however, according to the woman who has had such a firm grip on that record for over two decades, one candidate who has the potential to come closer to that record than any other, and perhaps even beat it. That runner who is as likely, if not more likely, to finally break the longstanding British record is Eilish McColgan and given the prediction is coming from Radcliffe herself, it holds more weight than most. McColgan may have been a world-class runner for well over a decade but she remains a novice in marathon terms. The 34-year-old Dundonian made her marathon debut earlier this year, in April's London Marathon, and on her first attempt at 26.2 miles, set a new Scottish record of 2 hours 24 minutes 25 seconds. It was a debut that had been eagerly anticipated given McColgan had initially planned to run her first marathon in 2023 before several injury setbacks caused postponement after postponement of her maiden marathon appearance, Finally, though, she got to the start line in April. McColgan's Scottish record-beating run, which also bettered her mum, Liz McColgan's, best-ever marathon time, was particularly impressive when taking into account both her disrupted preparation, and the fact she ran almost the entirety of the race alone having been separated from the leading pack in the very early stages. Radcliffe was an interested observer of McColgan's marathon debut and she admits she was extremely impressed with how McColgan equipped herself over the 26.2 miles in London. 'Eilish's preparation was maybe a little bit short on volume because of the injury issues but she was really smart in taking her time to get on top of everything and not to do a marathon until she was healthy,' Radcliffe says. 'In London, she spent so much of the race on her own and in no man's land so she should be proud of how well she did given those circumstances because, of course, if you're running alone, it's not going to be as quick as if you're running with others. 'I ran alone in the marathon a few times but most of the times I did that, it was because I was leading and that's a very different feeling to when you know the race is moving away ahead of you. 'So the way Eilish did that race is much tougher than any time I did it. 'Ahead of London, she's been pretty vocal about having set herself the target of bettering her mum's time so to get her mum's record, and the Scottish record, was very good for her first marathon.' Eilish McColgan set a Scottish record on her marathon debut earlier this year (Image: Steve Christo - Corbis) Radcliffe and McColgan may have been competing in different eras but the pair share several similarities including their mentalities and the obstacles they've encountered in their careers, namely injuries. Radcliffe was famous for pushing herself to her physical and psychological limit and McColgan is made from the same mould, which she demonstrated in her gold medal-winning run in the 10,000m final at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. And with Radcliffe's career being ended by injuries, she can empathise with McColgan's injury challenges over the past few years which have seen her race schedule seriously disrupted. McColgan has now rediscovered full fitness but it is, says Radcliffe, a razor-thin line between fitness and injury for all elite marathon runners. 'Injuries are part and parcel of being a marathon runner and most marathon build-ups will have niggles. It's about working out where the line is between a serious injury and a niggle,' the former world champion says. 'I loved the mental challenge of the marathon, though, and I think Eilish will too because I think she's the type of person who does relish that. 'On race day, I did feel like it was a little bit of a game in terms of you're hurting, but how long can you ignore it and keep going?' The next milestone for McColgan, now she has her hands on the Scottish record is, of course, Radcliffe's British record. To take the Englishwoman's record, McColgan, whose next competitive outing will be at next month's Great North Run over 13.1 miles, will need to slice nine minutes from her debut marathon time which is, clearly, a sizeable chunk. It's not an improvement that'll happen overnight but Radcliffe is confident that as the Scot gains experience over the distance, she'll get closer and closer to the fabled mark. 'I think, and Eilish would probably agree, that at the moment she's still more comfortable and more solid over the 10k and the half marathon distance. But that's absolutely not to say that in the future that can't change,' says Radcliffe. Paula Radcliffe set her current British record back in 2003 (Image: Getty Images) 'I hit the ground running with the marathon - it went amazing the very first time I ran it but that's probably unusual because you look at other really successful marathon runners like Haile Gebrselassie or Paul Tergat and they took a while to settle into the marathon. 'After my first marathon, in my lifetime, I only improved about three minutes whereas other people improved a lot more from their marathon debut so everyone's very different. 'What I've noticed with Eilish, over the years, is it can take her a bit of time to learn a new distance so she just needs a little bit more time to feel really comfortable with the marathon. 'She's now experienced the marathon and I think Eilish has got as good a shot, if not a better shot, than almost anyone else at breaking my British record. 'I don't think it's unachievable for her - the thing about the marathon is getting it right on the day. 'I think she can go quicker than she did in London so it's just a question of how much quicker.'

Paula Radcliffe: Eilish McColgan could break British record
Paula Radcliffe: Eilish McColgan could break British record

The Herald Scotland

timea day ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Paula Radcliffe: Eilish McColgan could break British record

There is, however, according to the woman who has had such a firm grip on that record for over two decades, one candidate who has the potential to come closer to that record than any other, and perhaps even beat it. That runner who is as likely, if not more likely, to finally break the longstanding British record is Eilish McColgan and given the prediction is coming from Radcliffe herself, it holds more weight than most. McColgan may have been a world-class runner for well over a decade but she remains a novice in marathon terms. The 34-year-old Dundonian made her marathon debut earlier this year, in April's London Marathon, and on her first attempt at 26.2 miles, set a new Scottish record of 2 hours 24 minutes 25 seconds. It was a debut that had been eagerly anticipated given McColgan had initially planned to run her first marathon in 2023 before several injury setbacks caused postponement after postponement of her maiden marathon appearance, Finally, though, she got to the start line in April. McColgan's Scottish record-beating run, which also bettered her mum, Liz McColgan's, best-ever marathon time, was particularly impressive when taking into account both her disrupted preparation, and the fact she ran almost the entirety of the race alone having been separated from the leading pack in the very early stages. Radcliffe was an interested observer of McColgan's marathon debut and she admits she was extremely impressed with how McColgan equipped herself over the 26.2 miles in London. 'Eilish's preparation was maybe a little bit short on volume because of the injury issues but she was really smart in taking her time to get on top of everything and not to do a marathon until she was healthy,' Radcliffe says. 'In London, she spent so much of the race on her own and in no man's land so she should be proud of how well she did given those circumstances because, of course, if you're running alone, it's not going to be as quick as if you're running with others. 'I ran alone in the marathon a few times but most of the times I did that, it was because I was leading and that's a very different feeling to when you know the race is moving away ahead of you. 'So the way Eilish did that race is much tougher than any time I did it. 'Ahead of London, she's been pretty vocal about having set herself the target of bettering her mum's time so to get her mum's record, and the Scottish record, was very good for her first marathon.' Eilish McColgan set a Scottish record on her marathon debut earlier this year (Image: Steve Christo - Corbis) Radcliffe and McColgan may have been competing in different eras but the pair share several similarities including their mentalities and the obstacles they've encountered in their careers, namely injuries. Radcliffe was famous for pushing herself to her physical and psychological limit and McColgan is made from the same mould, which she demonstrated in her gold medal-winning run in the 10,000m final at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. And with Radcliffe's career being ended by injuries, she can empathise with McColgan's injury challenges over the past few years which have seen her race schedule seriously disrupted. McColgan has now rediscovered full fitness but it is, says Radcliffe, a razor-thin line between fitness and injury for all elite marathon runners. 'Injuries are part and parcel of being a marathon runner and most marathon build-ups will have niggles. It's about working out where the line is between a serious injury and a niggle,' the former world champion says. 'I loved the mental challenge of the marathon, though, and I think Eilish will too because I think she's the type of person who does relish that. 'On race day, I did feel like it was a little bit of a game in terms of you're hurting, but how long can you ignore it and keep going?' The next milestone for McColgan, now she has her hands on the Scottish record is, of course, Radcliffe's British record. To take the Englishwoman's record, McColgan, whose next competitive outing will be at next month's Great North Run over 13.1 miles, will need to slice nine minutes from her debut marathon time which is, clearly, a sizeable chunk. It's not an improvement that'll happen overnight but Radcliffe is confident that as the Scot gains experience over the distance, she'll get closer and closer to the fabled mark. 'I think, and Eilish would probably agree, that at the moment she's still more comfortable and more solid over the 10k and the half marathon distance. But that's absolutely not to say that in the future that can't change,' says Radcliffe. Paula Radcliffe set her current British record back in 2003 (Image: Getty Images) 'I hit the ground running with the marathon - it went amazing the very first time I ran it but that's probably unusual because you look at other really successful marathon runners like Haile Gebrselassie or Paul Tergat and they took a while to settle into the marathon. 'After my first marathon, in my lifetime, I only improved about three minutes whereas other people improved a lot more from their marathon debut so everyone's very different. 'What I've noticed with Eilish, over the years, is it can take her a bit of time to learn a new distance so she just needs a little bit more time to feel really comfortable with the marathon. 'She's now experienced the marathon and I think Eilish has got as good a shot, if not a better shot, than almost anyone else at breaking my British record. 'I don't think it's unachievable for her - the thing about the marathon is getting it right on the day. 'I think she can go quicker than she did in London so it's just a question of how much quicker.'

Moses Itauma's trainer makes 'dog fight' admission ahead of Dillian Whyte fight
Moses Itauma's trainer makes 'dog fight' admission ahead of Dillian Whyte fight

Daily Mirror

time4 days ago

  • Daily Mirror

Moses Itauma's trainer makes 'dog fight' admission ahead of Dillian Whyte fight

Itauma faces the toughest test of his career on Saturday night, but the Brit's coach is fully confident his star pupil can get the job done Moses Itauma's trainer Ben Davison admits the heavyweight star has got it in his locker to emerge victorious should the Dillian Whyte clash descend into a dog fight. ‌ The 20-year-old faces the toughest test of his career so far against Whyte - a heavyweight veteran - on Saturday night in the Middle East. The Brit is a real superstar in the making after announcing himself on the world stage back in 2024 after brutally knocking out Mariusz Wach. ‌ Itauma has since gone on to defeat Demsey McKean and Mike Balogun - both via knockout. Both Oleksandr Usyk and Lennox Lewis have backed the young heavyweight contender to achieve great things. With just 12 fights under his belt, it is only a matter of time before he goes head-to-head with some of the top names at heavyweight. ‌ Despite all the hype, he is still yet to be tested inside the squared-circle. Many within the boxing community wonder how Itauma would fare when dragged into deep waters. But his trainer, Davision, believes his pupil is capable of thriving under real pressure in the ring. Itauma was seen showing off his incredible hand speed at the open workouts on Wednesday evening in Saudi Arabia. Speaking on the DAZN broadcast, Davison broke down Whyte's threat to his man. "Moses Itauma is not the type of fighter where we have to bank on people catching people at the right time. "He is good enough to mix with any of them at any point, and we have prepared for Dillian to turn up... the best Dillian possible, and if we haven't done, it's too late now." When pressed by the punditry team what problems Whyte brings, Davison replied: "It is his experience. He is a big, strong guy. Plenty of heart. Can punch. He brings all of those things to the table and that does not change, no matter what condition he turns up in. "Like I say, people keep talking about 'if it goes into a dog fight...' I have seen Moses. The young lad can fight up close as well, and you have got to have that in your locker. If you are going to mix in at this level, you have got to have that in the locker and he has got that in the locker. If the fight does go that why, I would not be shocked for it to still go as we expect. ‌ Ahead of the clash, Itauma revealed Davison helped him fully restore his love for the sport of boxing. 'Being in the ring (sparring) with all these heavyweights Daniel Dubois, Joe Joyce, Tyson Fury, Lawrence Okolie, I know that there are levels to boxing and I just felt like I was unable to learn any more,' Itauma said. The Brit admits that, under the guidance of Davison, he found a new side to the sport. 'I don't want to disrespect any of the coaches I tried or did work with. I love and respect them, but with Ben, he taught me a different side to boxing," he continued. 'He taught me there is more to boxing than punch, punch, get punched, punch back, punch, punch, punch. There is actually a whole chess game to this.' When is Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte? The 'Esports World Cup Fight Week: Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte' will take place on Saturday, August 16. The main undercard is due to get underway at around 5:45 pm UK time (12:45 pm ET / 9:45 am PT). The main event ringwalks will likely take place at around 10:20pm UK time (5:20 pm ET / 2:20 pm PT). All of the action will be streamed live on DAZN Pay Per-View. The event is priced at £19.99 in the United Kingdom, $49.99 in the United States, €19.99 in Europe and $49.95 in Australia.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store