Northampton Saints fan walks 126 miles to Champions Cup final
A rugby union fan managed to walk 126 miles (203km) in order to see his team play in Europe's biggest match.Using Google Maps for navigation, a portable charger and with a tent in tow, Dave Chapman walked from the Northampton Saints ground to Cardiff to watch his side face Bordeaux Bègles in the Champions Cup final.In the process he raised more than £1,000 for the Northampton Saints Foundation. Mr Chapman said the "bleakest" moment was the first night when he had to make a detour after failing to factor in the new HS2 route.
Mr Chapman is from Kettering, Northamptonshire, and set off from Franklin's Gardens in Northampton on Tuesday.He spoke to BBC Radio Northampton two days into the journey from a phone box, because of a dead phone battery, at which point he still had 85 miles (137km) to go.Day three took him through the scenic Cotswolds locations of Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water."I tend to walk everywhere but I have never walked this far in such a short space of time," he told the BBC.He felt a twist to his ankle on the route, after falling "down a pothole" and he said he had to walk about 28 hours without stopping to make sure he arrived at the Principality Stadium on time.
However, receiving a message from his girlfriend was the inspiration he needed to make it to the finish in five days and two hours.He said he would not be making the same journey back to Kettering and had instead managed to arrange a lift back.Unfortunately Saints' could not reward him with victory, as they were beaten 28-20 by the French side during what was a chaotic match.
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