ENDURING
Fund and he was proud to have
been flying the flag for them and
CHALLENGE
for Wooden Spoon.
While Julian took both pleasure
FOR
and pain from all three disciplines,
CHARITY
it was the Channel swim that had
a special place in his heart.
“I have always wanted to swim
the channel and it was such an
unbelievable feeling to finally
make that dream reality.
The feeling of finally landing on
Julian Crabtree doesn’t only French soil was just unbelievable -
write about others amazing it is something I would
endeavours, he is himself recommend everyone to try.”
an athlete that likes to
push himself to the limit, Julian’s swim was not without
physically and mentally. drama though as the fickle
Wooden Spoon recently Channel weather decided to
benefited from Julian’s make it as hard as possible for
latest challenge as he him.
became only the third “I was on for a 10-11 hour
person ever to finish the swim,” explained Julian. “But
Enduroman Arch to Arc halfway across the weather
Challenge. changed and the wind came up Julian after his successful
and the waves got bigger and completion of the A2A Challenge. JULIAN CRABTREE
This unbelievable challenge saw bigger. It looked like I was on for “What Julian has achieved by
Julian running 87 miles from a 19 hour swim but I managed to completing the A2A Challenge is
Julian Crabtree became the
London’s Marble Arch to Dover, pick up the pace and was very unbelievable. Most people strive
first South African, and the
third person ever, to compete
swimming the English Channel happy with a 13hr 56 minute only to race in one marathon and
the Serum Run on foot - a
and then cycling 180 miles from swim.” yet Julian has put himself through 1100 mile run across the
Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in this incredible physical and mental
Alaskan wilderness. Dragging
Paris. The drama was not over though battle for over 80 hours. Everyone
all his equipment on a sled,
and suffering from frostbite,
Despite hurting his knee on the as Julian soon found out when he at Wooden Spoon is impressed
he battled temperatures of -
opening run, Julian battled swam back to the boat. with his achievement and very 40 degrees, 70 mph winds,
through the pain to compete the “A rope had got wrapped appreciative of his fundraising.”
total whiteouts, blizzards and
challenge in 87 hours 36 minutes around the boat’s propeller and
wild animals - to compete the
— the second fastest time ever. we were drifting dangerously Spoon wishes Julian well with his
distance in 27 days.
Speaking from the Arc De close to shore, so they passed me future challenges.
As a former member of the
Triomphe after the event Julian down a torch and I spent fifteen Navy Divers Unit, Julian is no
said he was proud to have minutes diving under the boat to
stranger to physical
achieved such a momentous cut it free.
challenges and has
successfully competed in
challenge and paid tribute to his I certainly earned my cup of tea
many ultra-marathons and
support team and all those when I was finally allowed back Ironman-distance triathlons.
people who sponsored and on the boat,” joked Julian.
encouraged him during the
For the last five years Julian
challenge. Due to his knee injury, Julian’s
has lived in London where he
has works as a freelance
cycle was not as fast as he would
sports journalist. Julian has
“This may be a solo challenge but have liked, but the 39-year-old worked for Sky Sports, Rugby
there is no way you can get was still overjoyed with his
World magazine and
through it without a dedicated achievement.
contributed to the Wooden
Spoon magazine, Spoonews.
support team. Mine were “Cycling through the Place
incredible and nursed me through de la Concorde and up the He has been a member of
all the bad patches, without their Champs-Élysées was very
Spoon since 2005 and has
patience and tireless efforts I emotional. It was a
also played for the Spoon
would never have made it. beautiful morning and the
AA’s in Dubai.
With all the support I had, there sun was reflected beautifully
Apart from having a much
was no question of me stopping. of the Arc de Triomphe. needed rest, Julian is also
Friends, fellow Spooners and total Finishing was such a fantastic
exploring different
strangers made such an effort to feeling, but it was tinged with
opportunities for his next
challenge.
get messages to me, there was sadness too. I have lived and
no way I was going to let anyone breathed this challenge for so For more information please
down.” long that it has become part of
contact Julian at
me. It was tough to say farewell.”
www.juliancrabtree.com or call
Julian’s Enduroman Arch to Arc
him on 07932 073861.
challenge also raised money for Geoff Morris, former Spoon CEO
the Nelson Mandela Children’s expressed his appreciation to
Spoonews Autumn 2007 35
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