September 7, 2020 10.46 am This story is over 42 months old

Lincoln Rugby Club tackle ‘Challenge 22’ for crucial fundraiser

Part of their coronavirus crowdfunding recovery
Under-12s player James Budgen crawled 22 widths of the pitch wearing army combat gear.

Players and members of Lincoln RFC are performing various challenges as part of its coronavirus crowdfunding recovery programme this month.

Challenge 22 requires participants to complete any task they want so long as it is completed twenty two times. Players and members involved in the senior and junior set up, as well as from Lincoln Touch, will take part in the challenges.

Lincoln Ladies player Lucy Prescott and the team’s coach Brian Kelly climbed 100 feet of England’s highest mountain Scafell Pike 22 times on Sunday.

The youngsters at the club are also getting involved, including Under-12s player James Budgen, aged 11, who crawled 22 widths of the pitch wearing army combat gear in 64 minutes on Saturday.

Lincoln Ladies player and the team’s coach Brian Kelly climbed 100 feet of England’s highest mountain Scafell Pike 22 times.

Several more challenges will take place this week with Ross Tarnowski and his son Oscar doing 22 laps of the rugby pitch and 22 push ups.

First team captain Lewis Wilson, along with some of his teammates, are doing a 22 mile bike ride followed by walking the same distance and finishing with 22 runs up Lincoln’s Steep Hill.

Chris Dunkley will take on a triathlon with 22 lengths of a pool, 22 miles on a bike and 22km run finishing at the Lincoln Rugby Club on Lodge Lane in Nettleham. Grant Cowe will be doing 22 different exercises with 22 reps each.

James Willow-Chamberlin and Joseph Verney will travel to different rugby clubs in the county, as well as in Kettering, for challenges including running 22 lengths of the pitch and kicking conversions.

James Budgen, who plays for Lincoln RFC’s Under-12s, was dressed in army gear for his Challenge 22.

Saturday’s challenges will finish in time for the visit of former Samoan international rugby star Freddie Tuilagi, who will be at Lincoln RFC as part of the tour launching his new drink – Tuilagin. There are still tickets available for the event here.

Lincoln Rugby Club, which was established in 1882, was forced to close between March and July due to the coronavirus lockdown.

With no rugby being played and the clubhouse not allowed to open, the club lost big revenue streams and had to find other ways of raising money.

The club is now open again and the players are allowed to train with government restrictions in place, but full contact matches are still a long way off.

Some fundraising events have taken place, such as a successful craft fayre that raised £315, virtual quizzes, and a comedy night hosted by Carl Hutchinson.

A crowdfunding page has been set up and has so far raised over £950 – make a donation here.

However, more money still needs to be raised to carry out crucial club improvements and help build a better future for the club in these uncertain times.

Meanwhile, the venue can also be hired out for meetings and functions, as well as celebrations and party events. Anyone interested in booking the venue should contact director of facilities Grant Cowe on 07375 929428 or via email at [email protected]