Richard Parks begins the 737 Challenge

12th December 2010

After 16 months of training and preparation Richard Parks left Cardiff today to start his world first expedition.

Richard started his epic 737 Challenge from the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay, one hundred years after the British Antarctic Expedition, led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, departed from Cardiff Bay in the vessel SS Terra Nova.

Friends, family, team members and the media all gathered to cheer off the former Welsh International rugby player who is attempting to become the first ever person to stand on the continental summits and all 3 poles (The North Pole, South Pole and Mount Everest) in the same calendar year.

“This is it, it’s game time” stated Richard. “I am a little nervous about the unknowns but looking forward to getting started now, this is what I have spent 16 months preparing for”. He added; “I chose to start the challenge from here as a mark of respect to Captain Scott’s expedition and I couldn’t have wished for a better send off. Having all my friends, team and family here to support me as I left was simply awesome. I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the people and companies that have helped make this day a reality and for all the messages of support I have received from my followers on Facebook and Twitter”.

Richard will begin his journey by travelling to The South Pole. He will fly from London Heathrow to Punta Arenas and on to Patriot Hills on Antarctica.

The 737 Challenge will see him take on The Geographical South Pole, followed by Mount Vinson, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Carstensz Pyramid, The Geographical North Pole, Mount Everest, Denali and finally Mount Elbrus.

Picture courtesy of Huw Evans Agency/WRU.