The great Benny Hill was always a big-hit on the television and similarly so was Leeds Rhinos icon Keith Senior.
Now, after a long break from the spotlight, Senior is back!!!
2013 saw the launch of ‘Quest 13’, the first in a series of challenges to be completed by a team of staff from Leeds Rugby Foundation (LRF), led by Leeds Rhinos legend and LRF’s Keith Senior.
This year a five strong team, led by Senior, will take on ‘Quest 14’ a gruelling 8-day challenge which will see them cycling from Perpignan in the South of France, all the way through to Leeds starting on 22nd June, 2014. To link into the Tour de France launch, the team will cycle the Leeds – Harrogate route on the final day of the challenge, covering 134 miles and finishing at the world famous Headingley Carnegie Stadium in time to deliver the match ball prior to Leeds Rhinos vs Catalan Dragons Super League Encounter on Sunday 29th June (meaning a 4am departure!).
The challenge, which follows Senior’s 4 marathons in the 4 weeks of April, will take in over 1,000 miles and the team will have 8 days to complete it! To see just how hard they will have to work, check out the scheduled biking itinerary below….
Itinerary
Day 1 22nd June Perpignan – Gaillac 136 miles
Day 2 23rd June Gaillac – Perigueux 130 miles
Day 3 24th June Perigeux – Poitiers 117 miles
Day 4 25th June Poitiers – Le Mans 115 miles
Day 5 26th June Le Mans – Caen (overnight ferry) 100 miles
Day 6 27th June Portsmouth – Leamington Spa 134 miles
Day 7 28th June Leamington Spa – Headingley 144 miles
Day 8 29th June Grand Depart Stage 1 + Harrogate – Headingley 134 miles
Total 1,010 miles
“I am back with yet another challenge! Quest 14! I may not be able to pull on the famous Leeds Rhinos jersey so instead I am pulling on the Leeds Rugby Foundation one yet again for this unique and gruelling challenge,” he said.
“My knees have never been in the best of shape, hence the reason I have decided to sit on a bike for 8 days!! In all seriousness, this year’s Quest challenge, which follows on from the success of last years, is set to be the best yet. The challenge of cycling over 1000 miles, from the South of France all the way back to Leeds, in time for the Leeds Rhinos vs Catalan Dragons game in late June, will certainly be up there with one of the toughest things I have done in my career to date,” he continued.
"All those years of having played for Leeds Rhinos, all those years of pushing my body to the limit should come to fruition with this challenge. Hopefully my Leeds Rugby Foundation teammates can fight the battle with me and we can ride back victorious into Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Sunday 29th June.”
A percentage of the raised funds from this unique event will be donated to three other life changing charities; Marie Curie, The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust and Joining Jack. As well as giving something back to other charities, Leeds Rugby Foundation will benefit greatly from these funds as they continue to ‘Change lives through Sport’.
Stay tuned to www.leedsrugbyfoundation.org website over the coming weeks for continual updates on Senior’s exciting new challenge.