TruckPull challengers haul in a small fortune
 Alongside the three-stage strongman contest, amateur teams competed in an adults, grannies and kiddies truck-pulls. Sixteen teams took part in the challenge with Gist Logistics (haulage contractors for Marks & Spencer) victorious not only in the event itself, but in raising a splendid £1740 in sponsorship.
Ian said, “Since the first TruckPull in 2001 we’ve donated more than £25,000 to The Sunday Post CHAS Appeal. Plans are well advanced for TruckPull 2004 where we plan to raise even more for this worthwhile cause.”
Even before the TruckPull got off the ground, the Ritchies had been working on CHAS’s behalf. They’d donated £9000 when Rachel House was first opened — taking their overall contribution to a remarkable £34,000.
There were six strongmen competing this year — Jamie Barr, Brian Bell, Forbes Cowan, the Evans brothers (Stephen and Stuart) and Louis McLean.
Ian said, “They generously give up their time and happily support us.”
Forbes Cowan won all the three stages of the competition — the truck-pull (an artic lorry weighing 17.5 tonnes), the car lift and the Highland stone lift.
Fantastic
Roslyn Neely from CHAS said, “It’s always such a fantastic event where so much awareness is raised.
“Portpatrick is a long way from the hospice and we can’t speak enough about our appreciation.”
Ian’s wife, and member of the granny team, Rosie, said, “There was a carnival atmosphere that started on the Friday night lasting through to Monday morning.”
There was a children’s competition to pull a small four-tonne truck supplied by businessman Andrew Carrington.
Carrington’s World of Furniture has supported the TruckPull Challenge each year, supplying a leather recliner to be auctioned to raise money for the cause.
The numbers who turned up for the event caused some problems.
Ian said, “Around 1100 cars were sent back out of the town because we ran out of space, so next year we’re thinking about having a park and ride scheme.
“We’re always trying to find something new to stop the event from turning stale.”
Next year they plan to attempt a Guinness World Record with one of the strong men pulling a 25-tonne lorry across the 100 ft mark.
Ian says, “When we say it’s for CHAS everyone gets right behind us.”
With four teams already booked for next year’s TruckPull, including the local Line
Dancing group, plans are well under way for 2004.
The event will be held on April 10 and teams are encouraged to enter now. Contact Iain Ritchie on 01776 810 604.
The Ritchies have come up with another ingenious idea to help raise even more money for our appeal this Christmas.
If you’re shopping online visit
http://www.buy.at/portpatricktruckpull
before being directed to websites for various shops including Marks & Spencer, Comet, amazon.co.uk and mfi.
Retailers will give a percentage of all sales to TruckPull. |
You can e-mail us at:
hospice@sundaypost.com
|
Left to right —Tommy Fowles, Rosie Ritchie, Andrew Carrington, Debbie Traynor (CHAS), Iain Ritchie, Ian Ritchie (Dad), Roslyn Neely (CHAS), Tony Ross and Fiona Wilson.
