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Forced to the summitFrom Nick Taylor in Cape Town
February 09, 2007 11:00am
WESTERN Force strength and conditioning coach Haydn Masters found a unique way of conquering his fear of heights - running up Cape Town's 1085m high Table Mountain.
And in the process he beat Force players Matt Hodgson, Digby Ioane and AJ Whalley and , academy members Garth Ziegler and Ryan Tyrrell.
The challenge was thrown down three years ago when members of the NSW Waratahs ran to the top - and the Force boys made their times look like they had been out for a pleasant Sunday stroll.
They ran, scrambled and crawled to the top on the zig-zag path that runs up and around the mountain for about 2km.
"It was a life experience,'' Masters said after reaching the top on Thursday afternoon.
"I've never done anything like that before and it's going to be a few years before I do it again.
"Mate, I'm scared of heights!
"There was anxiety going up, I did it, but it was a matter of willpower at the end.
"It started as a run but it didn't last and it became a dead set hard slog.
"It was a rock path that was six inches deep in stones at times.
"It was hard yakka. You were on your hands and knees pulling on rocks.
"It was like climbing a ladder."
For the record, Masters got to the top in 39 minutes 55 seconds, 20 seconds ahead of Hodgson.
The Tahs only managed times in the mid-40s.
So how did Masters beat the very players he conditions?
"I'm 20 kilos lighter than those guys and they are not training for continually running.
"There's a lot of stop-start in a game of rugby whereas I'll get on a treadmill or a bike and go for 20 or 30 minutes.''
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CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!!
Good work boys, looking pretty fit in the photo...
Proudly bought to you by a brewery somewhere....
whoa! frighteningly fit... they're huge!
I made Happy sad...
That's f'n it, AJ's officially out of the Front Rowers Union!!!!
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Makes us all look bad, agreed burgs...
Proudly bought to you by a brewery somewhere....
A special allowance for Ryan Tyrrell as he is trying to get in the Squad but he should consider it an official warning too...
Interesting the Hodgson beat Ioane though. Speed v power I guess?
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Fair enough too.Originally Posted by Burgs
the punters friend..... stick with me and you will be wearing
Did they practice passing and basic backline moves on the way up?![]()
Sage - those sorts of comments are only permitted if you are photographed wearing atop during the Waratahs v Force match!!!!
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CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!!
I haven't seen Jess's name on the tour list? Is she coming over? If not, are you going to come out to play with the big boys or are you going to stay at home with the powder-blue squad?!
CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!!
Actually if you guys can score her a ticket for the game I think she'll be happy with that. She's coming over but I'll be sitting with some pretty hardcore tahs folk.. Pretty sure she'd want to be with her own people.
Sage - let TiF know of an additional ticket requirement as he's arranging all the match tickets.
CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!!
No prob at all, cheers for that mate.
You guys know what pub you'll be at pre-game?
he doesn't want to sit with me it seems
My royal blue jersey embarrasses him...
I made Happy sad...