A local cyclist is preparing to take on the challenge of scaling Mount Everest in one continuous virtual ride next month.
28-year-old Knutsford-based cycling enthusiast Rick Price will use online training program Zwift – which enables users to interact, train and compete in a virtual world – to tackle a single activity hill climb where he will endure 8,848km (around 8.5 climbs of the Alpe du Zwift) and the equivalent height of Mount Everest on a stationary trainer.
Throughout the duration of the ride, the resistance of the stationary trainer bike will also increase and decrease to simulate the climb and descent of a hill.
This will give Rick what is known as a simulated “road ride” experience.
And not only will Rick be attempting this mammoth challenge that many of us could barely even begin to imagine in just one ride on one day, but he has also set his own personal challenge of completing it in under the 10 hour and 37 minute time.
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10 hours and 37 minutes was the time set by professional road racing cyclist Mark Cavendish – who is known as one of the all-time cycling greats, with 30 Tour De France stage wins under his belt.
But he’s set his sights high for a very good reason.
Through tackling the ride of his lifetime, Rick is raising funds for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), which is leading suicide prevention movement tackling the stereotypes of masculinity, suicide – known as the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK – and mental health to help save lives.
CALM also provides a free and anonymous helpline – 0800 58 58 58 – as well as a webchat service (5pm-12am daily), which is staffed by trained professionals.
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Rick has launched a JustGiving fundraiser ahead of the ride, which will take place on Sunday 21st March.
Speaking on his reasons for choosing to support CALM through this challenge, Rick said: “I chose to ride in support of CALM as I have had my own struggles in the past and continue to manage them,
“Cycling has really helped improve my wellbeing in every aspect of life.
He continued: “Too many young men lose their lives, as they think they have run out of options or chances in life [and] it’s understandable, life is daunting, more than this ride could ever be [but] CALM works towards making sure people always know there is hope.
“If any money raised can go towards preventing more unnecessary deaths, the tragedy it brings with it, and helping improve the conversation around mental health, then it’s been a success.”
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To donate to Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) to help Rick reach his £2,000 target, and to find out more about his Mount Everest challenge, head to his JustGiving page here.
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Tommy Fury vs Darren Till press conference descends into foul-mouthed chaos
Danny Jones
The first press conference ahead of Tommy Fury vs Darren Till was held on Tuesday evening and it didn’t take long for the whole thing to descend into absolute bedlam.
Having only been confirmed on Sunday, Fury vs Till will be a homecoming bout for the Wythenshawe-born fighter who is set to headline the first-ever boxing match at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena.
With the date set for 18 January, the pre-fight build-up and media frenzy are growing fast and things have already come to ahead in just the first meeting between the two fighters in London this week.
Clearly sharing plenty of bad blood already, while Tommy and Till were engaging in the usual fighting talk, the family patriarch, John Fury, decided to interject and it was at this point that things boiled over.
‼️ Tommy Fury vs Darren Till press conference descends into chaos as Till tells John Fury: "Shut up, you haven't been seen since Oleksandr Usyk battered Tyson."
As you can see, amidst the various insults being thrown around regarding intelligence, boxing ability, Tommy’s older brother Tyson being “battered by [Oleksandr] Usyk”, ‘Big John’ then launches a bottle of water across the table at Till, sparking a hot-tempered on-stage skirmish.
The lengthy exchange features as many expletives as you could imagine, with 31-year-old Darren Till also threatening that he will “bladder” both Tommy and his more established heavyweight sibling Tyson, labelling the entire Fury family “shithouses” as they walk out of the London press conference.
A mixed martial artist by trade who has competed at both welterweight and middleweight in the UFC, Till assured that even if the boxing match isn’t going his way on the night, he will kick [him] square in [the] face”, adding that he’s a “proper fighter” and that Tommy, on the other hand, has no power.
YouTube turned musician and occasional boxer, KSI – the founder of the Misfits promotion who is putting on the event and who Fury beat back in October last year – can also be heard whooping from centre stage and shouting, “Get your tickets!”
Even after the mini-brawl is separated, the foul-mouthed back and forth continues for some time. You can see another angle here:
Press conference aftermath 🤯@darrentill2 was going IN on the Fury’s 😳
This isn’t the first time things have boiled over at a Fury press conference; in fact, it’s not even the first time John Fury, 59, has found himself in the very eye of the storm.
Meanwhile, the youngest Fury son is preparing first his first fight in over a year, having nearly joined this year’s I’m a Celeb lineup instead.
Tickets for the now highly-anticipated boxing match at Co-op Live, just the second combat sports event to have been held at the arena, are on sale now – you can grab yours HERE. It’s going to be a feisty one.
Festive Grinch-themed cafes to pop up inside Greater Manchester Primark stores
Emily Sergeant
Festive Grinch-themed cafes are popping up inside two of Primark’s biggest Greater Manchester stores in the run-up to Christmas.
As the temperatures turn colder by the day, the nights draw in, and the most wonderful time of the year nears closer and closer, it won’t be long before it’s time to snuggle up in our comfies and pop on the first Christmas film of the year – and for some of us, there’s a good chance that first film of choice will be The Grinch.
Whether you prefer the 2000 fantasy comedy starring Jim Carey, or the 2018 animated reboot with Benedict Cumberbatch, it’s undoubtedly a real family favourite.
To celebrate everyone’s favourite grumpy green grouch, Primark has teamed up with Dr. Seuss once again on a Grinch-tastic collaboration.
Festive Grinch-themed cafes have popped up inside Greater Manchester Primark stores / Credit: Supplied
Shoppers can now head to their nearest Primark store to find the largest-ever Grinch collection, with something for the whole family, as well as great gifting options said to be “ideal for getting into the anti-Christmas spirit”.
There’s Grinch pyjamas and slippers for both adults and kids, a Grinch ‘Onesie’ that’s sure to make people green with envy, Grinch drinks cups and mugs, a selection of loungewear and Christmas jumpers for festive dressing, and so much more, as well as whole host of Grinch-inspired outfits and toys for your four-legged friends too.
As part of Primark’s aim to offer affordable choices for everyone, prices for the Grinch collection start at just £1 for accessories, and go up to £24 for adult clothing.
If the return of the Grinch collection wasn’t exciting enough as it is, the all-new Grinch cafes – which are popping up in Primark on Market Street in Manchester city centre, as well as Primark in Trafford Palazzo – are bound to be hit with fans of the furry character.
There’s everything from green waffles and themed milkshakes, to festive toasties, hot drinks, and more on the menu.
With Greater Manchester Grinch cafes set to be open until the end of December, Sarah Jackson – who is the Director of Licensing at Primark, said: “We’re so excited to roll out our amazing cafe experience across a number of our UK locations, bringing a sprinkle of mischief to our customers this festive season.
“Whether you’re stopping in for a sweet treat or stocking up on pyjamas and gifts for the whole family, we have everything you need to make it a truly unforgettable Grinch-mas.”
Emily Sergeant -
17th February 2021 
