Naval Service wins Liffey fitness challenge

The Naval Service was the fastest and the fittest at this year's Inter-Services Challenge at Aston Quay, Dublin, on Saturday.

Nine teams from the Air Corps, Army, Naval Service, Garda Siochana and Fire Service competed. The challenge involved a race against the clock, traversing the Liffey from Aston Quay to Bachelor's Walk harnessed to "Tyrolean Traverse" suspension wires and returning by inflatable dinghy.

Each team included seven members from the services and one resident of a Cheshire Home.

This year's winners were the Naval Service team, assisted by Mr Shane Farrell of the Cheshire Homes, which finished in a time of 18 minutes 54.59 seconds.

This is the second year of the event, which is used to promote awareness of adventure sports for disabled people and to raise funds for CAMP, the Cheshire Adventure Motivational Project. CAMP, now in its 13th year, is an annual adventure week for disabled people held in Army barracks around the State.

Participants aged 16 or over can try various activities such as abseiling, parascending, horse-riding, sailing and canoeing.

The aim, according to Air Corps Cpl John Brophy, CAMP co-ordinator and organiser of Saturday's event, is to focus on abilities rather than disabilities.

"The most important thing is that they get increased confidence in their lives. I think today's event shows that adventure is for everybody," he said.

Saturday's race was organised by the Air Corps in conjunction with the Cheshire Foundation in Ireland. More than £3,000 has been raised so far for CAMP and, said Cpl Brophy, £8,000 to £9,000 is expected in total.

A bank account named CAMP 92 has been opened in AIB, Clondalkin, and donations to the fund may be lodged through any branch of AIB.