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Chief reporter goes commando

A Western Gazette journalist has helped to raise thousands of pounds for charity – by climbing around on her hands and knees caked in mud.

Chief reporter Zena O’Rourke joined more than 1,000 people who gave up their Sunday morning lie-in to take part in The Royal Marine Commando Challenge.

The gruelling seven-mile cross-country challenge on the Royal Marine training base at Woodbury Common near Exmouth saw Zena battling muddy tunnels, a 40-metre pool of water and running miles uphill as she teamed up her sister and brother-in-law – who served 22 years in the Royal Marines.

Zena said: “Following a warm-up and stretching session with a Royal Marine physical instructor teams were sent off at two-minute intervals and all too soon it was our turn.

“The initial two-mile run – mostly uphill – was daunting enough but before we had time to catch our breath it was head first into one of the numerous wet and muddy tunnels dotted around the course.

“I soon realised why they were referred to as knee-crunchers as the sharp pebbles dug into my flesh as I battled to scramble through the pitch blackness.

“Emerging back into the bright sunshine there was hardly time to blink before I was up to my neck in it – literally – wading across a 40m pool of water before scrambling up the muddy bank and chasing after my brother-in-law as he headed into the wilderness.”

But worse was to come, when Zena had to glide head first through a tunnel completely filled with water while helpers at the other end pulled her to safety.

Zena said: “I decided to go for it and taking a deep breath plunged into the water-filled tomb before welcome hands dragged me through and up to the surface.

“The advantage of completing the water tunnel was that I knew it was downhill all the way psychologically from this point.

“Unfortunately, my water-sodden jogging bottoms had the same idea and I spent the remainder of the course grappling to retain my dignity.”

After a further two mile run back to base, Zena reached the finish line, exhausted but elated.

She said: “We completed the course in about one hour and 20 minutes and were just pleased to get round in one piece and not too muddy.”

  • The event followed a shorter three-mile course the previous day, and organisers say they are hoping to have raised in excess of £35,000 from both challenges for local good causes.

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