Manson delighted with players' efforts in Academy fundraising fitness challenge
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Manager Gary Manson has praised his Wick Academy players for the way they responded to the club's charity fitness challenge at the weekend.
The squad had three days to run, cycle and walk a combined distance of 1160km, corresponding to the number of pounds pledged on an online fundraising platform.
The Scorries completed the challenge with something to spare, ending up covering 1250km. The players' efforts over Friday, Saturday and Sunday included half-marathons, 5km and 10k runs, bike rides to John O'Groats and even walks on Stroma.
As a result the club and its chosen charity, Caithness Rural Transport, will benefit by more than £590 each.
"I was delighted with how well the boys did and how they got on board with the challenge,” Manson said. “It couldn't have gone any better.
“Some guys did two half-marathons but everybody put in a good shift.”
Manson's own choice of activities included a bike ride in the Loch More and Altnabreac area during Saturday's sunny weather.
“I didn't realise how rough the terrain was,” he admitted. “In total it was about 30km I did on the bike and I got a belter of a day for it.
“I did that cycle on Saturday. On Friday I did a 13km run and a walk, and then on Sunday I did another 14km run and a walk.”
Knowing the boys, they were probably competing against each other as well.
The manager explained that he had set a few ground rules for players.
“They had to do at least one activity every day. They were allowed one cycle, but no longer than 35km, and they had to do at least two runs of 5km or more.
“Anybody could just jump on a bike and it wouldn't take them long and much effort to do maybe 30 or 40km on the road, while running is a bit more applicable to football.
“I know what footballers are like – any short cut they can get, they'll take it!
“I was surprised at how much they bought into it. Some of the guys got up towards 90km per person, so I was delighted with them.
“I think they all enjoyed it as well – it gave them something to get their teeth into.
“Knowing the boys, they were probably competing against each other as well to see who could do the most over the weekend.”
Manson added: “Donations continued to come in over the weekend after the target had been set and the total finished at £1240.
“Once the GoFundMe transaction fees were deducted it resulted in a fantastic £593 each for Caithness Rural Transport and the club.
“In all the conversations I've had with Coreen Campbell from Caithness Rural Transport she has been delighted. They were more than happy with the total that was raised."
Club captain Alan Farquhar managed to walk eight miles on the east side of Stroma as part of a prearranged family trip to the island on Friday.
“It was good to spend time there with family,” he said. “It was lovely, and we went up to the Gloup [collapsed sea cave].”
Farquhar also did a couple of runs over the weekend as well as a 35km bike ride on Saturday with team-mates Ryan Campbell and Craig Gunn, taking in Watten, Haster and Thrumster.
Danny Mackay and Alan Hughes also made it over to Stroma on Saturday.
Meanwhile, defender Andrew Hardwick is returning to Academy after a spell away from Caithness through his job with the police.
The 27-year-old made 60 appearances and scored six goals during his first spell with the Scorries between 2016 and 2019.
Manson said: "It was only a temporary move for him down to the Inverness area, so it was always the plan for him to come back up here. He is signed back with the club now.
"He knows the club, we know him, we need defensive reinforcements and he was a free agent after a one-year deal at Strathspey which has run out now, so it was a no-brainer really."
