MISSION ACCOMPLISHED  FOR SPORTS LEGENDS AS THEY COMPLETE GRUELLING ALPS CHARITY CHALLENGE  

Former Ireland rugby internationals Paddy Johns and Denis McBride rolled back the years along with Olympic hockey medallists Jimmy Kirkwood and Billy McConnell as well as  former Ireland striker Kenny Morris as they conquered the Alps. They were joined by rugby and former hockey writer Jim Stokes and five others in attacking the cols to finish the gruelling l'Etape du Tour - a stage of this year's Tour de France.

The annual event is one of the most energy-sapping  one-day challenges in the world. That is,  competing in, and finishing, an actual mountain stage of the Tour de France which is celebrating its centenary in July.

This year it is the penultimate 20th stage on July 20 which was set by the organisers. It started in the beautiful town of Annecy, and the group gingerly negotiated the twisting mountaineous route hitting six peaks before pumping up to the final summit of Montée du Semnoz. At an 8.4 per cent average gradent for 10k, it was not a picnic, particularly cycling for 128K in searing heat.

There were casualities galore amongst the 12,000 field as the steep hills took their toll with riders having to dismount to grab their breath. There were also a number of accidents with riders misjudging some very quick descents and corners. 

Former Ireland, Ulster and Malone flanker Denis McBride, completed the 2011 and 2012 events with plenty to spare, was first home followed by former Ireland, Ulster, Dungannon and  Saracens captain and now Dungannon head coach Paddy Johns, who proved that he is as combative now on a bike as he was when playing.

Also chugging up the mountains successfully were  hockey's Billy McConnell, Jimmy Kirkwood and Kenny Morris, a quick-footed and dangerous in his days in green. Billy, of course, was a bronze medal winner with the GB team at the Los Angeles Olympics while Jimmy was one of the golden boys of that famous GB team from Seoul '88. Captain of that team Richard Dodd also completed the event. 

Sports journalist and re-generated fitness instructor Jim Stokes, who completed the 2011 event with a finish on l’Alpe d’Heuz did the business again. Also competing in the difficult challenge were Robert Carson, the man from the AA; Immunology consultant David Edgar; Trauma and Orthopaedic surgeon Michael Stokes,BBC Northern Ireland  reporter Francis Gorman and retired pension consultant Peter Turkington. It was a successful trip all round.

The Charlie Beverland Foundation was set up in memory of well-known Ulster sports  personality and  All-Ireland League rugby referee. Charlie was also a highly regarded businessman in Northern Ireland. He passed away in May 2009 after a stubborn battle with liver cancer. Charlie had a great affinity with sports and was a fine player in his day with the now defunct North of Ireland Club both in cricket and rugby. 

He was a sponsor of Ulster Rugby when chief executive of the family-run La Mon Hotel, a venue with a five-star Country Club that still facilitates players today. The Foundation offers financial support to the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast Liver Group.