More than ever we need the RNLI’s help. As a charity, the RNLI depends on our donations so it can go on saving lives and keeping us and our loved ones safe. RNLI lifesavers are our lifeline. They’re the lifeboat crews who provide 24-hour search and rescue right around the UK and Ireland. The lifeguards keeping watch on 240 of the busiest beaches in the UK and Channel Islands. And the RNLI safety teams and educators working tirelessly to stop people getting into trouble in the first place.Thank you.

Chris Shaw and Richard Webster share a lifetime love of outdoors endurance sport - yet it was only when doing some volunteer RNLI and Mental Health community work together that we got talking and appreciated our love of coastal endurance events. There were other coincidences too - both in our mid 50’s, both born on 12 July, both selected Merseyside Olympic torch bearers for our promotion of exercise in improving the mental health of our communities.We were both ultra marathon runners and swimmers - and we both harboured an ambition to plan an endurance event where friends with a similar love of the local outdoors, would choose to accept the significant risks and choose to support each other to cross the Dee estuary and then carry on deep into North Wales in a run, swim, cycle that would roughly be similar to an Ironman event, but where we would be free to be non-corporate, non profit and solely under our own steam as mates! Because we were mostly folks of a certain age with creaky knees and aching limbs we’d call it RUSTMAN rather than Ironman and attempt to raise some funds for local charities in the process.

After last years successful sortie to Holyhead the Rustmen are back, maybe not fitter, but certainly older, wiser, socially distanced and raring to go on another adventure that will test our collective endurance and team spirit over some of the most testing natural obstacles our local environment can throw at us! We had originally intended to revisit last years epic journey but given the unprecedented situation this year and the restrictions in place we have opted for a more local but no less demanding endeavour.

The provisional plan is an early 5.30am start from West Kirby - Biking under the water to Crosby and then once more taking on the mighty Mersey, dodging the shipping on a  2 mile estuary swim under the watchful eyes of the Crosby Iron Men. Landing at New Brighton we will  then run 16kms back along the Wirral Coast to West Kirby before jumping back on our bikes and tackling the the Cheshire plains over an 80 mile ride terminating back at West Kirby. The culmination of this challenge will require our tired bodies to face a gruelling swim run around Hilbre Islands crossing the Channels toward Talacre in the company of seals no doubt, hopefully returning in time for some well earned refreshment and some more unforgettable memories!

This years Team:

Chris Shaw

Rich Webster

Ian Reid

Colin Rivett

Liam Hanlon

Martin Pritchard-Howarth

Dave Walton

Steve McHugh

Barry Shillinglaw

Simon Ward

Phil Dabner

Tom Fielding

Stu Barnard

Joe McGrath

Sean Boyle

Danny Hoare

Chris Davies

Eugene Riley

SUPPORT CREW

Nick Holt

Mike Warburton

Ben Fielding

Mark Humphreys 

Big Matty

Graham Bell

Mike Inger