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Richard Parks reaches Mount Everest summit | Richard Parks reaches Mount Everest summit |
(40 minutes later) | |
Ex-Wales rugby international Richard Parks has conquered Everest as part of his challenge to climb the world's seven highest peaks and both Poles. | Ex-Wales rugby international Richard Parks has conquered Everest as part of his challenge to climb the world's seven highest peaks and both Poles. |
Parks, 33, has now scaled five of the highest summits and the poles as part of his record-breaking quest. | Parks, 33, has now scaled five of the highest summits and the poles as part of his record-breaking quest. |
His climbing partner, double Olympic gold medallist rower Steve Williams, has also reached the summit, Parks's 737 Challenge website says. | His climbing partner, double Olympic gold medallist rower Steve Williams, has also reached the summit, Parks's 737 Challenge website says. |
Parks also aims to raise £1m for a cancer charity. | Parks also aims to raise £1m for a cancer charity. |
Parks, the former Newport Gwent Dragons player, and Williams, had to abandon their first attempt at the final climb to the summit of Everest because of high winds. | Parks, the former Newport Gwent Dragons player, and Williams, had to abandon their first attempt at the final climb to the summit of Everest because of high winds. |
Speaking from the summit, Parks said: "It's hard to really put this in to words, it's just the most amazing feeling. | Speaking from the summit, Parks said: "It's hard to really put this in to words, it's just the most amazing feeling. |
"There's just the most amazing mountains, clouds as far as the eye can see, one way's Nepal, the other Tibet. So many times I didn't think I was going to make it. | "There's just the most amazing mountains, clouds as far as the eye can see, one way's Nepal, the other Tibet. So many times I didn't think I was going to make it. |
"You know, we have been blessed, we sat yesterday in really high winds in camp four, our tents absolutely rattling, I was really worried that we might not get the shot, we might not get the opportunity. | "You know, we have been blessed, we sat yesterday in really high winds in camp four, our tents absolutely rattling, I was really worried that we might not get the shot, we might not get the opportunity. |
"Our Sherpas Sirdar and Mingma have been absolutely amazing and we just held our nerve. It's brutally cold, the winds are pretty low and there is not a cloud in the sky on the summit. It is just amazing." | "Our Sherpas Sirdar and Mingma have been absolutely amazing and we just held our nerve. It's brutally cold, the winds are pretty low and there is not a cloud in the sky on the summit. It is just amazing." |
He described the support he had received for the challenge, which is in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care, as "amazing". | He described the support he had received for the challenge, which is in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care, as "amazing". |
Parks started his challenge last December and has set himself seven months to complete it. | |
A shoulder injury forced his retirement from professional rugby in May 2009. | |
During his career he earned four Welsh caps at flanker, and played for a number of clubs including Newport Gwent Dragons, Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors, Leeds and Perpignan. |