The JB Challenge Cup

So as if living and working in a township is not going to be hard enough Ellie Kirby has signed up to participate in the Jeremy Barker (JB) Challenge Cup. Sources say that the young lady was not in an entirely sound state of mind when she struck a deal with the veteran African traveller. Having completed the gruelling challenge of studying and taking her LPC exams Kirby was feeling "on top of the world" and "up for anything". Sources close to the student tell us that in the cold light of day Kirby now feels she may have bitten off more than she can chew, or more to the point, more than can chew her.

The JB Challenge Cup involves 3 quite daring feats:

1) Shark cage diving - This speaks for itself as the challengee must go face to face with one of the world's most dangerous predators.

2) Spotting a leopard - This is a feat that even the daring challenger himself has yet to complete. Kirby will spend 3 weeks on a game reserve, half the time JB spent, so her chances of success are somewhat slimmer. However, sources in South Africa concur that leopards do frequent her camp, straddling the Limpopo river, late at night in the South African summer and have been known to hang around the toilet huts. Kirby better watch out for fear she parks her pert booty on another of the deadliest creatures the world has to offer. The JB rules are silent on how she will prove she has spotted the spotty one...she is hoping that eye witness accounts will suffice the great JB less poor Kirby will have to sellotape her camera to her wrist every time she needs a trip to the ladies.

3) Bungee jumping from the world's second highest point - unfortunately Kirby was so out of her own mind that she cannot actually recall where she has agreed to take the plunge from...however she has been reassured that in Dorothy-esque fashion if she says the word Bungee 3 times in South Africa someone will take her to its location anyway. Kirby is thinking of chickening out of this one and a friend close to the student said she may attempt a skydive instead. This is because until she was 15 and taken on a school "let's take these city kids to the country and show then mud and cows" trip to the Brecon Beacon National Park she had a terrible phobia of heights. Kirby has no problem with abseiling and has plans to abseil down Table Mountain or do a sky dive over the bay, which is quite horrifically frightening enough for her. She is currently hoping to plead disability as if she bungee jumps her glasses will fall off and she will have to fly back to Blighty to get a new pair. JB was unavailable to comment on whether he would relax the rules...

This writer says good luck to the lass - let's face it, this may be the only sporting trophy England wins this year!