THE players and staff of Widnes Vikings were put through their paces in the South Lakes during a two-day training camp.

The wild fitness challenge saw the Super League side endure journeys across freezing waters, over some of the Lakes' highest mountains, through caves, down 650ft drops, plunges into ice water, a night of wild camping, lorry pulls, and lots of log-carrying and tractor tyre flipping.

The squad also volunteered to help out the National Trust at its Great Langdale Valley sites, where they cleared dense shrubs, carried fence polls and wire hundreds of feet up to ensure sheep stay in a safe area, and filled a 20-ton truck with 80 100kg bags of sheep fleeces.

“It did exactly what we expected,” said Widnes head coach Denis Betts. “The players were pushed physically and mentally to new limits and as a group they supported each other in very challenging times.

“Also, by stripping the players back to the basics helping the local farmers, I feel the players learnt a lot about what opportunities they have at their feet and I hope they use that realization and motivation to push on and maximize their potential.”

The camp was organised by WAKTU, a company which runs bespoke pre-season camps in the Lake District designed to push players physically and mentally to their limits through extreme outdoor challenges.

The WAKTU team is made up of ex-Special Forces members, professional athletes, world record holders and climbers who have taken on Mount Everest.

“Widnes fully embraced the day and its challenges with their heart and soul,” said WAKTU performance director Tom Rothwell.

“They found mental strength they didn’t know existed and showed that there truly is strength in numbers – sport is a mental challenge as well as a physical one and keeping focused is the key to success.

“The wild fitness challenges pushed them completely out of their comfort zones, but it was fantastic to see how they all pulled together to get through it. The mental strength they’ve found will strengthen their character, form team unity and unlock a winning mindset for the next season.”