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Man mountain Lurch tackles 6 kilo kebab
SIR Edmund Hillary probably heard it said before he set off to conquer Mount Everest.
The same words were most likely uttered to Sir Roger Bannister as he took the first few steps on his attempt to break the four minute mile.
And as James Rastrick sat down in the Birley Hotel to attempt his own challenge of a lifetime you could hear the words ring out loud and clear.
"You will never make it lad," they said in unison.
But, just like Hillary and Bannister, James only went and did it - to the complete astonishment of hundreds of witnesses who packed into the Frecheville pub.
No man in history had ever managed to polish off Sheffield's biggest kebab - a family-sized Big T.
And when Manawar Hussain, who created it at the KPC Tandoori, delivered the monster - a five to six kilo pile of doner meat topped with fresh salad - it seemed no man ever would.
But wearing a T-shirt bearing his nickname, supplied by sponsors Ignition Gas Services, the man called Lurch set about his task with gusto.
Half an hour into the gut-busting challenge, his brow covered in sweat, jaw locked through vigorous chewing and with a mountain of meat still to devour, it looked as though 6ft 9in, 23-stone James had too much on his plate.
But the 28-year-old gas fitter, from Frecheville, was inspired by his colleagues from Kier who cheered every mouthful as he munched on manfully.
Leaving only the naan bread, James emerged victorious, raising a massive cheer and hundreds of pounds for various charities including Help the Heroes, the Children's Hospital and the Justice for Matt campaign.
The Star-backed campaign aims to bring to justice the bouncers who unlawfully killed 17-year-old Killamarsh lad Matthew Cryer on the Greek holiday isle of Zante.
Matt's dad Dave said: "I'd like to thank James for his incredible effort in seeing off so much meat even if he didn't manage the naan.
"And it was great to see so many people here today to support the challenge."
As James staggered to his feet and lurched outside for fresh air, compere Tony Cronshaw joked: "Lurch has left the building - he's just nipped across the road for a 12 inch pizza."
But nothing could be further from the truth.
The man who normally can't get enough of KPC's tasty kebabs, said: "That is the hardest thing I have ever done.
"I don't think I can ever face a kebab again - or anything else come to that."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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