Interview - Gill is Tough Enough for the SAS!
Rob / 23.03.2003
After 16 gruelling days of mental and physical pressure the chief instructor, Eddie Stone, wandered up and down the line of 4 before finally shaking Gill’s hand. The cameras played on Gill’s astonished, delighted and tearful reaction, but tactfully not on the response of the disappointed 3. All had done amazingly well, but in the end it was Gill’s strength and above all her spirit and positive attitude that won the day.
SleepMonsters.com asked her a few questions about how she came to be ‘Tough Enough’! (If you read anything in the national papers it’s second hand news!)
Why did you do it?
I missed applying for the first series, so jumped at it the second time around. Funny thing was I had no idea it was abroad.
I’m always competitive, and tried for ‘Gladiators’ five times, but though I always did well, I never got in. (I think they were worried I’d show the Gladiators up!) So I was up for it and thought I’d have a bloody good chance, but wouldn’t say I went in intending to win, as you never know what they are going to throw at you.
At the trials how did you think you compared to the other hopefuls?
It was obvious many of them had never been on a mountain before for a start. They sent us up and down Pen-y-Fan twice with big sand filled sacks on. I reckon they weighed 50lbs, but Eddie saw mine and thought it was too light so he put more in. It didn’t sit like a normal sack, it hung heavily and was very sore.
He wouldn’t let me wear my XA Pro’s either, said they were not supportive enough, and the boots I wore gave me terrible blisters in no time, worst I’ve ever had.
Some people could hardly lift the pack and the group I was with was well ahead. A few couldn’t navigate either, they were sent over the hill and back the same way, but got lost on the way back on a clear day! I did OK despite going to the Derby Beer Festival the night before!
SleepMonsters
