Adventurer Richard Parks completes his 737 challenge

Iron man adventurer Richard Parks has climbed in to the record books by completing the final leg of his remarkable 737 Challenge.

The courageous former Wales rugby international reached the summit of Mount Elbrus in Russia at 8.53am British time Tuesday 12^th July – meaning he has conquered the highest peaks on all seven continents and trekked to both the North and South Poles in just seven months.

The brave 33-year-old – who hopes to raise £1m for Marie Curie through his exploits – almost saw his adventure ended when he suffered frostbite in his right big toe on Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain.

But the former Pontypridd, Leeds, Perpignan and Newport Gwent Dragons flanker refused to give up on his extraordinary feat, which began on December 10, and went on to summit Denali in the United States and then Elbrus, the highest mountain in the Russian caucasus.

Parks, who was forced to retire from rugby two years ago following a shoulder injury, also reached the North and South Poles and scaled Mount Vinson, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Carstensz Pyramid and Mount Everest.

Parks has become the first person to stand on all the continental summits and all three poles in a calendar year. Although he started his challenge last December, it is measured from his leaving the South Pole on January 1.