Video: The home-built warped wall that got Cookstown's Ninja Warrior to the final

Cookstown coalman Gary Weir has credited his '˜Mick' with helping him to reach the final of TV's toughest obstacle course, Ninja Warrior UK.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Feb 2016, 13:03 BST
Updated 17th Feb 2016, 06:35 BST
Gary Weir practicing on the warped wall he built himselfGary Weir practicing on the warped wall he built himself
Gary Weir practicing on the warped wall he built himself

Gary and his brother-in-law Adrian Lagan built an obstacle course that included his nemesis - the warped wall - in a shed at Mr Lagan’s home.

Dubbed Mick after the trainer from Rocky, Gary has credited Adrian with helping him reach the final as he fell at the wall the last time.

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“I prepared with the help of Adrian Lagan,” Gary told the Mail. “We built our own replica of the warped wall in his shed, along with other obstacles.”

Gary Weir practicing on the warped wall he built himselfGary Weir practicing on the warped wall he built himself
Gary Weir practicing on the warped wall he built himself

Now, he is “quietly confident” that he can go the whole way.

Listed among the top eight finalists, Gary - whose real name is Gareth - stormed through the semi finals, finishing the course in well under four minutes.

Asked how he felt when it made it into the top 15, he said: “I felt ecstatic. Well, for about three seconds because then I realised I had to finished the rest of the course.

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“I found the semi final course really tough, mentally because of the wall, but the wind chimes were definitely the hardest part as they drained every part of my body.”

Known as Gary to friends, the budding Ninja said balance was very important. Here he is coming up to his favourite obstacle - the cargo netKnown as Gary to friends, the budding Ninja said balance was very important. Here he is coming up to his favourite obstacle - the cargo net
Known as Gary to friends, the budding Ninja said balance was very important. Here he is coming up to his favourite obstacle - the cargo net

To get this far Gary said he has had to put in lots of training and believe he could do it because “no matter how tough you think it could possibly be, it’s going to be tougher”.

And as for the final, he said: “I’m quietly confident, but I know anything can go wrong. If you look at some of the competitors that have fallen in the heats or semis, they’re really fit and fast.

“It shows you that anything can go wrong. But I’m confident, because I believe I can do it. I just need everything to fall into place on the day.”

Catch Gary in the final on ITV this Saturday at 7pm.

Related topics:ITV