Family-run Hardy Services, based in the area for more than 35 years, was tasked with designing and building a replica mountain that will be used for the finale of the show which producers say is the ultimate test of strength, speed and courage.
Paul Hardy, managing director of the company based at Kestrel Court, said that while it is great to be working on a show, creating the structure in time proved a challenge. He said: “The obstacles become progressively more difficult, with only the best contestants getting through to the final challenge — to scale ‘Mount Midoriyama’. “It was a great order to land but we only had five working days to commission the design from structural engineers, order the materials and then build it in time for the filming at Manchester Central.”
Warren Birnie, Hardy’s scaffolding manager, led the work. He said: “It is massive — 23m tall, 21m long and 7.5m deep. “We had the plans from the other shows but we had to get design engineers here to redraw them to make sure everything complied with health and- safety rules in the UK. Then seven of us had to build it. “The heats involved 250 contestants and only the best made the final to have a go at the mountain. That is quite a challenge. It has not been climbed successfully in the USA and only four times in Japan.”
Mr Hardy said: “We are usually outside in all weathers, refurbishing historic buildings. It was great to prove we have the expertise to design and build something like this so quickly.” Ninja Warrior begins on ITV1 on Saturday (7pm).
