SURE-FOOTED soldier Howard Winder joined hundreds of colleagues on a gruelling trek across the toughest peaks in Wales.

And Howard, 27, from Accrington, managed to finish ahead of most of the field in the 31-kilometre 1000 Peaks Race.

Corporal Winder has been in the army for ten years and serves with the Aldershot-based 23 Parachute Field Ambulance.

It was the first time he had competed in the event and the it proved every bit as challenging as he expected.

"It was tough going but rewarding nevertheless," he said.

"Visibility was good and the weather was generally kind to us."

Soldiers from across the country gathered in Snowdonia to compete in the race, which is acknowledged as one of the toughest in the fell-racing calendar.

Eighty army teams, each comprising four soldiers in peak fitness, were ready for the starter's pistol at Aber on the North Wales coast.

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