HUNDREDS of soldiers took part in a dawn to dusk relay race around North Yorkshire last week.

Starting from Imphal Barracks in Fulford, 31 teams from across the UK took part in the 280km Race The Sun event, which involved swimming, kayaking, cycling, running and marching over 15 relay legs.

The physically demanding event tests soldiers’ physical stamina, teamwork, courage and determination, with volunteers from York Rescue Boat also assisting as the teams paddled the River Ouse to the outskirts of York, before they ran up Sutton Bank, route marched across Rievaulx Moor with a 15kg rucksack and completed a half marathon road run.

Other legs included an orienteering event in Dalby Forest, a 50km Sportive cycle event, an open water swim at Allerthorpe and a duathlon, and the day finished with six competitors from each team running a three-kilometre race around Imphal Barracks carrying a stretcher with a 40 Kg load.

Sergeant Oli Lloyd, a reservist with 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment based in York, cycled Sutton Bank - just days after the Tour de Yorkshire peloton.

Sgt Lloyd said: "It is a hard leg. Sutton Bank is 300 metres of ascent over approximately three miles.

"They have lengthened the route this year and made it even harder, which is never a bad thing. It is a proud moment for me to represent the battalion and have a crack at the hill run."

This was the 28th Race The Sun event which is usually held annually, and hosted and organised by 2 Signal Regiment, based at Fulford.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Caroline Lewin said: "We have had over 600 competitors taking part in a whole host of activities and we have seen some exceptional performances both in the running and also on the bikes.

"It has been a brilliant day; the weather has been kind to us and there has been a great team spirit among all the teams that entered. A fantastic day all round."

Of the 14 major units that entered, Race the Sun 2018 was won by 11 Signal Regiment from Blandford in Dorset, the runner up was 30 Signal Regiment from Nuneaton in Warwickshire and third place went to 2 Signal Regiment in York, North Yorkshire.

Of the 16 minor units that entered this year’s event, 216 Parachute Signal Squadron from Colchester, Essex won, second place went to 15 Signal Regiment from Blandford, Dorset and in third place was the Army Foundation College based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.