Four super-fit York men face a daunting test of stamina in South Africa at the end of this month.

They are choosing to swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles and run 26.2 miles all as a continuous event in the ultimate triathlon.

This gruelling endeavour in the Iron Man Triathlon in and around Cape Town on March 31 will take them anywhere from 10 to 14 hours to complete.

The four York sportsmen taking part are Paul Mathieson, his older brother Peter, Graeme Smith, and John Booth, all members of White Rose Triathletes club.

The Cape Town competition is one of a series of triathlons on what is known as the Ironman circuit, and Peter Mathieson and John Booth are hoping to do well enough to qualify for the world championship final in Hawaii later in the year.

Paul Mathieson, who has done two previous Ironman events, and Graeme Smith, competing at this distance for the first time, are in the 35-39 years section.

Peter Mathieson, who has done five previous Ironman events, competes in the 45-49 section, and Booth, with one Ironman competition under his belt, in the 50-54 group.

They have spent the past four to five months training for this event, putting in mileages in all three disciplines, averaging about 15 to 20 hours of training a week each.

They are part of a group of 34 British athletes taking part in the South Africa event although all are competing as individuals.

White Rose Triathletes have forty members, a quarter of them women. The competitions usually attempted by members are of much shorter distances than the quartet going to Cape Town.

The club have recently gained some sponsorship for British Sugar (York), which has helped to provide new club clothing.

Members train regularly at Yearsley swimming pool, Stamford Bridge pool and York University sports centre, where coached sessions are led by the club's two British Triathlon Association coaches.

All interested in joining the club should contact Richard Wasling on York 791832.

Updated: 13:17 Thursday, March 22, 2001