DARING soldier Paul Tetlow is to put his physical and mental strength to the test - in a 3,100-mile rowing marathon across the Atlantic.

The 26-year-old captain is part of an Army team competing against 14 other boats in the first competition for a four-man row from New York to Cornwall.

Paul, of Clifton Moor, York, is busy training with other members of the crew based at Warminster in Wiltshire, prior to the start of the race in June.

He said: "We're doing lots of cardio-vascular training in the gym and we'll be testing our rowing strategy in Poole Harbour in April.

"Like any of the other teams, we're working in the day and training hard at night. We're concentrating on just getting across the Atlantic in the best way we can - and not worrying too much about the other boats."

Paul, who has previously served in Iraq and been stationed in Germany, Canada and at Catterick, as well as training soldiers in Malawi, heard about the competition through a friend.

"I haven't done lots of rowing, but I'm really into outdoor pursuits and adventure training and this seemed like an amazing challenge," he said. "So we decided to get an Army team together."

The team, called Yorkshire Warrior, has built its boat from a shell, and is setting up electrical power, satellite equipment and stocking up on high-calorie army rations to keep up their strength.

Paul, a former St Peter's School pupil, hopes he will be able to send the odd quick text to family and friends back home in York to keep them informed of his progress.

"At first my parents were a bit worried, but they're both sailors and soon understood what the challenge is about," he said. "We're as prepared as anyone could be, so now it's down to us. We'll be rowing in teams of two, possibly every couple of hours in the day, building up to every four hours or so at night."

The team of four and two support members all come from the Halifax-based Duke of Wellington's Regiment - which will soon be incorporated into the new Yorkshire Regiment - and will be led by Captain Mick Cataldo. They are looking at possible sponsorship offers from companies, including York solicitors Harrowell Shaftoe.

"We have enough sponsorship to know we can actually set off," said Paul. "But any more help means we can raise cash for the Army Benevolent Fund."

The commander for regional recruiting in the north-east, Lieutenant Colonel John May, whose recruitment group is the rowers' main sponsor, said: "The Yorkshire Warrior is a positive endeavour that will mark the formation of the Yorkshire Regiment with an historic achievement.

"It will help embrace what the future holds for the infantry regiments in Yorkshire while remembering the very best of the current regiment's history."

For more information and to sponsor the crew, visit www.yorkshirewarrior.co.uk

Updated: 10:35 Thursday, March 16, 2006