Chorley soldier in arduous Alpine challenge (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Chorley soldier in arduous Alpine challenge

1:27pm Wednesday 8th July 2009 in

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A soldier from Chorley flew to Bavaria last weekend to compete in what the Army recognise as the most arduous orienteering endurance challenge there is.

It was the first time Sergeant Carl Haigh, 28 has competed in Exercise Alpine Challenge, a two day orienteering challenge that sees competitors race up mountain slopes to 2,000 metres, complete 10km bike rides and canoe across an Alpine lake all in the same day.

In total, depending on the teams orienteering skills, they run just shy of 100km in 20 hours over a two day period carrying all the food and extreme weather clothing they will need.

Indeed such are the testing conditions of the challenge, organisers have to limit the number of three-man teams to 30 to ensure safety, with a stringent selection process to make sure competitors are experienced, fit and capable.

Even with this in place, six competitors had to pull out from the challenge on day one due to minor injury, and only one team managed to reach every check point in the race.

Carl’s team, a mixed team of soldiers from 47 Regt, Royal Artillery, achieved 200 points out of a maximum of 240, coming third in the mixed team category, and eighth overall in a time of 17 hours, 56 minutes, and 21 seconds.

Carl grew up in Chorley and attended Westwood School in the town before joining the Army in 1999.

He is currently serving with his unit in Thorney Island, but his parents Ken and Jayne still live in Chorley.