With the tag line: Run, wade and crawl - eight-mile off road challenge - Have you got what it takes?' The Grim Challenge is an eight-mile cross country race which takes place in Aldershot on the land the Army use to perform their tank training and testing. The land was also used to film the hovercraft chase scene in the James Bond film Die Another Day. The main feature of the Grim is that competitors are guaranteed to get very wet indeed. The course contains a lot of water, ranging from large puddles, through knee high streams to large ponds where the runners have to wade through water up to chest height.

Ian Lochray managed a spectacular 1hr 03 (about 7mins 30 per mile), Paul Garland wasn't far behind, and Peter Haig squelched home in 1hr 18.

All three of the Harriers completed the course in respectable times.

Peter was particularly proud of his finishing sprint through the middle of the final pond. Although several spectators were not quite so enthusiastic about the subsequent soaking they received.

Despite the Grim conditions they all had an excellent time and have vowed to tackle the course again next year, hopefully dragging a few more club members along for the ride.

Anyone interested in joining the Halterworth Harriers please see their website for details: www.halterworthharriers. org.uk.