Forces Athletes Get Season Up & Running In Germany

Cross country athletes in British Forces Germany have hit the ground running with the start of the new season.

Open to both the civilian and serving community there, the first race was held at Athlone Barracks, Sennelager, the home of the Queen's Royal Hussars.

Runners set off together around the 5km route, with men doing the loop twice.

It was the first of four league races this season, with regimental pride very much at stake.

Captain Martin Proctor, a runner representing 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade Headquarters, took the men's race. He said:

"I've been training for marathon distance, so a lot slower than that. It was a bit of a shock to speed up for a 10k, but it seemed to work out alright in the end!"

The race saw the 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (1PWRR), also known as the Tigers, represented well in both the male and female competitions.

Lance Corporal Claudia Pratt started her season with a win, followed closely by team-mate Private Alex Goodman, who was recently involved in 1PWRR's first ever ladies' boxing match as part of International Women's Day.

The next league race will take place in Herford, where both race winners will hope to hold onto their top spots.

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