THE ultimate individual challenge must be the Iron Man competition - a test of strength, stamina and endurance beyond most of us but for two local men it is what they thrive on.

Simon Ward, 34, a fitness consultant, of Rawdon, and Steve Kelley, 39, gym manager at Dragons Health Club in Yeadon, competed in the British Iron Man competition in Wolverhampton on August 16.

Iron Man is the ultimate challenge and for the British event it was a two-and-a-quarter mile swim in a reservoir followed by a 112 mile cycle ride and a full 26.2 mile marathon.

"It is a matter of seeing how far you can push yourself," said Simon.

At the British Iron Man Simon knocked 23 minutes off his personal best time and Steve knocked 20 minutes off his.

Reservoir

Simon said: "The swim was really nice, three laps of a reservoir and the water was really warm.

"The weather also held off for the bike ride, which was on an undulating course around Shropshire and the West Midlands and the run was on a relatively flat former railway track.

"But, you still have to do the running after all that swimming and cycling," he added.

Simon finished in 10 hours 18 minutes, Steve finished in 10 hours 25 minutes.

He added: "There is a personal sense of acheivement, it is a test of mind over matter.

"Although we have achieved the distance each race has its own challenges."

Simon and Steve have also recently competed in an Iron Man in Lanzarote with Steve finishing in 11 hrs 45 mins and Simon in 12 hrs 28 mins.

Lanzarote

He said: "We were pleased with our times as Lanzarote is regarded as the hardest Iron Man on the circuit with the wind, hills and heat."

Both men started out testing themselves in triathlons.

Simon has competed over the last 11 years and Steve for the last eight.

Simon is a triathlon coach and runs his own club - S4 Multi Sport - coaching people at distance, working from his home. I coach people from all around the country by fax.

"I send them a programme every few weeks and at the moment I am coaching about 12 athletes.

"I try to follow my maxim for my athletes that it is the quality of your training that counts not the qauntity. You need 15 hours a week at least."

Simon has competed at Iron Man events in Canada twice and in Lanzarote.

Steve has international Iron Man experience in Germany, Canada and Lanzarote.

The two have been grateful for sponsorship from Jack Maitland, manager of the Up and Running Shop in Far Headingley, which has provided all their running gear.

"We would like to thank him for his support during our training and competitions," said Simon.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.