NOT knowing how to ski did not deter a North-East soldier from volunteering to be vice-captain of his regiment's Nordic skiing team.

And the determination and dedication shown by Corporal Frank Kenyon, of Redcar, east Cleveland, won the 28-year-old former Sacred Heart School pupil an award.

Cpl Kenyon was presented with The Green Howards Calvert Memorial Trophy, presented to a soldier who has made an outstanding contribution to the 1st Battalion, The Green Howards.

When Cpl Kenyon was chosen for the skiing team, the regiment was stationed in Northern Ireland. Undeterred by lack of snow, he found time to hone his skills on skis mounted on roller-blades. He was then given training in Norway with the rest of his team before entering the British Army's Infantry Championships.

The team did not win, but Cpl Kenyon was nominated for the Best Endeavour Award and winning his regiment's Calvert Memorial Trophy was in recognition of his efforts.

* Cpl Kenyon is part of a recruiting team visiting Redcar and Middlesbrough during the next few days.

Ex-soldier shows his mettle

A FORMER soldier has completed a six-day 150-mile run across the Sahara Desert.

John Bull raised £1,000 to support Hearing Dogs for the Deaf charity.

The 58-year-old, who served for 28 years in the Queen's Lancashire Regiment and now runs an outdoor pursuits shop at Catterick, endured blisters and searing heat to finish the run. He came 476th from 698 competitors.

His colleague, Peter Wright, 47, a carpenter from Baldersby, North Yorkshire, finished 166th. His efforts supported Middle of the Road, a charity helping elderly and disabled.

Mr Bull, from Ripon, said they had both battled against blisters to complete the trek.

Forty seven runners failed to finish the course, among them Chris Brown, who farms at Baldersby and conquered Everest in 1999. His colleague, Peter Wentworth, also had to withdraw after 60 miles because of blisters.