Aching muscles and sodden bodies were par for the course in the inaugural Viking Challenge fundraiser for St John Cadets.
The mud run course around a Cowper Rd farm last Sunday was the brainchild of Delwyn Walker, the divisional manager for St John's youth programme. Helpers told the Dannevirke News she'd "put in hours and hours of work," to get the course set for the event.
With plenty of water, mud, obstacles to climb, balance and leap over, the challenge was a test for competitors, but all said they had had plenty of fun, too.
"It's been awesome," said Brenda McGregor, who was first home in the 5km event.