TWO Notts soldiers have been on a gruelling training exercise which has seen them take part in Nordic skiing in the Alps.

Bombardier Katy Joanne Lancaster, 27, from Bingham, of 5 Regiment Royal Artillery, and Sapper Sean Goodwin, 20, from Mansfield, of Germany-based 28 Engineer Regiment, were among 300 soldiers to compete in the Army skiing contest Exercise Pipedown, in January.

During the exercise, soldiers' physical and mental strength was tested in a variety of individual and team events.

These included a 10km biathlon sprint, a 4 x 10km relay, slaloms, downhill skiing, a 1km floodlit challenge and a 20km military patrol race.

The event is designed to test soldiers in marksmanship, map reading and physical endurance.

Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing.

Miss Lancaster said: "I did race in the Alpine two years ago but this is the first time that I have raced in the Nordic discipline.

"I only started Nordic two weeks before the exercise started. I like to push myself – I like the physical aspect. I get a lot out of any physical exercise."

Mr Goodwin, who joined the Army in 2008 and may deploy to Afghanistan later in the year, helped his team win the overall team championship.

He said: "This is my first year skiing. I started in the middle of November. I took up the Nordic side of the sport because of the fitness benefits. It's a great feeling – my fitness got me through it.

"I really enjoy it – two hours after the race when you are just recovering it's like an achievement that you feel great about.

"Of course there are moments during a race when you just want to stop but when that happens you just think that the quicker it's done, the quicker you come back."

Major General James Bashall, General Officer Commanding 1 (UK) Armoured Division, who presented prizes to all the winners, said organising training opportunities such as Exercise Pipedown is part of the Army fulfilling its military covenant with soldiers.

He said: "In these days of intense operational commitments exercises like this give our people a change – which is important for the process of coming down after an operational tour.

"It is incredibly valuable and important – a chance for our people to put their hearts and souls into a different activity a world away from Afghanistan, maintaining their health and well-being.

"This is a valid military activity which develops all the traits we expect soldiers to have on operations such as good marksmanship, fitness, coordination, teamwork, leadership and organisation, courage, boldness and cooperation – but Pipedown is also a chance for soldiers to enjoy themselves."