OKEHAMPTON soldier, Rifleman Ben Johnston, has been taking a break from his normal job as an Infantry rifleman, after stretching himself to the limit during the Army's UK divisional Nordic ski championships in France. The 22 year-old former pupil of Duchy College had never been on cross-country skis in his life until ten days beforehand but still managed to take part in a major competition. Ben said: 'I have never done this before. 'I was asked if I would like go give it a try because I am pretty fit and I said "Yes, I'll try my hand at any sport". 'The training in Norway was quite hard, getting used to the styles, but it was good fun. 'After four weeks training in Norway, we came back for Christmas and then went off to take part in the Royal Artillery Competition, we came 11th overall which was not too bad for a novice team. 'The atmosphere between the teams is great, very competitive, but they all cheer you on regardless of team.' Ben, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, was competing in Exercise Spartan Hike in the ski resort of Serre Chevalier. During the ten-day competition he took part in some of the toughest cross-country races using his new-found skills as both a skier and a rifle marksman. These included the 5 Km Classic Nordic cross country race, which Ben was delighted to complete with good results. A Classic Nordic cross country race is where a parallel narrow ski track, about 15cms wide for each ski, is cut into the snow and competitors have to stay in the grooves except for overtaking. He also took part in two biathlon races, where competitors have to ski and shoot twice at targets on a firing range, and the 20 km military patrol race, which tests the soldiers' skiing abilities, teamwork skills and mental strength. The patrol race is the blue riband event of the whole exercise. Ben and three other members of the team, who made up the 3 RIFLES team came a very creditable 10th. They had to carry 40 kgs of kit between them over the 20 km course during which they completed mental and physical agility tests and had to shoot at a target with a .22 Anschutz rifle. They were also judged on their turn-out and having the correct supplies with them such as maps, field dressings and compasses. While not winning an individual medal, Ben's hard work and effort was rewarded with a silver medal as 3 Rifles were runners up in the 2nd Division Nordic Challenge and the team qualified for the Army Nordic Championships later in the month. Soldiers are encouraged by the Army to take up cross-country skiing as a sport, because it teaches them to test their limits and work in a difficult and often extreme environment. As well as building team skills it provides an enjoyable and fun way of keeping extremely fit. Currently six out of the eight members of the national British Biathlon team are serving soldiers. Ben joined the Army in 2006 and he is based with 3 RIFLES in Edinburgh. His mother, Cynthia O'Connor still lives in Okehampton. Full details of Ben's results for the whole of the Spartan Hike competition can be found at http://www.spartanhike.co.uk">www.spartanhike.co.uk