Super-fit students are a cut above

A CRACK team of students proved themselves the fittest in the country when they powered to success in a national challenge recently.

The six-strong team beat a super-fit field of students in the annual National Public Services Competition held in Surrey, ripping their way through the running, rowing and biking fitness challenge to win gold by a large margin.

The team, who are studying uniformed services at Cambridge Regional College, included Pawel Kolasa, 18, from Ely, Josh Radford, 17, from Soham and Olivia Pettitt, 18, from Earith, and also picked up third places in three other challenges - orienteering, disaster management and problem-solving.

Twenty-one teams from across the UK battled it out over two-and-a-half days of fierce competition in events including leadership challenges, fire fighting and drill, as well as physical fitness.

To win the fitness challenge, the team had to race on bikes, running machines and rowing machines – finishing 1,300 metres clear of all other competitors.

Lecturer Stuart Clarke said the students had been fantastic.

“The students were absolutely fantastic and won the fitness challenge by a huge amount to become national champions. They left the other teams standing, and were the out and out winners. They did the college really proud,” he said.

“The competition was organised by the military and emergency services, who put together some tough challenges which needed skill and determination to complete.

“Well done to all – and a big thank you to all the staff involved who spent much of the weekend completely soaked so the students could compete for us.”