A competitive obstacle racer has just one month of training left before a big competition.

Chris Ferguson, of Battlers Green, Radlett, has until October 25 to finish his training before he heads to the US to compete in the World Obstacle Course Racing Championships.

After finishing in the top five at a qualifying event in August, Mr Ferguson said he is training harder than ever: “My military background means that I’ve always enjoyed training and competing but wasn’t able to fulfil this part of my life.

“The training has allowed me to get back to the level of fitness I think I should be at and I can’t wait to test myself against some of the top guys in the world next month.”

The course is set to be the most demanding ever seen, with a mixture of climbing, crawling, swimming, traversing and running more than eight miles across country.

Also through to the championships is St Albans man David Pearson, who trains with Mr Ferguson as part of the Manalive project at the Tabard Rugby Club, in Cobden Hill.

Project founder Craig O’Toole said: “We’re all extremely proud of the guys to have made it to the very elite of an extremely competitive sport.

"It’s been amazing to see their progress over the last few months from normal guys who want to lose a few pounds and get fit, to the super fit athletes they now are.”