The Royal Navy and Royal Marines’ Cycling Association scored a resounding success at the Mountain Mayhem 24-hour endurance event at Eastnor Deer Park in Herefordshire.

Now in its 11th year, the race is the UK’s toughest endurance event and attracted racers from all over the world.

Some 2,351 riders (450 teams and 150 soloists) competed around the nine-mile circuit in teams of up to ten, or as solo riders, while a 15,000-strong crowd stormed the grounds to cheer the riders through the mud.

The RN entered two teams into the open category and the Services’ sub-category (both the Army and RAF entered three teams respectively).

The RN A Team consisted of Maj Steve McCulley RM (team captain), Maj Andy Plewes RM, Surg Lt Alistair Lovell and PO(AET) Simon Parker, and the B Team had WO2 George Arey RM (team captain), Capt Dan Pyke RM, WO2(ET)ME Paul Clarke and LLogs Rob Smith.

At two o’clock a Le Mans-style start meant that the two riders nominated to lead the teams out had a three-quarter-mile run before getting on the bike and tackling the nine-mile course.

In a show of ‘leading from the front’ both team captains volunteered/were nominated to take the honours.

The RAF were first to make it back to transition with Maj McCulley and WO2 Arey well-placed within the leading group.

At around the hour mark it was the turn of the next riders to take the baton, with Maj Andy Plewes going out for the A Team and LLogs Smith for the B.

Maj McCulley was first back having completed his opening lap in 54 minutes (including the run) and followed soon after by WO2 Arey, putting in a solid time of 58 minutes.

And that’s how the next 23 hours continued. The A Team lapped at between 43 and 53 minutes and the B Team consistently lapped around the hour mark.

There were a few dramas along the way – mainly befalling Surg Lt Lovell: in his first lap he fell and broke his rear derailleur less than a quarter of the way round so he finished the lap by running the hills and flats and free-wheeling the downhills.

Incredibly, he still managed to complete the lap in a sterling time of 63 minutes. His next setback occurred a few laps later when one of his pedals broke.

8pm came and it was time to fit lights, looking forward to a few dark laps. All competitors were required to have two separate lights, which proved a fortuitous ruling as when WO2 Arey went out for his first night lap his main light failed.

It was during the night that LLogs Smith put in his fastest lap – recorded a top speed of 37.9mph.

The night passed with no more issues or mishaps and by morning the routine of ride, handover, eat, prepare bike, relax (if possible), handover and ride again seemed the norm, and then it was 2pm and all over.

Royal Navy B was first over the line with 24 laps in 24 hours and 7 minutes followed five mins later by the A Team, who had completed 29 laps.

Once the dust had settled after more than 24 hours of racing, the A Team finished sixth out of 97 in the open category (this would have given the team fourth out of 229 in the sport category), 15th overall (including the elite teams) and second in the Services’ category – just one lap down on the RAF’s A Team and ten minutes in front of the Army’s A Team.

Each rider had consumed well over 5,000 calories and collectively they had travelled 253.75 miles and ascended from sea level to the height of Everest.

The B Team finished 24th in the open category and fourth in the Services’ category.

“Events like this help to raise the sporting profile of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines during a very busy operational period,”said Maj McCulley.