A GRUELLING endurance event, aptly named after the hardiest of Dartmoor's animals, brought a former Okehampton College girl back home — and she was the first to arrive.

Jenny Rice, 27, also a former member of Okehampton Otters Swimming Club, took the long trip from her home in London to travel back to Dartmoor for the Horseman Xtreme Triathlon.

Held on the same day as the ITU World Triathlon grand final in London, the HXTRI is an extreme version of the event, involving greater distances and extreme terrain.

The day started at 7am with 70 competitiors facing a 2.5-mile swim in Roadford Lake. She showed her Otters pedigree as she left the water just over an hour later in fifth place overall, and the first lady out of the water.

She was immediately on her bike for a 108-mile ride that replicated the Dartmoor Classic, a respected endurance event in its own right.

It criss-crossed Dartmoor twice, and included a long climb from Tavistock to Princetown before dropping down to Bovey Tracey and returning to Okehampton for the final element of the event — a full marathon. The course took place on the high moor, taking in High Willhays and Yes Tor.

As darkness fell, runners donned head torches. At 10.15pm, Jenny crossed the finishing line to win the ladies' section in style.

She said: 'I've always wanted to do an iron man distance event and when I saw Endurancelife were organising the first ever one on Dartmoor – minutes from my family home and even incorporating my old school cross-country course, I knew I had to do it.'

Jenny's effort raised money for Kids Company and Living Hope Uganda, which undertakes five active projects: education, equipping women, youth HIV and AIDS education, poverty alleviation and evangelism and church planting.

Kids Company was founded in 1996 to provide practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children.

Members of Okehampton Running Club played a key role in marshalling the marathon and local kayakers provided the support for the swimmers.

To find out more and support Jenny's fundraising efforts visit http://www.justgiving.com/jens-dartmoor-ironman">www.justgiving.com/jens-dartmoor-ironman'