A MALVERN athlete was "gutted" after his gruelling performance in one of the world's toughest endurance competitions left him just short of the final.

Paul Morton, from Broadlands Drive, was second placed UK athlete in a series of tests to select the Great Britain Fulda Tyres Challenge team.

The punishing process, which took place in the alpine resort of Sulden, in Italy, included a half-marathon, towing a 2.3 tonne car, tree and rock climbing and mountain bike racing.

Other disciplines were off-road driving and cross-karting to test vehicle-handling ability, and an obstacle course followed by hill runs.

The 39-year-old, who is now on stand-by as the team's first reserve, said the three-day event was "absolutely superb".

"It was a really good weekend and great fun to be involved in," he said.

"I was gutted just after the competition finished because I was first in the half-marathon, mountain biking and mountain run - most of the really physical events in fact.

"But I was let down by my driving and others scored much higher in off-road and 4x4 events. I'm a pretty good driver with plenty of experience on roads but this was something I had no training in."

Mr Morton qualified for the competition after success in a two-day event in Shropshire - involving rowing machines, cross-country running and rope climbing - earlier this month.

"I like to keep myself pretty fit and run half-marathons, swim and cycle anyway," said the technical manager for a telecommunications company.

"I wouldn't mind trying the event next year, but I might have to ask my wife about that one."

The UK's male winner, Gary Bullen, is a Royal Marines Commando and physical training instructor.

The female champion, Gill Watson, was the winner of BBC's SAS Are You Tough Enough programme.

Both will now represent Great Britain against other countries in the final of the challenge, being held in the frozen landscapes of Canada in February 2004.