A SOLDIER from St Neots swapped his combat boots for ski boots when he took on a gruelling Alpine challenge in the French Alps. Lance Corporal Trevor Holding, 22, took on more than 100 of the forces top skiiers in the army s premier downhill ski competit

A SOLDIER from St Neots swapped his combat boots for ski boots when he took on a gruelling Alpine challenge in the French Alps.

Lance Corporal Trevor Holding, 22, took on more than 100 of the forces' top skiiers in the army's premier downhill ski competition.

Trevor, who attended Longsands Community College, took on the downhill, slalom, giant slalom and super giant slalom events in the Lions Challenge.

Trevor was ranked as one of the outsiders in the competition, but made up more than 40 places in the slalom event to finish 65th.

The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers member said: "It is hard going racing at this level but we trained hard to qualify. I have skiied at other competitions for the past two years but this is the first year I have made the Army Championships. The start gate of the Downhill run is always nerve-wracking, but it's elating when you get to the bottom."

Trevor's army career has already taken him to the Falklands, Canada and much of Europe. His sister Carla is currently in basic training at the Army Training Regiment at Pirbright, Surrey.