HORWICH Harrier Mark Seddon made a trip to the Arctic Circle to compete in a gruelling mountain race -- and came home a winner.

The 38-year-old IT lecturer took part in the Fjell Raven Extreme Marathon in Bjorkliden -- in Sweden's far north.

Part of a two-man team (his partner was Steve Birkenshaw, from Northumberland), the 70km race took place over two-days and involved 4,000 feet of ascent.

Mark, a specialist in this type of race has also won the Karrimor Ultra Mountain Marathon.

Of the Swedish race, he said: "It was the middle of the summer there but it was a bit cool and the going was quite rocky."