IT's exactly 100 years ago when the field gun was first used - it was during the Boer War, when the British Army was under siege at Ladysmith, South Africa.

The Royal Navy landed, and manhandled field guns across rough terrain in order to relieve Ladysmith.

The quality and courage of the field gun crews became legendary - but now there is said to be only one group left in the world which keeps their tradition alive: the Bolton District Field Gun Crew.

They have been coming together since 1990, to manhandle a field gun and its limber, weighing over a ton, over an obstacle course in the shortest possible time - preferably in less than three minutes.

Each of the 18 members of a team follows their own unique and highly complex "drill" which is practised over months of training. The smallest of errors can bring the whole team down...

It is, they say, "the toughest team sport in the world."

And no wonder then that the Crew's motto is Baie Probeer Min Slaa, Afrikaans for Many Try, Few Succeed.

"You get very fit," said group secretary Carol Williamson, from Farnworth.

"It's very thrilling."

Members are aged from 15 up to 21 and to keep the group going they are always looking for youngsters - up to the age of 25 - to join.

There's no joining fee, all they need is a pair of steel toe-capped boots.

Then, they're able to join in the weekly training sessions at an old timber mill in Ainsworth and take part in the challenge.

Carol and her husband became involved with the group when their son joined. Now he is too old to take part, she is still there as part of the "staff".

"We enjoy it.

"We do it for the lads. It's the pleasure we get seeing them enjoy themselves.

"Some of them never get out of the town or go on holiday."

One of the new members told Carol recently he was glad to join the crew as otherwise he would only "eat, sleep and get drunk".

"It teaches them respect," she said.

"They have to work with each other - it helps when they get older.

"And they thoroughly enjoy it!"

Anyone who would like to know more about the Crew, or could help them find new premises or donate things for their cafe, is asked to ring Carol Williamson on 01204 525518 (day) or 01204 432715 (eve)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.