A SOLDIER from Ferryhill climbed his way to a peak position in an Army contest.

Rifleman Mark Bihari finished in fifth in a rope competition at the Army Sport Climbing Championships, in Anglesey.

More than 60 disciplines were included in the championships at the Joint Service Mountain Training Centre, last month.

Rifleman Bihari, an infantryman with 3 Rifles, stationed in Edinburgh, started climbing a year ago.

He said: "I had a general interest in climbing, which got me started in the sport.

"The high point for me is just finishing a climb.

"My future goal is just to climb better. I really enjoy the challenge and I get a lot of support from home and the Army to keep climbing."

To 23-year-old had to race against the clock while climbing a seven-metre wall. He then had a 12-metre climb in the final and won points for reaching various targets.

Rifleman Bihari is a former pupil of St John's RC Comprehensive School, in Bishop Auckland, and his mother, Julie, lives in Ferryhill.