TWO girl guides are celebrating victory after completing an intrepid challenge.

Alyse Cheesman, 11, from Runcorn, and Amelia, 14, won the Cheshire Hike for Cheshire Forest in the intermediate section.

It was the first time Alyse had ever entered the tough event which tests orienteering and camping skills.

The Heath pupil walked a total of 46 kilometres, much further than her own junior age group, because she was competing with an older partner.

The girls only discovered their route on the morning and had to reach their destination using maps and grid references.

Carrying their own equipment weighing 11 kilos, the pair set off on the two day hike and had to pitch their own tents and cook tea and breakfast.

Alyse, of Norleane Crescent, said: “The worst bit was a road on the first day when we were doing the additional five kilometres.

“It seemed like it went on forever. It was really hard but we did a lot of singing to get ourselves through it.”

The girls were up against against 85 experienced teams of scouts and guides and came ninth overall.

Each team is awarded points but the results are not announced until the presentation ceremony.

The pair, who gained a lot of new skills and made many friends, hope to compete again next year.

The event, earlier this month, was organised by guide leader Elaine Wearing, a teacher at St Chad’s Catholic and Church of England High School in Runcorn.