A BURNHAM cadet successfully completed five gruelling challenges to help her team to glory.

Emma Barnfield and her teammates Nancy McGowen and Emma Marlow from the Somerset Cadet Battalion (The Rifles) were crowned the Army Cadet Force South West regional champions for the fourth year running.

The two-day pentathlon event hosted by HMS Raleigh was held at the Royal Navy's premier training centre in Torpoint, Cornwall, last weekend.

Emma and her fellow team members took part in the one-mile speed walk, a 100m swim, a .22 rifle shoot, a gym-based agility test, and a two-and-a-half mile country run.

The young cadets took the title thanks to their combined overall score of 875 points.

Captain Andy Tunks, the Somerset Cadet Battalion's sports officer, said: “The girls have done remarkably well, especially as Corporal Marlow and Cadet Barnfield are only in their second year of the event.

“In fact most of our female teams are excelling in the 2011 sports programme which is particularly encouraging. I am hoping that many of the up and coming younger cadets will be inspired by the success we are enjoying thus far.”