Led by Alasdair Paul Macdonald (23), the team of four also comprised Kenny Maclean (23), Gareth Mason (28), and Alasdair Leslie (23).

Running under the name 'UBCB', the boys were sponsored by local construction firm Uist Builders Ltd.

Alasdair Paul told the 'Gazette': "This is the first time we had ever tried it, but I in particular was determined to do it as my uncle, Angus Macmillan, completed the first ever Challenge about 12 years ago."

Coming from a military background - all lads are former Royal Marines - the Challenge was no problem for the four fit men.

"It was a very different sort of physical challenge to the Marines," said Alasdair Paul.

"We are all used to running for miles with a lot of weight on our backs, so it was good to be able to do the Challenge without that burden."

The Challenge took the boys six days to complete, having started in Barra, finishing up at the Butt of Lewis.

During that time, they were required to run, swim, and mountain bike.

"We had a relay baton which we had to pass, and we had to work out all the logistics of where best to swap over," said Alasdair Paul.

"It was very much a mental challenge as well as physical."

The boys got off to a great start, leading on Monday, but on Tuesday they encountered their first hitch.

"Alasdair Leslie got a puncture and that slowed us down massively," said Alasdair Paul.

"Unbelievably the same thing happened on Wednesday, so when we got it patched up we just gave it absolute laldy."

And it worked, with UBCA being declared the winners, a full eight minutes ahead of their nearest rivals, 'Norfolk and Chance', finishing in a stunning time of 67 hours.

Another team, UBCA, comprised Garth Arkell, Archie Nicholson, Andy Bannerman, and Stuart Boyce, and they too finished the Challenge in a very respectable time.

"As soon as we realised we had won it was a tremendous feeling," said Alasdair Paul.

"We definitely celebrated! The organisers had arranged a ceilidh for us in Ness and despite our aches and pains they still managed to get us up dancing!"

Now working as a site agent trainee with Uist Builders Ltd. in Inverness, Alasdair Paul says he would definitely tackle the challenge again, due to the fantastic spirit he encountered along the way.

"Every where we were, the hospitality was phenomenal," he said.

"We would like to thank everyone who helped us out, in particular our sponsors.

"We would not have been able to do this without them."