A retired cop has completed an arduous 108-mile hilltop foot race in treacherous freezing conditions, to raise more than £1,600 for the Abergavenny-based mountain rescue team he volunteers with.

On top of that, Andrew Geeson went the extra mile to search for a fellow racer who had collapsed and gone missing on the Montane Spine Challenger race, which goes from Edale in the Peak District to Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales.

Andrew from Crickhowell was given a 95-minute extra time bonus for his selfless detour, and managed to make it to the finish of ‘Britain’s most brutal race’ in just under the extended 60-hour cut-off time to place fifth in the mountain rescue volunteer section.

Although a veteran of two Marathon de Sables, six London Marathons and the Spine Challenger itself six years ago, the 61-year-old remarkably did this year’s trek just six months after a full hip replacement.

The iconic Pennine Way challenge saw him battle through minus 20C temperatures, snow, sleet and rain, icy rock that saw him go flying off a boulder, sinking bogs, flooded streams, fog, high winds and extreme exhaustion.

Having started at 8am on Saturday (January 8), by the time he finished on Monday evening (January 10) he was “done in”, admitting: “I’ve done a few of these Ultra marathons over a few years and this was the toughest of all.

“The conditions were grim, but that’s what the winter race is all about.

“There were definitely times when I questioned my resolve and thoughts of throwing in the towel entered my mind.

“The one thing that kept me marching on was the fact that some people I know and others I don’t had given generously to support LMRT and I just couldn’t let them down. After all said and done, it’s only a walk!”

And after crossing the line and sitting down with a steaming mug of tea, he posted: “My back hurts! The last couple of miles were quite difficult, I couldn’t get in a comfortable position. Pleased to reach the finish line.”

Many posted their appreciation of his detour to try and find the stricken walker, who had ‘shut down’ and was later brought down safely by the event’s rescue team.

One woman said: “Yet again we see the best mountain kindness in The Spine Race.”

Another added: “Well done, hold your head high for all to see. Awesome.”

Others praised his “selfless commitment”, “great sportsmanship” and “amazing camaraderie”.

Longtown Mountain Rescue posted: “We are extremely proud of our team member Andrew Geeson who completed the Montane Mountain Rescue Spine race! A gruelling 173km/108 miles in under 60 hours!

“A truly phenomenal experience and he also mid-race helped find a lost runner! Great work Andrew - we are all so proud of you and your achievement.”

The event organisers gave him extra time to finish, posting mid-race: “Andrew Geeson has delayed his finish to help another competitor Daniel Kershaw , who has now successfully been located and kept safe…

“Thank you Andrew for your selflessness, we look forward to seeing you at the finish soon!”

And after crossing the line shortly before 9pm to finish fifth in the Mountain Rescue Challenger section, they added: “Andrew has made it! He is our final Montane Spine Challenger athlete within the cut-off time, and has earned his sit down and a nice hot mug of tea.

“Through a very hard adventure, Andrew did consider quitting but has been raising money for Longtown Mountain Rescue Team which inspired him and his actions all the way to the end.”

A police officer for 30 years before retiring in 2014, Andrew said the tiredness of going almost non-stop had caused him to hallucinate, imagining at one point that a moss-covered wall was a herd of Dartmoor ponies.

He also struggled to eat and keep his calorie level up, and his feet were swollen and his back in spasm by the end.

“A few of the staff cheered my bent body over the line, and I was pleased to finish, But I was all done in, I had nothing left,” he said.

“I’m grateful and relieved to make the finish line when so many didn’t but….

never again!”

One large donation to Andrew’s fundraising epic in aid of LMRT has been made in memory of Fred R Thomas (1927-2021), formerly of Gatesgarth Govilon at the foot of The Blorenge and later a resident at Glaslyn Court nursing home in Gilwern.

The donor posted: “Fred was a lovely old guy, old school, like many others he went overseas during WW2 to do his bit and later worked as a postman and also at Glascoed munitions factory known as ‘The Dump’.

“Fred was a lover of the outdoors and his garden and led a simple uncomplicated life with his partner, Beryl, the purveyor of fine ice creams.

“He showed an interest in the work of Longtown Mountain rescue team and is dearly missed.”

LMRT is staffed entirely by volunteers and provides a service 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

To support the fundraiser, search for ‘Andrew’s fundraiser for Longtown Mountain Rescue Team’ on Facebook.