TWO daredevil twins recently slid to glory after successfully completing the Swedish equivalent of the London marathon on skies.
Former King Henry VIII pupils Simon and Nicholas O' Neill (Pictured) decided to test their mettle and set sail for foreign shores to enter the renowned Vasaloppet cross-country ski marathon.
Held in north-western Dalarna on the first Sunday in March, the event consists of 90 kilometres of snow and stamina that takes the intrepid participants from the town of Salen to the town of Mora.
First held in 1922 the event is the biggest cross-country race in the world, and with a staggering 44000 entries this time around the competition was certainly 'snow' walk in the park.
The race has entries at seven competency levels, and due to the fact that the O' Neills had such success the previous year they were given entry into the highest category for 2009.
The brothers competed alongside almost 1600 world class top cross-country skiers, and with finishing times of around eight and ten hours, they were placed in the top third of those who entered at this level.
This is a feat of some magnitude in a competition containing world class exponents in the art of skiing, and certainly an achievement to celebrate.