TWO Gwent men are going head-to-head this weekend in a bid to be crowned Britain's fittest man.

Andrew Evans, 35, from Chapel Mead, Goytre, and Sean Lambert, 31, from Sycamore Crescent, Risca, will be competing in the Life Fitness Ultra-Fit X-Training Challenge in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Mr Evans, who works as a firefighter in Cwmbran fire station, is taking part in the contest for the ninth time. He won the event in 1996.

He said: "It is just a challenge at the end of the day."

Competitors have to complete ten fitness events in the fastest possible time.

"It is all against the clock. You can stop between each event but the clock keeps going." In 1999 he achieved a personal best time of 15 minutes 50 seconds. "I hope to come close to that this year."

At youth level he was a county rugby and football player but after injury problems with his ankles he was unable to continue. He now enjoys circuit training at Club Indigo in Cwmbran.

Looking forward to the gruelling event he said: "I usually spend about an hour each on aerobic and strength exercises centred around the Ultra-Fit events."

Mr Lambert, an insulation engineer and part-time firefighter at Risca fire station, is taking part for the seventh time. His best spot so far was third place in 1998 but he has been consistently in the top ten.

"Andrew and I have always been rivals. I was hoping to beat him last year but I'll have him this time. We have a bit of rivalry.

"My runs have let me down in the past. That is the eighth event. You are wiped out by then. I have worked a lot more on my running this year."

Mr Lambert explained that he will actually be competing with his friend in the team event. He said: "There are five members in a team. I am in a team with Andrew. After the individual final there is a team final where each member does two events."

For the last two years the two men have been British champions in the team event. The ten events include indoor biking, rowing and running.