Teacher Steve’s a muddy marvel!

Well, that’s really quite muddy: Steve in the thick of the action.

Gutsy teacher Steve Hill tested his steely strength against the world’s best as they battled for a Tough Guy title.

The deputy head at St Joseph’s School, Shaw, joined competitors in an eight-mile race they had them run through mud, wade through swamps in sub-zero temperatures, plunge into freezing lakes, jump through fire, crawl through electrified tunnels of muddy water and barbed wire — and launch themselves over 40ft high cargo nets.

Mr Hill’s tough challenge boosted the money his Year 6 class is raising for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice and The Christie Hospital to £6,000.

Now resting his aching muscles back at school, he tackled what is generally reckoned to be the world’s toughest race with gusto — and has already signed up for next year.

The gruelling race features a dizzying array of obstacles with names like the Killing Fields, Battle of the Somme, the Vietcong Torture Chamber and the Behemoth.

To make things more interesting, marshals dressed as commandos fire blank artillery shells and throw thunder flashes and smoke bombs over competitors’ heads as they battle through the mire.

The event’s founder, former Grenadier Guardsman Billy Wilson, described this year’s conditions as “ideal”

“It was bright, freezing cold, and the water had got a little ice on it — just perfect.”

Competitors from more than 20 countries converged on Wolverhampton for the 25th Tough Guy challenge. Each competitor signs a disclaimer clearing the organisers of any legal responsibility in the event of injury or death.

Around 6,000 started, but a third failed to complete the course — many through hypothermia serious enough to need hospital treatment.

But not Shaw’s toughest teacher: “I managed to complete the course with a friend of mine, Shaun Knowles,” he said.

“It was a really tough challenge — very muddy, very wet and unbelievably cold — but it was great fun. I loved every minute of it!”

Anyone who wants to donate money to Mr Hill’s Year Six charity cause can do so at www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Hill2.