A Watford businessman admits he is facing his toughest challenge yet as he prepares to do battle with double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes on the mountains of Snowdonia.

Richard Hardy is managing director at BRE in Watford and is busily preparing himself for three days hard graft in July after he and his colleagues signed up for the 2014 UK Challenge.

The UK Challenge is the nation’s leading corporate team building event, providing companies with an epic, adrenaline-fuelled adventure with 70 teams set to battle it out in the stunning Snowdonia countryside from July 3-6.

During the three days the 59-year-old will be tested both mentally and physically across a series of tasks that are likely to include running, biking and canoeing, all in a bid to raise money for charity and climb the leader board and be crowned UK Challenge champions.

To add spice to the challenge a team of athletes from double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, charity partner of the event, will also be taking part.

Richard said: "I’ve done it seven times so I guess I’m a bit of a veteran.

"It’s fantastic for team-building and every single person I’ve been on the challenge with I’ve developed a great bond with.

"It doesn’t matter what level in the company they are from you get really close to them.

"I’ve been with teams who have had team members that couldn’t run at all and two people who are ultra-marathon runners.

"And whoever they are they just do their absolute best and do brilliant things above and beyond what they ever thought they could do.

"We’ve broken into the top ten in the last few years and finished and got 10th and 9th. Our dream would be to try and get close to the top five but I doubt that is achievable.

"We’ve got some ultra-marathon runners involved this year but what we always try to do is have a nice mix."

To find out more, visit www.ukchallenge.co.uk