AS THE Land Rover G4 Challenge entered its final stage, a former Crayford Scout still had a chance of reach the four-man grand finale.

Brian Reynolds had beaten 10,000 applicants to represent the UK in the worldwide 28-day marathon challenge of orienteering, kayaking, driving, swimming and cycling.

On bike, in water, on foot and in a Land Rover, the competitors completed stage one and two in Thailand and Laos.

They moved on to Bolivia for stage three where the danger of competing at high altitude reared its head.

At the beginning of each weekly stage, countries were paired off and the day was spent driving from challenge to challenge in remote locations with the one-day all-out final for television cameras.

At stage four and on day 27, Reynolds was seventh out of 18 multi-national competitors needing a good points score to climb into the top four.

In his way lay a deep gorge outside the Bolivian town of Tupiza and a 300m downhill mountain bike race in deep gravel followed by a 500m run and climb to reach the Union Flag which had to be placed on the finish line.

It may not sound too challenging, however, the last three back would be eliminated and the course repeated until three were left standing.

Reynolds, who was with the First Crayford Scout Group as well as the Second Erith Group and Erith Air Scouts, made it through the first three rounds comfortably and just won through the fifth round thanks to a late surge past Alina McMaster of Australia.

However, in the fifth round he missed the cut along with long-time challenge leader Dmitry Timokhin of Russia.

It meant Reynolds' challenge was over and the title eventually went to South African Martin Dreyer, who took home a brand new Range Rover.

Dreyer finished on 749 points, 222 more than Reynolds who had to settle for joint 10th with the Irish entrant Gary Robertson.

Reynolds is now on his way back to his Nottingham home and will soon be relaying his stories to his parents, who still live in Bexley.

The Land Rover G4 Challenge has an impressive shopping list: - 86 shipping containers of vehicles and kits.

- 938 Goodyear off-road tyres.

- 75 Pyranha kayaks and kayaking kits.

- 75 specially designed extreme mountain bikes from Land Rover bikes.

- 5km of rope.

- 300 Lazer helmets for kayaking, climbing and mountain biking.

- 7,879 pieces of clothing with more than 16,000 badges.