A GROUP of mums proved their mettle when they took part in the first iron mum event of its kind.

The inaugural Bramley Iron Mum event saw 21 mums complete a running, cycling and strength sprint challenge, spurred on by their families on a sunny Clift Meadow, in The Street, Bramley.

Alison Jones, who organised the event with Rachel Young and Caroline Sherlock specifically for busy mums who want to get fit and shift a few pounds, said: “It was a blast!

“A few people had taken part in these sorts of things before and said this was the most good-natured one with the best atmosphere they had ever done – all the mums were encouraging each other.”

“Everyone got round the course in between 55 minutes and an hour-and-a-half, so there was a wide range of fitness.”

The course had two classes. Two ladies completed “Buns of Steel” consisting of a three-kilometre run, six-kilometre cycle and 100-metre sprint. This was won by Sandra Tanner, while Mitch Lloyds pipped the remaining mums to the post in “Abs of Iron” having completed a six-kilometre run, 12-kilometre cycle and 100-metre sprint.

But every participant received a medal and goodie bag courtesy of event sponsors Berry Bros who also donated two empty wine crates which organisers filled with sand to weigh five kilograms each. The women had to carry them for the final 100-metre strength sprint.

While the athletes worked up a sweat their families took part in activities on Clift Meadow, including football skill demonstrations, sweet-making and music and dance taster sessions.

Mrs Jones, 39, said: “We didn’t dare hope it would go this well, the day was glorious.”

The Bramley mums have already set September 4, 2010, as the date for the next Iron Mum event.

Registration forms are on the website, at ironmum.co.uk and fitness classes to train for the event will start up again at the end of next March.