Colchester's Harry Jeffery has made history by winning the Spartan Kids World Championship title in China. The talented teen, a member of Colchester Harriers and pupil at Stanway School, has been crowned the winner at the gruelling challenge in China. Despite the short notice, Harry arrived knowing the level would be high – particularly with reigning champion Cody in the field, a competitor who had finished second in 2024 and taken the title in 2025. The race, stretching over 6.4km, began with a gruelling uphill sandbag carry, setting the tone for a course that would test both physical endurance and mental resilience. A punishing 3km climb soon followed. Harry trained for the event mentally and physically, but the hill was still really hard. He just tried to focus on getting to the top rather than thinking about how much of the climb was left. Adapting on the fly, he alternated between running and power-walking to conserve energy – a decision that proved crucial. Moving into second place early on, Harry seized the lead at a cargo net crawl before facing one of the race's defining moments. Missing the first Spear Throw 2.0 forced him into a 200m penalty loop, leaving uncertainty over whether he had lost his advantage. Relief came when he saw his rival also enter the loop. From there, Harry's confidence grew. Reaching the top of the climb, he began to believe victory was within reach. A clean hit on the second spear throw marked the turning point. With the toughest section behind him, Harry began to control the race, even using the cameraman – known as 'the rabbit' – as motivation to keep pushing. He powered through the remaining obstacles, including rigs, Atlas stones and the final cargo net, before crossing the line first to claim the world title. 'It was an amazing feeling,' Harry said. 'I was really happy and proud of myself because I knew how much work I'd put in to get there. It's something I'll never forget.' Watching from afar, his dad Stuart described the experience as both tense and unforgettable. 'It was really nerve-racking… but absolutely amazing,' he said. 'Seeing Harry cross the finish line in China as a World Champion was an incredibly proud moment.' Last-minute – The flights to China were booked just two weeks before the championship event. Off the course, the trip brought lighter moments too – from accidentally ordering a bowl of hot water instead of noodles, to a frantic dash to the airport after oversleeping. But for Stuart, one memory stands above all. 'The obvious thing is the big gold medal, which now hangs proudly on our wall,' he said. 'But the best part was experiencing it all together and making memories we'll talk about for the rest of our lives.' League standing: 5th in League Two, 4 pts, 1W-1D-0L from 2 games, recent form WD. Goals this season: 4 scored, 3 conceded (+1 goal difference). Title race: 2 points behind leaders Barnet. Next fixture: vs Gillingham (away, 2027-02-27) (21st in the table).