The Polar Race

2013 - A Decade of Expedition Racing comes to an end.

Published: Tuesday, 10th May 2011 12:30

Polar Race is the original pure expedition style race to the Magnetic North Pole and this is the chance to make your mark and join the elite band of 'Polar Racers'.

After 10 hugely successful years of participant achievement made possible by Jock Wishart and his dedicated support team, 2013 will be the final opportunity to compete in the Polar Race.

Jock says:

This is the chance for those special people with 'what it takes' to say I did it while it was still possible

The sheer amount of work required to organise the logistics of such a complicated event cannot be underestimated - it has to be thoroughly professional on every level from risk assessment to training, from clothing and equipment to specialist aircraft.

The ever rising costs, in particular fuel, has had a massive impact and now climate change is also playing a major part as Jock aims to demonstrate by rowing, yes rowing, to the very same pole in July and August of this year.

As this will be the last race of its kind (to be held in April 2013) we intend for it to be a culmination of the skills and experiences gained along the way.

Those competing will also face the challenge of a new financial world so those entering must be 100% committed.

"Previous racers refer to the life changing experience as well as the incredible sense of achievement and we are extremely proud to have made this possible"

Let 2013 be a land mark in your life and we encourage you compare our credibility against anyone.

The full price which contains absolutely everything is to be shortly confirmed.

Don't delay apply now

The Polar Race always delivers!

It's a Wrap

Published: Monday, 9th May 2011 12:30

Now we are eventually back in the UK. We can reflect on a "job well done" by all - competitors and organisers alike.

It never gets easier and in some ways this was the most difficult yet.

Everyone in the Race "got their pole" while others not under our control or direction and not so focused or determined did not. The fact that these people had to call in several Medical Evacuations which involves a cost to insurance makes life even more difficult in the future as "underwriters" become less inclined to give anyone insurance cover.

If anything the weather was a lot better this year than last though there were 3 or 4 days when the wind ruled and humans and planes did not move and these exactly coincided with when you did want them to move!

With only a couple of teams involved this year we expected things to be slightly less competitive, which they were initially, and our teams had to be reminded that there is still a time scale to be met but after a bit of "geeing" up they responded and in the end there was only 3 hours between the teams with the Internationals (Ryan Malfara/Rob Platt/Lee Swan) beating the Slugs (Rob MacAllister/Lucy Maizels/Jo Winchcombe).

Exceptionally close after many days of racing and the closest ever.

This could have easily gone the other way if the Slugs had put into their GPS the right co-ords of the third checkpoint. However "rules are rules". In a few years time it will be forgotten who was first in the Race but having "walked successfully to a Pole" will be something that remains with you forever.

It was really only after our contestants got to the Pole that the real problems started as after losing a plane through the ice to the bottom of the ocean last year the pilots are understandably more cautious this year. It is a dangerous job and the pilot has the final call.

Consequently the pilot refused to land on the ice runway prepared and our contestants had to "walk out" - a Herculean task having just finished a hard slog to the Pole. The fact that they were all within minutes of catching the plane from the alternative landing strip 13 miles away is testament to their fitness and determination. Unfortunately half the party did not and this had a considerable "knock on" effect in our eventual departure from Canada and our orderly withdrawel from Resolute but the midnight oil was burnt and some shrewd negotiation over a plane flight out of Resolute enabled us at to get to Ottawa fairly promptly and with everything eventually packed away in an orderly fashion.

A timely reminder that the Arctic is a tough place and you need to be tough just to be there.

Thanks again to all these people who have been with me for a number of Races and who again did outstanding jobs: Steve Pinfield, Neil Williams, Tony Woodford, Danny Munden and back in the UK webmaster Chris Walker and without whom the Race would not be possible. Continuity is extremely important and these people know their jobs very well.

New to the Race this year was Doctor Anna Thomas who had little to do apart from blisters and one infected finger and added a lot of charm to what is normally an all male support group.

Thanks also to the Racers who as always become our greatest supporters having accomplished something really extraordinary and for whom life will never be the same again having "walked to a Pole".

In the next couple of days we will be making an announcement as to the future of the Race. Please watch this space.

Footage from the Pole

Published: Tuesday, 3th May 2011 09:30

We have new photo's up in our gallery, taken at the Magentic North Pole, courtesy of Ryan and Rob. Ryan also had some video footage taken once all the racers had reached the pole.

Final Pick Up

Published: Sunday, 1st May 2011 09:30

The plane is on its way and with any luck our remaining racers and staff will be off the ice in the next couple of ours. Weather has been a bit poor in Resolute and various pick ups from local Hamlets have not happened. So fingers crossed we may yet get away from Resolute only a day late as there may be free seats on the plane out We need to wait and see. All I think will be glad to be "winging" our way back to the UK.

It is never over however till the "fat lady sings".

Keep watching this space for more on our adventures and the final results. Early next week after the May break we will also be making an important announcement on the future of the Polar Race.

As they say "watch this space" - especially those who feel they are up to the challenge!

A tough place

Published: Saturday 30th April 2011 09:30

For once the Gods did not smile on us and we were unable to get some of our Racers off the ice!

Weather was beautiful for once but when the plane flew over our camp at the Pole the pilot decided that the ice was just too rough to land on even if considerable work was further done to smooth out the landing strip. In a highly dangerous part of the world where a bad landing can be disasterous it is left to the pilot, (quite rightly) to make the final choice.

The decision was then taken to try and move the racers to an ice strip where we knew the plane could land on some 13 miles away. The Racers although "dog tired" were asked to try and ski to this position in about 5 hours. To their credit, 3 made it in time (Rob Platt, Ryan Malfara and Jo Winchcombe). The pilot stayed much longer than normally allowed but in the end had to lift off leaving Rob MacAllister, Lucy Maizels and Lee Swan being escorted in by Steve Pinfield and Neill Williams.

I would like to reassure everyone that they are all safe and well and emergency food was left for them but they will not now make tomorrow's flight to Ottawa and London. Having "got their Pole" (and there are a lot of people currently sitting in Resolute who have not, and how disappointing can that be?) it is in a sense a minor isue and we hope to be able to lift them out in the next 36 hours nevertheless it is disappointing we are not all going back together.

However it just helps to show what a "tough place" this is and just how tough you have to be to survive.

Racers get their Pole

Published: Friday 29th April 2011 13:30

Congratulations to all our racers!

The first team (Slugs) arrived at 01:54 yesterday morning, the second (Internationals) followed on closely at 05.00. Once again all our teams have made it to the Pole. All are in good health and enjoying the moment.

Back in Resolute yet another team of people were medivaced in last night from the ice demonstrating again the competence and ability of this year's Racers and the training regime and organisation that made it possible for OUR people to achieve their dream.

Now that they are safely to the pole, we have the task of getting them out. Much of this is governed completely by the weather, which is proving a little problematic. We have had a low pressure system go over the top of them last night and the emergency medivac has put pressure on the pilots' available airtime. Nevertheless the weather for today is looking good and I am as confident as I can be that we will have them out this afternoon. This is never easy.

Fortunately the racers are aware of the situation and have plenty of supplies to keep them going, although I'm sure they would like to be retrieved sooner rather than later!

Full race results and statistics will be published soon.

Jocks Diary: Nearly There

Published: Thursday 28th April 2011 17:30

Teams reported in last night having made excellent progress on the flatter ice and now better conditions over the Noice Peninsula. When one considers that in the 2005 race we had one team - "The Gentlemen Adventurers" (James Laban and Will Morton) - cover the distance from Checkpoint Three in under 24hrs (Very close to this year's position) one gets an idea just how fit the racers become and how much they are looking forward to the Finish!

Our Checkpoint Team is following on though are intending to put up tent and have a sleep unlike the teams who will probably race on through the night to get there.

For Steve and Neill their job starts when they get there as we need fresh experienced people to make sure the plane gets in to pick the racers up, so we can make the flights on Saturday - or no one will be seeing their loved ones for another week as alternative flights are full.

We have 3 people who were also trying to get to the Pole, independent of us, now back in Resolute suffering from severe frost nip. Their dream, and it is an expensive one, is at an end!

It just shows you how uncompromising this place can be.

Our Doc Anna tells me that with the exception of Ryan's feet and an infected finger which were soon on the mend our racers are in very good order. They will probably, if experience is anything to go by, look better now than when they started!

When "Slugs" rang through last night I was again greeted by Lucy's voice which has sounded increasingly confident as we have gone along though electronic devices have a habit of misbehaving in her presence!

Rob "Flashman" MacAllister (Can anyone enllighten me on how he got such an unlikey nickname??) is now skinny with muscles which I know will delight his wife and daughters. Overseeing them both and for some reason the one that carries the shotgun is "Arctic Mummy" Jo who has kept everyone in order.

All will arrive at the Pole and the finish line to await the "pick up" plane

What is needed now are some weather conditions they can fly in and some snow they can land on.

Yours aye, Jock

New Video from Checkpoint Two

With Tony back from his Checkpoint stint, we now have some new video and photos in the Galleries, be sure to check them out. Here is some footage from Checkpoint Two.

Jocks Diary: The End in Sight

Published: Wednesday 27th April 2011 13:30

As soon as the plane carrying the Checkpoint Team landed at CP3 our teams took off on the final leg of the Race, all straining at the leash to be away now the end is in sight.

We had deliberately delayed putting the plane in earlier as there had been some concerns about injury and whether the teams would make the speed necessary to get them to the the finish in time. As I feel it is important that contestants "make their pole" (in the great scheme of things the race is secondary) I had felt that we at worst should move them forward by plane if we had to.In fact the teams rose to the "challenge" and started putting in some really impressive mileage and have proved themselves extremely competent in dealing with the very harsh conditions of this leg. Testament again to their good training. Another cheer please for Steve and Danny.

Other people trying to make the Pole this year have not been so lucky or so well trained!

As I so often say if it was easy everyone would be doing it!

It is a fact that far fewer people attempt a Pole than climb Everest.

"Sod's Law" of course applied to our plane plans so that when we wanted to put the plane in, the weather did not permit and we were seriously contemplating a food drop to allow them to continue on – the barrels had been packed and the teams alerted to the possibility. As it was the weather eased and we were eventually able to get the plane in only a few hours after they got to CP3 which in fact gave the teams the opportunity to get a good night's sleep in.

Neill Williams, who looks after early training in the UK arrived in Resolute last week and has spent most of it trying to keep my stress level down! He flew out to CP 3 and will now along with Steve ski with the contestants to the finish now only 38 miles away so barring any disasterous injury they should all achieve their Pole having walked from Resolute. Our experience, in any case, points to people getting fitter the further they go into the race and as long as they are carrying no injuries or have any polar bear encounters this leg should not be a problem, I hope.

Fingers crossed please supporters!!

My next stressful time comes when I start praying that the weather holds enough to get them out on Friday as they are due to fly to Ottawa on Saturday.

Fingers crossed please supporters

If we can all make that plane for Ottawa that "Old Pulteney on Ice" in "The Scotch Bar" will go down well.

The Internationals were all glad to see the plane ariving at CP3 and Ryan Mafara ran and gave the pilot a big hug – I just hope his girl friend is not jealous.

Lee Swan has also lost weight and I again hope there is enough left of her to give a congratulatory cuddle to when she finishes!

Rob Platt, the quiet "no nonsense" Brit in the middle of the Canadian-South African sandwich which is "Internationals"just marches on. Still dreaming of his favourite food. A bacon sandwich made for him by Tony in Cator Harbour.

When the nightly calls came in they were all on a "good track" to go over the Noice peninsula only miles from the finish.

Their skill in navigation now is such that they relish any extra challenge.

One thing for sure.

They are all getting their money's worth!!

And to think that I am putting myself all through it again when we try and Row to the Pole this July.

See www.rowtothepole.com

Must be completely bonkers!

Yours aye, Jock

Slugs crawl first into CP3

Published: Tuesday 26th April 2011 14:30

The Slugs conquered the weather and were first into CP3 located just north of King Christen Island at 17.20 local time. As team member Lucy Maizels said:

"It is blowing a hooley here and it is freezing but it is Brilliant"

Her other team members Rob MacAllister and Jo Winchcombe could not be heard in the wind but we were told were equally ecstatic.

We await now the arrival of the Internationals some time later this evening.

In Resolute we are now contemplating dropping a food barrel to the teams if we can not land tomorrow!

Communications Restored

Published: Monday 25th April 2011 14:30

All came through "loud and clear" last night as the teams moved out of the "communications dead pocket" and have been making some serious inroads into the distance between them and the Pole. They have all been doing some 20 mile plus days showing that if you really "want to" the mind tells the body what to do!

They came through at very different times yesterday but we make Slugs at 14 miles and Internationals at 20 miles from Checkpoint 3 respectively and both will arrive by Monday evening local time.

The issue now is the weather where they are which is not good. We have deliberately not moved our checkpoint team as we had wanted to give ourselves the option of being able to pick up the teams en route and move them forward if they had not "risen to the challenge" and got the miles done. This would have given them the chance of at least finishing on foot. Now that they have shown what they are "made off" and made the mileage themselves we need the weather to relent so we can catch up with them.

Lots of brain cells are working away in Resolute to solve the problem but we wait for the weather to change.

Positions Update

Published: Sunday, 24th April 2011 17:30

Polar Slugs:

The Slugs managed to get through (07.30 local time Sunday 24th April) to report their position as N 77 degrees 29'.161, W 102 degrees 09'.976.

They expect to be at the Checkpoint position by 14.00 local time tomorrow having achieved two 20 mile days.

Weather is not good where they are but the end of the road is in sight.

If it was easy everyone would be doing it!

The internationals:

The checkpoint team have just heard from the Internationals who reported in "all well" (10.00 local time - no position unfortunately) and expected to also be at the CP3 checkpoint tomorrow. Weather not good for flying up there however but luckily the wind for the teams is behind them while walking.

In Resolute it is a beautiful day!

Teams March On

Published: Sunday, 24th April 2011 12:30

We are still in the patchy area for sat phone communications but the teams tried to ring in at their appointed times as instructed and will continue to move to the checkpoint.

They are determined we know to get to the Pole and we are deliberating whether to put the plane in today to put the checkpoint team in or wait till tomorrow which would give us a chance, if we had to, of moving them forward so they stand the best chance possible of making the Pole in time. They need to be at the Checkpoint by late monday evening (local time) to keep on schedule.

In the end the weather will dictate but for the next few hours we will be anxiously examining the synoptic charts.

Canadian or International Waters?

Published: Saturday, 23rd April 2011 21:30

Strange but true!

Our racers are going through an area where we traditionally always encounter bad communications: The Maclean Strait.

We could never understand the problem until the last race when webmaster Chris Walker made determined efforts to find out why. He discovered to our amazement that this area is not recognised by the USA as Canadian waters and that this is in dispute. Consequently our Canadian registered Satellite phones which use the American (government backed) Iridium system fail to be recognised and for about 36 hours communications can be very patchy.

Ryan Malfara, who handles Team Internationals comms however had the "wit of mind" to use one of our other contact numbers through to our Checkpoint Team, (and got through) still sitting at the top of Bathurst Island who relayed an approx position to us, which showed them as having done 18 nautical miles and still in the tracks of Slugs. This shows that they are both making determined efforts to make the KCI Checkpoint for the final push for home.

Jock's Diary: Tying Knots

Watching one of the local Inuits tying down a box on one of their sleds or kommateks reminded me of one of my own personal experiences with knots in the Arctic. I like to think I know quite a bit about knots "bowlines", "sheepshanks", "lorryman hitches" even "granny knots" so when I decided to tie an assorted collection of items on to a sled a few years ago before going out on expedition I was hardly phased by the task.

When I stepped back after 15 minutes to view the results I was delighted. The line around everything was so tight it made a tune if you plucked it. That's going nowhere I thought.

Behind me an Inuit was grinning!!

An hour later out on the trail and everything was vibrating loose. I had done it so tight there was no give in the system as the sled, made of individual planks tied together, flexed as it went over the rough terrain.

Lesson learnt!!

In the rubble

Published: Friday, 22nd April 2011 16:30

The Racers are making their way through the rough old ice that always forms just North of Bathurst Island.

The photo was taken on the mini-expedition and only shows some rubble close to Resolute. Up north of Bathurst the rubble fields are seemingly endless and contain chunks the size of houses!

Jock's Diary: And They're Off

Published: Thursday 21th April 2011 21:30

At 15.00 on Wednesday 20th April the 3rd Leg of the 2011 Polar Race for the Blue Ice Trophy started. 85 miles from Cator Harbour to a waypoint off the North coast of King Christian Island.

All are in good spirits and with little broken on the last and longest leg the teams can sense they are on the "home" stretch. I expect competition to be close. The competitors have all coped admirably which is a tribute to our lead trainer Steve Pinfield.

As this leg is mostly out of sight of land there are no geographical points to navigate by (apart from hopefully the sun) I am cheered to know that they are all now proficient in use of GPS (Global Positioning System) which allows the bearer to locate his/her position anywhere in the world.

Conditions may be a bit rubbly to start of with but nearer KCI we should have a long stretch of new ice. If it is anything like that encountered up to Polaris on the first leg it might be billiard table smooth.

In Resolute last night I went out for a walk with Neill Williams with whom I have shared many adventures over the years. He is here to join up with the Racers for the final leg of the Race. The pond, for the first time I have ever seen in Resolute, is full of cracks and open leads and buckling under the pressure. Normally at this time of the year it is completely snow covered and you would not know it was there. Neill however managed to put both feet through into water!.

Yes things are changing up here!

Race Restarts

Published: Wednesday, 20th April 2011 22:30

Anxious to be on their way and make sure they make the Pole the teams have opted for a 15.00 hours start (local time) today from CP2 just south of Cator Harbour on their way to CP3 just North of King Christian Island.

They are over the "crest of the hill and on the downward slope" to the Final Finish. Navigationally this is the most difficult leg as there are no landmarks to take direction from.

Leg Two Statistics

Here are the standing after leg two. Note that the distances are different, they are the straight line distances between each time the teams check in so whilst not precisely how far each team has walked, they do provide a good approximation.

Internationals Finish

Published: Wednesday, 20th April 2011 20:00

Internationals finished at 23.45 last night (local time Tuesday 19th) having reported in at 20.30 that they had 6 miles to go. So a really great push for the Finish. Communications were poor so we only heard this morning.

The teams are having a good "lie in" before all taking a decision on what to do as far as when to restart. A day's delay in starting the Race due to an aborted flight from Iqaluit to Resolute at the start of their "journey" and 2 days having to sit in a tent on this leg because of bad weather means that time is "getting tight" but with determination, which they have lots of, still very "do able"

Fast Slugs win 2nd leg

Published: Wednesday, 20th April 2011 08:00

Reversing the result of the first leg. Team Slugs (Jo Winchcombe, Lucy Maizels and Rob MacAllister) were first into Checkpoint 2 at the end of the second leg which started from Polaris. They finished at 18.53 local time Tuesday 19th. We now await the arrival of the Internationals to see if there is a change in the overall order.

More Later

Jock's Diary: What do you eat?

Published: Tuesday, 19th April 2011 22:00

People often ask what the racers eat during the day?

The answer is a day bag which typically weighs between 0.5-0.7kg each and normally contains most of the following, which gives them sufficient calories (~2500) to see out the day.

• Dried fruit
• Banana chips
• Biscuits (mix of sweet and savory)
• Cheese
• Flapjack
• Nutri-Grain bar
• Mixed nuts
• Chocolate
• Dry meat stick and dry salami
• Sweets
• Brownie bar

Tony Woodford was responsible for this year's bags along with Doc. Anna Thomas. It is an onerous job especially when you have to unwrap everything as Anna found out!

However Steve Pinfield thought them the best ever and even in Base Camp we nibble at them.

Racers expected in at Checkpoint 2 Finish tonight.

Who will be in front?

Teams fight to the finish

Published: Tuesday, 19th April 2011 08:30

Quite a bit of gamesmanship going on out there. Only Internationals reported in and they were on the move still. Both teams are determined to get to the Finish tomorrow evening and with only one hour between them they are both going for it.

Both teams seem to be taking slightly different routes to the Finish. Slugs have tried to communicate but are also still on the move.

He who wants it badly enough??

Internationals position at 22.00 (local time) on 18/4/11 N 76 deg 35.652, W 98 deg 18.679

May the best team win!!

Back Together

Published: Sunday, 17th April 2011 12:30

Our teams had a good day with the Internationals finally catching up with the Slugs and they all camped together!. They are now on the beach above Airstrip Point on Bathurst Island keeping away from the thin ice which we know to be offshore.

At this point in time the two teams are only 1 hour apart overall!

Position for both teams: N76 deg 11.253 mins W97 deg 28.974 mins

We have finally managed to get the Checkpoint Team in. The weather was perfect, though when they tried to land the pilot found Cator Harbour a bit rubbly so instead opted for our "alternate" landing area which by all accounts was smooth and just to the South of our normal Checkpoint.

Jock's Diary: Another day at the Office!

I said to some of our competitors before the start,

"Treat everyday like a day of work and you will soon get there"

Strange advice perhaps - no not at all!

Get up in the morning, eat, do your job in an amazing surroundings then eat and sleep. Get up and do it again and what do you know you are soon at the Pole!

If you start looking at it in its entirety you will never make it, but one day at a time gets you there.

People often often ask me what is the hardest thing I have ever done. I tell them it was "Rowing the Atlantic" because it was just so boring!

In the Arctic you are never bored. Great place to work.

Well our competitors had another glorious day in the office. Hard work through the rubble but done in marvellous sunny conditions which makes the tea at the end of the day really enjoyable!

All were in good spirits when they called in. Obviously benefitting from their enforced rest

Weather Improves and Racers Move

Published: Saturday, 16th April 2011 14:30

At last the weather is kind and our racers got down to some hard work as they need to put in the miles. Lots of cloud in Cator Harbour so our pilots reckoned only a 50:50 chance of landing so our CP team remains in Polaris awaiting pick up.

There is no rush as we can still afford to wait.

Weather Rules Still!

Published: Friday, 15th April 2011 08:00

With the winds still gusting up to 35 knots and blowing snow no one moved today!

With the weather set to improve steadily from tomorrow we are all hoping for better things. As one team said on the satellite phone. "We are becoming stir crazy but know there is nothing we can do"

The intention if the weather improves as predicted is to move the CP team tomorrow afternoon to await the teams' arrival.

Proud of them

Published: Thursday, 14th April 2011 07:30

The teams made the effort and what more can you ask but in the dreadful conditions they all soon decided that it is best to be safe.

We had a gusts of over 40 knots in Resolute today so I was keenly (and with some apprehension) waiting news from our teams. I was delighted with their behaviour as both had attempted to travel and made some distance but called it a day before it became dangerous.

Absolutely the right thing to do!

We are still waiting to move our checkpoint team on because of the weather but they seem happy and cosy where they are in the relative shelter of Polaris. They have had visits from the Canadian militery in helicopters who are laying in supplies for skidoo exercises nearby. They are to say the least "astonished" to find them there in the conditions. At base we have had 2 visits from their intelligence officier eager to glean our knowledge of the area. We are happy to help and are confident that our information stopped them going through the ice on more than one occasion.

Tony talks about the weather conditions at Resolute:

Weather Rules

Published: Wednesday, 13th April 2011 21:30

Up here at Resolute the wind is gusting up to 40 knots with blowing snow. Not at all pleasant outside.

Everyone is hunkered down and no planes flying. Our teams are both together benefitting from the lessons they have been taught. You can not beat Mother Nature!

We have some new video online in our Video Gallery showing the arrival of The Internationals to checkpoint one, and the restart of the race.

Be sure to have a look.

Second Leg Underway

Published: Monday, 11th April 2011 20:45

Leg 2 of the Polar Race 2011 started today at 09.40. with all the teams setting out together on their way to CP2, North of Bathurst Island some 130 miles away:- the longest and hardest leg of the Race. The start was in light winds and perfect visibility.

Despite the wind chill, (it was clocked at -44°C at Resolute Airport at 7am) all were keen to get on with the Race. They were all warned to keep a close eye open for polar bears as they passed the entrance to Polar Bear Pass which is a migratory route.

Here in Resolute Tony is about to leave and travel on skidoo to pick up Checkpoint assistant Danny Munden. The forecast for travelling to Cator Harbour is not good despite the current good weather at Polaris and having once had a flight turn back from there only 20 miles out due to fog (A VERY expensive mistake) I do not want to take that risk again as we have 4/5 days to get the Checkpoint team there before racers arrive. Hence Tony is going on a skidoo ride to pick him up.

Leg One Statistics

Here are the standing after leg one. Note that the distances are different, they are the straight line distances between each time the teams check in so whilst not precisely how far each team has walked, they do provide a good approximation.

Checkpoints

Published: Monday, 11th April 2011 07:30

With all teams now in, the chance was taken to repair and mend equipment and rest weary bodies with a hoped for start of 09.00(local time) on Monday, which would be bang on schedule.

In Resolute we are at the moment anxiously examine the synoptic charts, as after the Start we intend to move the Checkpoint Team. However we may have "blowing snow" conditions at Cator Harbour the location of CP2 which may preclude this. In which case Tony is "readying himself" to skidoo to Polaris to pick up Danny who must be on a Tuesday flight back to the UK.

We have been asked by a number of people what we mean by "checkpoints" and how they apply to the Polar Race. When the Polar Race was originally conceived it was decided that it would be too much to ask contestants who were (in the main) Polar novices, to undertake the whole race unsupported and hence it was decided that they would have to be resupplied. At the same time we needed to put in safety cover for the contestants and to some extent influence the route they would take (to make it as safe as possible and avoid known danger areas) as well as making sure they were properly rested. Hence, the idea of manned checkpoints was born.

In the Polar Race there are three checkpoints between the Start in Resolute Bay and the Finish at the 1996 certified position of the North Magnetic Pole. This was the position of the Magnetic Pole certified and measured by David Hempleman-Adams and Jock Wishart for the Canadian authorities in their Ultimate Challenge expedition of 1996 when the first group of polar novices was taken to a pole.

Each checkpoint is strategically placed and at each the contestants are required to stop for a minimum period to rest and be resupplied. As the race is about accumulated time between checkpoints, time spent at checkpoints is not included in the race time and where possible the contestants are restarted en masse at the end of the rest period.

The first, CP1, is near the site of the old Polaris mine. This is about 60 miles from Resolute and is normally on new ice and therefore quite flat and is considered a good introduction to the race.

The second, CP2, is just North of Bathurst Island and is the longest leg but easily navigable over the island. It also marks the start of the most difficult leg to navigate, where the contestants are completely out of sight of land.

The third, CP3, is at King Christian Island, the only landmark between Bathurst Island and Ellef Ringnes Island.

In each case the exact location of the checkpoint is where the Twin Otter plane containing the re-supply team can find sea ice flat enough to put down. The contestants are then informed of the exact co-ordinates where they then navigate to. The plane drops off the Checkpoint Support Crew, re-supply kit and personal messages for the teams before the first racers arrive. Then, after the racers have left the checkpoint, another plane comes in from Polar Race Base Camp to transport the Support Crew and a new set of re-supply kit and messages to the next checkpoint.

First Leg Winner at Polaris

Published: Sunday, 10th April 2011 08:00

Obviously spurred on by the chasing pack, Team Internationals (Ryan Malfara, Lee Swan and Rob Platt) were first into the Polaris checkpoint late yesterday afternoon at 16.52 taking advantage of the beautiful conditions with a light following wind.

The three of them were naturally jubilant about arriving first into Polaris.

They were followed exactly one hour later at 17.52 by the Slugs (Rob MacAllister, Lucy Maizels and Jo Winchcombe) who had been spurred on by siting a Polar bear which was thankfully going in the opposite direction to them!

The Polaris they all will be arriving at now is very different from the one still in existence even only 7 years ago. The Polaris site, then the Polaris mine also included probably the most northerly swimming pool in the world. Not as "far out" as you would think as of course the biggest concern in Arctic communities is fire and at least here was a source of water as well as a recreational facility for the miners!

The building where the ore was stored had reputedly the largest roof in Canada and with a red maple leaf on it could be seen from 20 miles away.

The mine however is now no more. It has all been taken apart and dumped down the old mine shafts and the land returned to its virgin state. Only the air strip remains.

Too Close to Call

Published: Saturday, 9th April 2011 15:30

If only they knew it!

Both teams are now only 1 and a half miles apart as they enter the final few miles to CP 1 which is at the site of the old Polaris Mine. It all could be determined by who gets up earliest!

Camp craft efficiency suddenly becomes very important. How quickly you can get yourself organised in the morning and get going becomes critical.

We expect both teams to be in late on Saturday

More new video in the gallery: this time Tony flies out with the Checkpoint One Crew to help set up.

Checkpoint Team Fly out

Published: Friday, 8th April 2011 08:00

Back in Resolute the Checkpoint Team of Steve, Danny and Doc Anna Thomas were off to the Airport at 1pm with what seemed to be a ton of equipment and landed in bright sunny conditions in Polaris to await the racers - the first of whom should be in late on Saturday.

Here's Steve talking about the start of the race and the first checkpoint.

Back at Base Camp, Tony who is not particulaly well at moment and so is not going out to the first checkpoint is always busy into the small hours of the morning getting video material back to webmaster Chris Walker in the UK. This is Tony's 6th time here but as he says he just loves it.

Out on the Racecourse, in perfect conditions, it is -32 degrees, (and little wind) For the Racers it is all too close to call. The team that wants it hardest will be there first.

All Peaceful in Resolute

Published: Wednesday, 6th April 2011

All seems very quiet today now the racers have left and most of it was spent clearing up and readying the "checkpoint" team to fly out to the old site of the Polaris Mine on Little Cornwallis Island, some 65 miles away. This used to mine some of the highest grade lead and zinc in the world and for a time was home to the largest "roof" in Canada, on top of the hanger they stored the ore in. The roof was red and in the middle was the Canadian Maple leaf symbol, which could be seen from 20 miles away.

Weather was again superb and all the racers made good progress to the first check point. This is very heartening as it undoubtedly gives them a boost in confidence when they are still acclimatising.

We can expect even more out of them later on.

On the Start Line for The Blue Ice Trophy

Published: Tuesday, 5th April 2011 22:30

At 08.30 local time the contestants left the South Camp Inn where they had enjoyed some exceptional food courtesy of cook, Randy, and made their way to the Co-op, where we had laid out the Start Line for the 5th Polar Race. Organiser Jock Wishart read out a weather report $mdash; it is a cold -34 degrees — followed by a "strident" rendition of the poem "The Quitter" by Robert Service.

There was a few tears shed as the racers said their goodbyes, confident in their abilities but still a trifle apprehensive about the coming weeks.

At 09.11 precisely, Jock "fired" the start gun and they were off in the race for the Blue Ice Trophy.

There will only be one team that wins the trophy but if they get to the Pole they will all be winners!

Philosophy Behind Polar Race

Published: Tuesday, 5th April 2011 12:00

Exhilarated from their mini expedition. Some intense final hours of preparation were put in by contestants before the start of the Polar Race 2011.

Duct tape and sewing needles were much in evidence as contestants endeavoured to find ways of optimising their equipment in order to make it as efficient as possible to use – while outside there was not a cloud in the sky and the temperature dropped!

Race Philosophy

A few years ago a newspaper asked me for my thoughts on the ethos and philosophy of the Race which I have been happy to emphasise on a number of previous occasions. I thought it was worth while reprinting these "pearls":

The ethos of the race is similar to that of the London Marathon - some are there to race, but most are there to enjoy the experience and finish the course. It is the same with the Polar Race as there is a winner but those that make it to the finish are also winners having achieved what few people have done in the past and walked to a Pole. In other words I do not see it as an "Adventure" race but rather as an opportunity for people to test themselves against the most extreme environment and push way beyond their own comfort zone.

This ethos meant that in 2007 Jan Meek became at 62 the oldest woman to walk to a Pole.

In 2009 Roger Davies aged 61, who has had a "stent" inserted showed that even after a major operation it is possible to undertake something of this magnitude – an example to us all.

In other words I have never perceived it as being a race for Olympic athletes but rather for those prepared to push their own personal boundaries and learn from the experience!

The Race starts today (Tuesday 5th April) from Resolute Bay at 09.00 local time,(Which is 15.00 BST)

Another Cold Night

Published: Monday, 4td April 2011

Another day, another (very cold) night sees our contestants growing in confidence.

They spent most of the day in glorious sunshine finding their way around myriad GPS Way points some 5-10 miles from Resolute. All successfully accomplished, though 2 of our girls on waking found their "flowing tresses" frozen solid in the -39 degree cold we experienced last night.

The forecast was for another very cold night last night but if they can handle that then everything gets better as the days lengthen and slowly the temperature rises. Today they all arrive back and start to make final preparations for the race itself which starts at 9.00 hrs local time on Tuesday which is 6 hours behind BST.

Mini Expedition Part Two

Published: Sunday, 3rd April 2011 20:00

Written by Jock Wishart

Blessed so far with excellent weather, the competitors were in good spirits as final preparations were made for a mini expedition towards Polaris and then back along the coast to Resolute Bay over the next couple of days.

I walked out with the competitors for about 3 miles until we got well into a rubble field.

When I was sinking up to my kness I decided it was time to turn back!

The competitors were all on skis so they were faring much better but they were all pretty tired when they got to camp that night.

So far everything has gone like clockwork. Ever willing, Tony Woodford was rapidly off on his skidoo to the last reported position of the teams to take doctor Anna Thomas out for a night.

Away again early this morning to pick her up.

As befits a man who has skidooed to a Pole, Tony takes every chance to drive one! He has been with us for every race and ever a glutton for punishment he is back for more!

It is gratifying to see how in just a few "long" days our contestants have come on in mastering Polar skills and how their confidence has grown made easier for them all by the efforts of the support team who really do work like a well oiled machine.

Once again headed up by Steve Pinfield assisted by Danny Munden, who so enjoyed being a competitor in 2007 that he keeps on coming back for more!

Mini Expedition Day One

Published: Sunday, 3rd April 2011

Jock Wishart and Steve Pinfield led the teams out onto the sea ice for the first time today. There first steps out on to the frozen sea mark the beginning of their mini Expedition and in turn the beginning of having to survive and defend themselves on their own.

The gun training led by Tony Woodford was complete and weapons issued and it’s now up to them to scare bears away with bangers and rubber bullets pots and pans and anything else they can pick up too ward it off.

Tonight they will be camping alone on the ice and navigating on to preset way points located in a near buy rubble field and eventually some 10 miles away making camp. The conditions are challenging so we wonder if they will make it in time or break navigation and camp early. The expedition continues tomorrow!

First Nights Out

Published: Saturday, 2nd April 2011

It is always an experience when you spend your first nights out in the Arctic and so it proved for our competitors. There were some tired faces around this morning but they still went to work with gusto having survived the -25°C temperatures of the Arctic night.

The enthusiasm of the racers is inspiring to all of us. Questions are never ending as they work to improve their understanding of the polar environment and how they are going to cope with the challenging conditions. Our instructional team of Steve Pinfield, and Danny Munden have quite a number of years of Arctic experience amongst them and this is being imparted to the contestants.

Around them buzzes "jack of all trades" Tony Woodford who, apart from handling the gun training this year, is busy filming. Meanwhile back in the UK webmaster Chris Walker was busy rewamping the website. What is remarkable about all this is the organisation, all "seamlessly" knowing their jobs.

Everything is also helped by the excellent weather which also gives lots of confidence to our competitors.

I just try and keep up with all their needs!

Brilliant Day in Resolute

Published: Friday, 1st April 2011

We wake to yet another beautiful day in Resolute with the temperature still in the mid teens.

I can not remember a Training week where the weather has been so good.

Snow cover is also excellent as with the slightly higher temps this has encouraged fresh snow rather than just been wind blown.

Good for training certainly but it is due to get colder by the weekend which will really test the Racers's metal. They are a good bunch however and pick up things rapidly so we hope for the best.

Here's some footage of them on skis for the first time (in the arctic anyway!)

Today they cover Polar Bear protection!

We are constantly adding to the photo galleries, so check them often.

First Night on the Ice

Published: Thursday, 31 March 2011 19:26

Another bright morning dawns in Resolute and at projected -18 degrees it is warm, though expected to dip to the mid 20's later in the week. For our racers it was a cold night out as they started the acclimatisation process.

Expectations a of a hot and cozy first night out in the tent may be high but will the teams still be warm and comfortable when the temperatures drop from -19 degree in the early evening to -25 later in the night. With absolutely no wind chill at the moment that's still a barmy day for Resolute town.

By 6am a few of the competitors have been awake all night with the cold and being generally uncomfortable. Sleeping with all your technology in your sleeping bag, your pee bottle and the jostling of your team mates takes some getting used to but on top of that many including Rob Plat, lulled buy the early heat generated by the struggle getting organized, removed all his clothing apart from one sock!

They will all get much more practice in the next few weeks!

Meanwhile, back in the warmth of the South Camp Inn, we once again find that, as always, Resolute has some interesting people moving through it.

The Catlin Arctic team are busy preparing to fly out on their next scientific exercise and hope to at least start from Cape Discovery which so far this season no one has managed to be able to land a plane at as the weather has been too bad!

Warm and windy – a pointer to climate in the Arctic!

Here we are concerned about more mundane things such as some food stores for base. Luckily we bought quite a bit up with us as at $5 for a can of Coke in the Co-op Supermarket it is one of the more expensive places in the world to dine out!

Finally the Racers get to Resolute

Published: Wednesday, 30 March 2011 09:44

The Racers departed Ottawa heading for the capital of the north Iqaluit on a last air flight. Despite some troubles with our now 250kg of food plus equipment we arrived without much incident at the tiny capital of Nunavit. The second flight from Iqaluit to Resolute on the prop plane in the past has been fraught with problems (bumping luggage, bad weather, fuel problems, frozen on board food and having to randomly down to a unknown hut in the middle of nowhere).

This flight was not going to be any different. It was unusually busy as it had passengers waiting from previous flights that had been delayed some days due to bad weather. So there was around twenty on the plane and sure enough we were suddenly diverted to the tiny tiny airport at Hall's Beach. Once on the ground the puddle under the engine gave the problem away. With no parts or engineers our plain was down for good. After some hour or so waiting with no refreshment or information we went in search of the staff only to find them having a nice cup off coffee in their office. We were not amused!

Eventually a decision was made to fly another plane in and take us all the way back to Iqalauit just outside the artic circle. So we have had a brief but interesting visit to the arctic.

By 19:22 Canadian Eastern Time on Tuesday the 29th March we arrive safely in Resolute. With all the kit and racers!

Tomorrow, the racers will spend there first night (of many) outside in a tent in the -25 degree cold. There are a few nervous faces as the deadline looms. The first night out is always the most uncomfortable but as the steep learning curve progresses you quickly become better able to look after yourself and keep warm in the severe cold.

We'll let you know how they got on!

Racers head for Resolute

Published: Sunday, 27 March 2011 11:57

Off early this morning to Resolute in Nunavut,Canada the starting place for our row in 4 months time.

The difference is that the temperature is currently -28 degrees cent.

As the T-shirt says "Resolute may not be the end of the world but you can certainly see it from there".

While out there apart from running our biennial Polar Race we will also be spending time testing some of our weather and communication systems. We will also be carrying out a detailed check of the Camera /Support boat which will be following us for the first 5 days of the attempt. As it has had little use for 5 years we are keen to check it out!!

This is what it looks like at the moment. Behind it is the bay which we hope will be open water in July.

Spent this afternoon at the Boat Race where a very different form of rowing was going on and enjoyed the odd glass of champagne afterwards with the sponsors.

As Resolute is "dry" I appreciated it even more!

3 Days to the Off

Published: Friday, 25 March 2011 19:32

With only a few days to departure from Heathrow to the start of their great adventure packing is now of the greatest importance.

Gone are the days when we could take a mountain of luggage!

Instead everything has to be pushed into a 23kg bag.

In Ottawa our forward team of Tony and Anna have been sorting out the daybags while on Saturday Danny leaves for Resolute to make sure all is ready for Teams arrival on Monday.

It is all about to begin!

Polar Race Promo Video

Published: Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:21

We have Tony Woodford to thank for putting together this new promo video for the Polar Race!

Departure Day Beckons

Published: Friday, 04 March 2011 19:47

With departure day drawing closer. Entrants are attending our annual packing day when we strive to make sure that all equipment actually does end up in Resolute Safely/in one piece/without being " bumped". Easier said than done especially as we have to change planes 3 times!

Shotgun Training

Published: Monday, 29 November 2010 21:14

Polar bears can fly you know!

Rob Platt practises his last line of defence against a hungry polar bear.

An Army marches on its stomach and so does a Polar Racer

Published: Tuesday, 05 October 2010

Dehydrated food is the order of the day and this coming weekend Polar Racers in the 2011 Race will get a chance to sample and choose their favourite meals.

We always like see the faces after they have sampled!!

The first issue of kit will be made available and such diverse subjects such as Polar Bear behaviour and "Health and Hazards" will be dealt with.

From now on it all gets very serious!

Polar Work gies in during Summer Months

Published: Friday, 27 August 2010 08:03

With so much of our clothing being of a very specialist nature it is important that orders go in early to manufacturers. This onerous task is down to Neill Williams who has become an acknowledged expert in this area.

Every Polar Race Neill painstakingly carries out this exercise with meticulous attention to detail. Peoples' clothing must fit well in the Arctic or the consequences can be serious!

Training for The Polar Race and taking on Tough Guys

Published: Monday, 09 August 2010 18:22

For more information on what Tough Guys is all about see: http://www.toughguy.co.uk/

Some of our Competitors had a "day out" at Tough Guys - Here is one person's (Charlie Taylor) account

Hi Jock

Sadly Ed and I arrived in perfect time to change, register and urinate, with not a minute to spare for connecting with Rob. By the time we had finished and got ready to leave he was still on the course and we were unable to get in touch with him. Overall, though, it was a good experience - fun, invigorating and to some extent a man-test; Eddie and I both had the advantage of already having completed a winter Tough Guy each, so knew roughly what to expect. I found the winter version called for more resources when it came to the crunch of digging in and battling ahead against all that the course - and the weather in that instance - had to hold one back. What mattered then, back in 2000, was that I really was 'competing' at a very high level of fitness and aggression, against my Sandhurst training platoon buddies and a bunch of what we at the time though of as 'snivelling civvies'.

This experience was very different.

Ed and I agreed to go round together, though this proved difficult to maintain in practice. One has to be fairly aggressive to jostle and hassle one's way to the front of the queue at the obstacles or to muscle one's way past other people at all over most parts of the course. Suffice it to say, we were generally overtaking people rather than being overtaken until about two-thirds of the way round, when we lost each other. Ed had already been smacked in the head by an underground crawl-tunnel dangling wood log and I had already been landed on by a falling man of some bulk in one of the water obstacles, the overhanging rope-crossing of which I had already abandoned. But I was yet to smack my forehead hard against an underwater beam as I tried clumsily and hastily to emerge into fresh air having passed under it. C'est la vie - the event was all the richer for such minor mishaps and did nothing but serve to reinforce the idea that we were 'Tough Guys'. High obstacles, dark underground spaces full of dangling scaffolding bars and live electric wires, foul-smelling mud pits and snaking hill repetitions all faced one down and were vanquished. The weather was mercifully clement and made for a pleasant country jaunt round the course - arriving at the finish covered absolutely head to toe in various fine muds, with every slightest orifice clogged, smiling, in about 2hrs35mins (me), 2hrs40mins (Eddie) and I believe around the 4hr mark for Rob.

A good day out. We even had a Burger King on the way home as a special treat.

Tough Guys Beckons

Published: Thursday, 01 July 2010 22:08

Normally a quiet time of year for the Polar world but some of our entries for 2011 are off to do the legendary Tough Guys near Birmingham at end of July. A good "bonding" experience to see what they are taking on go to

Visit the Tough Guys Website at www.toughguy.co.uk

More gory details later