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Polar Race 2005 News - Pre-Race Preparation25 March 2022 - The final team name has been registered — "Neways Polar Team"We are pleased to announce the name of our sixth, and final, team. The "Neways Polar Team" comprises photographer and trekking guide Christina Franco, and soldier, turned company director Justin Packshaw. Although the last team to register a name, Christina and Justin have been training together for many months in preparation for the Polar Race. For the full list of teams and participants, visit our Teams page. 20 March 2022 - Arctic Medicine This weekend, expedition doctor Mike Whiteside gave our final UK based training session, on Arctic Medicine. Dr Mike covered the full range of ailments and injuries that our Polar Racers need to be prepared to deal with, and how best to avoid them in the first place. Not just the obvious cold weather injuries: frostnip, frostbite, snow blindness and hypothermia; but also more traditional trekking injuries: blisters, bruised nails, dehydration and sunburn. And not forgetting that our racers will be spending many hours in a tent with a gas stove, he also covered burns and carbon monoxide poisoning! During the race, all teams will be provided with a comprehensive medical kit, and Dr Mike will be out in the Arctic on 24-hour call-out should any emergencies arise. 15 March 2022 - Polar Race Branded Clothing Now Available You've read the website. You've seen the photos. Now get the T-shirt! Polar Adventures is pleased to announce the availability of Polar Race branded clothing and accessories from our partner, World Leisurewear. To see what's on offer, visit the Polar Race page of World Leisurewear's website at www.worldleisurewear.com/polarrace. It's what all the best-dressed polar explorers are wearing this year! 7 March 2022 - New look website With the start of the race drawing near, the Polar Race website switches into "race mode" to provide instant access to news for family, friends and the press. The front page of the website has been redesigned to provide an at-a-glance overview of the race together with direct links to all the main pages of the site. Over the coming few weeks we will be adding more pages of interest. And during the race itself we will be writing a daily race diary to keep everyone up to speed with the latest race progress. If there's anything you would like to see on the website, do let us know! 15 February 2022 - "How to Become a Film Director" The next training session for our racers is on how to get the best out of their cameras. Important for those who may only have this one chance to visit the Arctic. This session is being run by leading adventure cameraman Kees 't Hooft whose CV includes a month in a snow hole in South Georgia; two trips up Everest; crossing the Bering Straits on an amphibious ski-slope grooming machine; and last but not least, the strange world of "extreme ironing"! 13 January 2022 - And Linford Christie came too!! Throwing off the effects of the Christmas turkey was the order of last weekend as many of our contestants congregated on a 10 square mile area of sand dunes in Wales to play. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, we had chosen a 36 hour weather window when we were not being buffeted by wind and rain -- so NO tents taking off. Racing in teams up and around sand dunes showed the contestants how they were 'stacking up' physically and this was followed up the next day by them getting used to pulk (sledge) pulling -- considerably harder on the sand than on ice. With them all, in addition, having to locate various waypoints in the confusing terrain, it was certainly demanding. Just to cool them off, a dip in the sea was followed by a race to get their tents up before the fast advancing tide got them first. Back on the sand dunes, Linford Christie demonstrated how it could be done! For more pictures of the day, see the Polar Race Gallery. 6 January 2022 - A "Guid" New Year to all present and future contestants All of us here at Polar Adventures hope you had a great festive season, and wish you a "Guid" New Year. But now the festivities are over it's straight back to training for our racers. They are all looking forward to a windy experience on the sand dunes in Wales this weekend in our "I'm A Polar Race Contestant, Get Me Out Of Here!" contest. Full report and pictures later next week. 5 December 2021 - Guns blaze in Wiltshire Making people comfortable with guns was the 'order of the day' as some of our contestants took the opportunity to try their hands at different types of clay pigeon shooting at the weekend — clays being much smaller than any predator they might face in the Arctic! At the same time the chance was also taken to familiarise themselves with the Garmin GPS they have been issued with. All part of the ongoing training schedule with its regular monthly meetings. The smiles at the end of the day testified to the success of the exercise! 19 November 2021 - Best foot forward for 1000 Mile Socks At the final personal equipment fitting session held last Sunday 14th November, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, organisers and UK contestants welcomed competitors from Australia, Italy and South Africa who were over to pick up their equipment, all of which they keep after the Polar Race to hopefully use in future challenges. With the exception of a few minor items all competitors are now fully kitted up for the race in April next year allowing them the maximum time to prepare and, where necessary, make alterations to their equipment. Although contestants were engrossed in studying the Polar charts and working out strategies for the Race, time was still found to put a 'best foot forward' for 1000 Mile Socks, a sponsor of the race. The next training session is on December the 5th when contestants will be learning about 'gun handling' and carrying out practical GPS work. 8 November 2021 - When is a 'small' not a 'small'? To give contestants in next year's Polar Race the maximum time to break in their equipment and make adjustments, personal equipment was issued to contestants recently at a meeting in Tetbury, Gloucs. As can be seen from our usually chic Clare Winnick, despite careful measurements having been taken a fitting is all important! At the same meeting all contestants were taken through the Race rules to make sure that everyone understood them and to allow everyone a chance to debate any issues. At Polar Adventures we consider regular training sessions and seminars on the skills required to live, work and now race in the most extreme environment in the world to be all important and a very necessary part of our commitment to make sure everyone gets safely to the finish. These seminars are held on a regular monthly basis and cover every subject from "Personal Fitness" to "Health and Hazards", from "Sponsorship Finding" to "Handling the Media", from "Using a GPS" to "Gun Handling". 12 October 2021 - Polar Race 2005 Rules are published Polar Adventures Ltd is pleased to announce publication of the official rules for Polar Race 2005. The rules are based on those first used so successfully in Polar Race 2003. They have undergone many revisions since, helping to improve even further the safety aspects, together with fine tuning the logistics of the Race. The full race rules can be found on the Polar Race website, at www.polarrace.com/rules.htm. 28 September 2021 - Statement from Polar Adventures Ltd re the true origins of the Polar Race 
The Polar Race was originated and organised by two of Britain's
leading adventurers, David Hempleman-Adams and Jock Wishart.
The first race was held in April 2003 with all competitors safely and successfully making the finish. The race follows the course taken by the two adventurers when they piloted the route with the first ever "novices expedition" from Resolute to the Magnetic North Pole in 1996. The Canadian government asked them to take the official measurements that year of the Magnetic Pole position to verify the computer model of the Magnetic Pole that is the responsibility of their government and is overseen by the University of Calgary. Hence we have the official race course. These two well known adventurers are aware that other organisations are now copying their idea, but wish to sound a word of caution that the Arctic is still a highly dangerous place and must always be treated with respect. Results show that the Polar Race, run by Jock Wishart, is the proven safe way to master the ultimate polar challenge. 17 September 2021 - Another team announced — "The Cable & Wireless Polar Team" Reflecting their sponsors we now have "The Cable & Wireless Polar Team", from the Channel Islands. 
The team comprises
Simon Elmont and
Steve Wright, both telephone
engineers with Cable & Wireless Guernsey Ltd.
On announcing their team, Simon said: "The Cable & Wireless Polar Team are thrilled and excited to be taking part in Polar Race 2005. We are continuing our preparations and training with enthusiam, and are committing all our time and resources in making sure that we are as prepared as we can be for the adventure that we are to face." 14 September 2021 - The first team name has been registered — "Gentlemen Adventurers" The competitors for Polar Race 2005 are in the process of forming themselves into teams of two or three people, to battle it out in the Arctic next year. One of the many important decisions to make when forming a team is the team name! We are proud to announce that "Gentlemen Adventurers" is the first team name to be chosen for the Race. The name has been registered by a team of two doctors, James Laban and Will Morton. There will be more news on the Gentlemen Adventurers, and of the other teams competing in Polar Race 2005 in later bulletins. 8 September 2021 - Polar Race Rules to be published in October The Rules for Polar Race 2005, which will be held in April next year, will be published on the Polar Race website in late October. This will be following a meeting in mid October to go through the rules with all competitors who are presently signed up. 21 August 2021 - Steve Pinfield: Top man in the Polar field 
Steve Pinfield who is heading up our checkpoint teams in next year's
Polar Race is recognised as one of the leading men in his field.
He spent eight years in Antarctica as Head Field Guide and Base Commander for the Adventure Network International (ANI) base in Patriot Hills. He is very much a "people person". 3 August 2021 - Founders stress that careful preparation is the "key to success" in Polar Race Since almost a year ago, October 2003, contestants accepted for the Polar Race, which was conceived, originated and organised by two of Britain's most successful adventurers David Hempleman-Adams and Jock Wishart, have been undergoing a regular course of instructions in how to survive and race in the most extreme conditions in the world. Even before acceptance into the race itself, applicants had to undergo a series of interviews and psychometric tests to make sure that they have the mental and psychological "stability" to undertake the race. It would not be fair on themselves nor their team mates if this was not the case. Aspects of the race covered so far have mostly been theoretical, ranging from Health & Hazards to Clothing & Equipment. Training sessions are led by seasoned Arctic explorers such as Neill Williams and Richard Bull. Also, as attracting publicity is new to many of the contestants, training has included this too; everything from "Dealing with the media" to being issued with a sponsorship blueprint from which to formulate their own.
Jock Wishart said: "The process is essentially a refinement of what was done last year in preparation for Polar Race 2003, when all starters successfully and safely reached the finish line. 2003 was a great success, and we can build on lessons learned then to make it even better this time. We are having to be even more thorough and professional in our approach because that's what's now being demanded by the Canadian authorities with whom we are working. This in turn is good news for our contestants in achieving their goals." 25 July 2021 - An International Flavour for the next Polar Race in 2005 Entries from outside the UK have so far been received from Australia, Italy and South Africa for next year's Polar Race, which is due to be held in April and May next year starting from Resolute Bay in Nunavut, Canada. In addition, provisional teams have now been drawn up from the individual entries and these will be unveiled in October. There are so far three ladies entered either as individuals or as part of a team for "probably the world's toughest race". 24 June 2022 - Most experienced 'on ice' support team ever, having organised over 100 polar expeditions Polar Adventures today named the 'on ice' support team for the second Polar Race, to be held in April 2005. The 'on ice' support team will be lead by Steve Pinfield, Neill Williams and Richard Bull who between them have organised and supported well over 100 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. The first Polar Race, which was conceived and originated by two of Britain's leading adventurers, David Hempleman-Adams and Jock Wishart was run for the first time in 2003. Starting from Resolute Bay in Nunavut, Canada and finishing at the 1996 certified position of the Magnetic North Pole, it is one of the world's toughest races. 
Jock Wishart, principal organiser of the Polar Race said:
"Recent events have shown just how dangerous the Arctic can be
for the uninitiated and how important it is to have only the most
experienced people in support, advising and helping the competitors
and being able to react quickly and positively in an emergency. This
will give great confidence to our present and future competitors in
the race. I am delighted. One could not wish for a better or more
experienced team."
Further announcements on 'base' and 'on ice' support personnel will be made in the Autumn. Continue to Later News Items
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