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Race Statistics

Race commentary:

Team Pink Lady^® completed the 360-mile Scott Dunn Polar Challenge just before midnight last night (Thursday May 5), achieving 6th place out of 16 teams thanks to a 'sprint finish' to pass two other male teams.

Speaking briefly on a satellite phone before returning to Resolute Bay in Canada, Felicity Aston said, "Our first emotion is relief that we haven't let any of our many supporters back home down, relief that all the money pledged for charity will be safely in the bank and relief that after a year of training and preparation we have made it - all three of us. Tori James is the youngest woman to ever complete the Polar Challenge race.

"The excitement of it all is starting to kick in. We are quite exhausted as we made a conscious decision to only sleep for one hour in the last 36 hours of the race because we wanted to pass two other teams we could see ahead of us.

Tori James added, "The team cannot wait to celebrate with everyone back home, our sponsors Pink Lady apples, who are absolutely delighted for us, our patron Caroline Hamilton and everyone who has worked so hard to make this possible.

"We want to tell the world how we feel but will have to wait for the plane to pick us up and take us back home. I'm not sure how we are going to be able to contain ourselves!

"Celebrations will start with a hot shower and a fresh set of clothes followed by a delicious meal!"

Andy Macdonald from Pink Lady Apples said, "Anyone who has met the girls will know they all have star quality but their achievement is quite astonishing. They are an inspiration to us all about what can be accomplished through gritty determination, training and a desire to get the most out of life. They are quite an amazing bunch of ladies."

Team Message History

4th May:Tough day sledges rolilng around a lot, we all have aches and pains, but trying for finish tomorrow, very excited!

3rd May: Had a good sleep at CP 2, made a big sacrifice and left toothbrushes and moisturiser at CP 2 to make us as light as possible. Pushing hard for the last leg.

2nd May:

Tori: "I need a hot shower!"

Felicity: "Missing fresh underpants! I have sore feet but am doing well. Love to my little brother and little sister."

Sam: "I want a bacon sandwich! Had a good 1 or 2 days but then we spent 6 hours in the tent due to bad weather."

1st May: Conditions are getting more difficult but we are still moving along well.

30th April: Difficult day, lumpy sea, soggy snow, not great weather. Been overtaken by one team today, very frustrating.

29th April: These last couple of days have been difficult but we are now in the Check Point recuperating ready for a fresh start on the next leg.

28th April: Today was a difficult day for the team. We ran into difficulties and had to pitch the tent. We rested during the day, and all is now well again. We mean to travel during the night and are eager to make up for lost time!

27th April: We're back on skis in spectacular scenery. Finally left Bathurst today. Phil the bulldog is being looked after, Pete - I'm stomping along to Kosheen!
Hi mum, Dad and Liz from Tori.

26th April: Tough day across Bathurst chasing 2 teams all day, we're on their tails!

25th April: Team is all well!

24th April: This morning we set off from the Polar Challenge Startline. The weather today has been great and we have had a steady start.

23rd April: Everyone's in fantastic team spirits and the Pink Lady^® PoleCats set off with everyone else and everyone got a good start.

21st April: Had a head wind all day, we are all fine and tuned up for the last day into the start line. Hi to all that are watching.

19th April: Looking at the map last night, tracing the route of the race, Sam had a revelation, 'Its a bloody long way!'. Working in nautical miles disguises the distances. Its only when you translate them into km that you realise just how far we have to go!

10nm today and two days to the start line. We've been walking over the sea ice all day. It's so thick and solid that you would never realise there was an ocean underneath. The sea ice isn't flat and icy like an ice rink. It's covered in snow that has been blown by the wind into miniture dunes called sastrugi. Occasionally lumps of ice stick through - some of it is a unreal blue. Very beautiful but rough going with a sledge in tow. Hope we don't come across too much of that.

18th April: Glad to be on our way after a hectic 24 hours of last minute preparations. Fantastic sunny day to start. Everyone enjoying themselves..

On landing in Ottowa, 17th April: Hello from Team Pink Lady^®! We've made it safely to Ottowa and are now awaiting our flight to Resolute Bay. There's a stop over in Iqualuit but the landing's dependant on weather due to storms up there. Temperature in Iqualuit is -19. Who knows what it will be in Resolute. The team are all well and very excited

The Race

Set up only two years ago, the Scott Dunn Polar Challenge has already established itself as one of the toughest adventure races in the world.

The subject of a hugely popular BBC2 documentary series called "The Challenge" aired in the autumn of 2004, the Scott Dunn Polar Challenge has been ranked alongside some of the greatest tests of human endurance, such as climbing Mount Everest and The BT Global Challenge.

Less than half the teams completed the race in 2004.

No female team has ever finished.

Team Pink Lady^® intend to change this.

Race Facts

Start: Polaris Mine, Canadian Nunavut Territory

Finish: The 1996 Certified Magnetic Pole position (Isachsen Mine)

Date:  22nd April 2005

Duration: 3 weeks max

Distance: 368 miles (approx. 20 miles/day)

Load:  Each team member will be dragging a sledge weighing over 60 kilogrammes containing equipment and supplies. 

Temperature:  From -20°C to -40°C on a good day, down to -70°C with wind chill.

Terrain: Bewteen 0-600m elevation over frozen sea ice and land.

Food:  Dehydrated rations (yum, yum!)

Water: Melted snow and ice!

Risks: Frostbite, polar bears and dehydration.

Support:  Satellite phones, flares, rifles and personal locator beacons.  Additional ground crew support (including a doctor) at checkpoints, base camp and on skidoos.