UK Team Selected for Arctic Challenge

The 2005 UK Fulda Challenge team has been selected following a gruelling final elimination event held in Sulden, Italy.

The final two-person team will be Richard Jackson, an offshore engineer from Newcastle and Emmie Gribble, a marketing manager from London. Runners-up Greame Hobson and Claire Blewden narrowly missed team selection but will maintain their fitness and remain on stand-by.

The Fulda Artic Challenge will take place in the Yukon Territory from 29 January to 8 February 2005. The Yukon is situated in the Canadian Cordillera, a mountainous belt with a sub-zero climate. As well as experiencing the magnificent scenery, the team will undertake a series of demanding activities including ice climbing, cross country skiing, mountain bike racing, chasm crossing, snowshoe trekking and much more.

The two-person team was picked following a national selection event held between 30 September and 3 October. Five men and four women travelled to Italy to compete for selection and two coveted tickets to Canada. Awaiting them were three days of intense physical challenge designed to test fitness, endurance, determination and driving ability.

Following six years in the British Army, Richard Jackson (who was born in Yorkshire) has a strong fitness background and teaches a number of outdoor pursuits including, rock climbing, sailing, mountaineering, kayaking and caving. “The experience in Sulden has been exceptional. I have travelled around the world leading expeditions but have never competed in an event like this before. I haven’t managed to fit in much training since the initial selection event in Devon, but I ran the Great North Run last weekend for a bit of a warm up.”

Richard Jackon’s, team-mate is similarly motivated and has extensive experience. A former BBC SAS Desert Are You Tough Enough? competitor, she ran her first marathon in 2000, later she moved into triathlon qualifying for 2003 World Championships in New Zealand.

“The team in Italy was great and, despite all of us wanting to win, we have pushed each other all the way. There are some very good runners from the other countries so this will be one of my main goals. I also have a long distance triathlon coming up in Ibiza. We are going to Canada for a win and will not be satisfied with anything less,” commented Emmie Gribble.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2006 challenge for the next Fulda challenge.