Team Missing link find the winning connection

In the steps of Amundsen, Team Missing Link have won the historic Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race arriving at the South Pole at approximately 7pm on Wednesday 21st January, having covered 769km’s in 17 days and 11 hours – a quite incredible achievement.

Rune Malterud (27) and Stian Aker (28) were ‘elated, emotional and extremely exhausted’ (picture attached) having put in gruelling 40-50 km days and only sleeping for a few hours a night throughout the race.

After planting their flag at the pole, they thanked Team QinetiQ for making the race so competitive.

Team QinetiQ - James Cracknell, Ben Fogle and Ed Coats - look set to finish second (likely to reach the pole this afternoon) and have also covered impressive distances daily, travelling up to 46 kms and also sleeping only a few hours at a time (listen to the Team QinetiQ audio blog of day 16 for a great description of a ‘normal’ race day – www.amundsenomeg3southpolerace.com)



Team Danske Bank are likely to finish in third place place (likely arrival on Friday / Saturday) with Team Due South and Team South Pole Flag still battling it out for fourth (Saturday / Sunday arrival). South Pole Flag’s Mark Pollock’s progress in the race has been described by his team mates as “unbelievable and inspirational” and he is set to now go into the record books as the first blind man to conquer the pole in this way.

Team Southern Lights, the eldest team in the race have been helped by the support team along the way, yet nevertheless have put in a monumental effort and will reach the South Pole on skis.



All competitors have suffered from sprains, blisters and fatigue in temperatures as low as minus 40 degress centigrade with wind chill. A British explorer, Conrad Dickinson sums up:

“Getting to the South Pole is extremely hard and I take my hat off to those that even attempt the journey. The full journey is on par with the mental and physical difficulties of SAS selection”.

Team QinetiQ (James Cracknell, Ben Fogle and Ed Coats) reached the South Pole at approx 3.30pm yesterday afternoon having completed the historic Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race in 18 days, 5 hours and 30 minutes and finishing second to the Norwegian Team, Missing Link.

Team Southern Lights will arrive at the Pole today, having been helped a little along the way, so will finish the race, although will not be placed.

Team South Pole Flag and Team Due South are still in the battle for 4th place and likely to arrive at the pole on Sunday or Monday.

The teams will remain at the South Pole base for a few days before flying back to Novo.

They are then likely to return to South Africa on 30th January and the UK on 3rd February.

Team QinetiQ taking the lead

Team QinetiQ (James Cracknell, Ben Fogle and Ed Coats) still just hold the lead in the Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race, having led from the start so far and blazing the trail with some 15 hour plus days.

The Norwegian duo, Team Missing Link, are now within a kilometre of Team QinetiQ though, having put in a day in excess of 40km’s and the next few days will be crucial.

Team Due South and Team South Pole Flag are battling out third place currently, with Team Danske Bank closing on them. Team Southern Lights are still bringing up the rear, although still covering some impressive distance daily.

Most competitors are suffering with minor ailments – slight sprains, muscle aches, blisters and colds – and team work is going to become even more vital in the oncoming days with the sunny and clear skies set to close in and white out conditions predicted. This will mean navigation and strategy will be paramount, and although the temperatures have already dropped to about minus 40 degrees centigrade on the Polar plateau, these will have more effect when the sun disappears.

The attached picture is of Team QinetiQ, the race leaders.

Race delayed after blizzards

The Blizzard-like conditions that have hindered progress in Antarctica have finally abated and the six teams are at the start line ready to race.

After completing the 100 miles of Crevasse Field training, they have spent a few frustrating days practically tent-bound and taking it in turns to dig their tents free of drifting snow, at temperatures of approx -25 degrees centigrade.

This has delayed the race start but it now commences tomorrow on Sunday 4th January at 2009 - 430 nautical miles across the largest ice cap in the world to the Geographic South Pole.

Daily race updates and team blogs will be available on www.amundsenomega3southpolerace.com and further e mail updates will be sent out every few days. The next opportunity to interview competitors will be at the first checkpoint, approx half way and 15 days into the race (map attached).

The attached picture shows the competitors camp at the end of Crevasse Field Training.




Please visit www.amundsenomega3southpolerace.com for additional information and individual biographies as well as details of the teams own websites and the charities they support.