The competitors trained for the gruelling race by dragging tyres

Three British men have beaten their compatriots to win the first race to the North Pole.

Chris McLeod of Chichester, Phil Ashby from Cirencester and Manley Hopkinson of Twickenham reached the pole late on Thursday, having travelled 350 miles in just under 23 days.

They were one of four teams who left Resolute Bay in Nunavut, Canada, on 9 April for what organisers described as "probably the world's toughest race".

The teams had to drag their supplies behind them on skis in temperatures as low as minus 40 C.

The adventurers also had to deal with extreme conditions, polar bears and injury.

'Amazing performance'

Organiser Jock Wishart said: "Their performances were quite amazing, astounding the locals with the speed they were travelling at in the severe conditions."

Mr Wishart, a member of the first team to walk unsupported to the Geomagnetic North Pole said they had set "a standard which will be difficult to beat in future years".

The winning trio take the Wedgwood Blue Ice Trophy for the Polar Race 2003.

Second place went to Tony Martin of Cirencester and former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody, from London.

Dunwoody overcame a multitude of injuries, including a twice-dislocated shoulder, to finish a few hours after the winning team.

Sub-zero gym

The competitors' pre-race training included dragging tyres and even a plane around an airfield.

They also set up a sub-zero gym in a supermarket freezer.

Proceeds from the race will go to the Bobby Moore Foundation.

The fund raises money for research into bowel cancer and aims to increase awareness of the symptoms so that people are diagnosed earlier.