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Last Updated: Tuesday, 6 April, 2004, 11:56 GMT 12:56 UK
Female adventurers head for pole
Philippa Thompson, Jocie Robertson and Clare Kavanagh - members of the Arctic Angels polar race team
The three women will trek across Arctic wastelands
Three female explorers are due to leave Britain on Tuesday in their attempt to become the first all-woman team to race to the North Pole.

The group will head to Canada from Heathrow Airport, before starting a 280-mile trek across arctic wasteland.

Philippa Thompson, 32, Clare Kavanagh, 30, both from Poole, Dorset, and Jocie Robertson, 30, from Bristol, hope to walk and ski into record books.

Each competitor must haul a 90-kilo sled along the route.

"We are all excited about the race and just want to get out there and get on with it," said Philippa.

"It will be unbelievable to become the first all-female team to complete the race, it is a real goal to aim for."

She said the team had been in training for six months, combining hill walking and gym work with a trial trek in Norway.

During the race - expected to last up to three weeks - the women will face temperatures of -35C and risk frostbite and dehydration.

The team is expected to begin the race on 13 April and return to Britain on 29 April.


SEE ALSO:
Plea to save 'Arctic Angels' mission
06 Jan 04  |  Hampshire/Dorset
'Arctic Angels' aim for polar record
24 Dec 03  |  Bristol/Somerset


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