21st
April 2009 Cornish Pirates intrepid match day
steward Steve Pinfield is presently a member of the checkpoint team that is overseeing
competitors taking part in the 'The Polar Race', which is considered the ultimate
challenge. The Polar Race was inspired by two
of the best known British adventurers, Jock Wishart and David Hempleman-Adams,
who in 1996 organised the "expedition with a difference" when they successfully
took ten novices selected from 500 applicants on the first ever televised trek
to the Magnetic North Pole. 
Six
years later, the two men joined forces again to recreate their historic trek,
but this time as a race,and following expert advice from Jock, David and fellow
race organisers, all nine competitors who entered the race completed the 350 plus
nautical miles on foot and ski, and towing a sledge over seaice and arctic islands!
This year's race started at Resolute Bay (Nunavut, Canada),
which is one of the northernmost inhabited settlements, and the finish line is
four checkpoints later at the Magnetic North pole. In temperatures
that have hit as low as -50 degrees Steve has run the intensive one week training
course for competitors, and overseen safety needs. During
the past week he advises that all is going well after some big storms, and when
the temperature rose to a very balmy -20, Steve lay curled in his sleeping bag
listening to the dogs howl and dreaming of his next dip into Mounts Bay! The
race involves 14 competitors who are split into five teams. Only one team can
lift the Trophy, but all who reach the Pole will be winners. Steve
keeps all his clothing and equipment in a shelter box, which has served him well,
and has helped hold down the tent in some of the storms. There
has also been evidence of polar bears, but only one team has so far met one face
to face. As a member of the checkpoint team, Steve flies
north to checkpoint 3, and then with a colleague will ski the last 120 kms. He
has done the whole distance on ski four times previously, so feels confident about
getting to the end. His thoughts are with us, as he monitors the rugby results,
and ours are with him. We wish everyone well | 
