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The Ice Maidens, a team of British Army women, will be taking part in this year’s Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management Guernsey Marathon as part of their endurance training, in their bid to be the first all-female military team to cross the South Pole.
The team is part of the military expedition ‘Exercise Ice Maiden’ which could see them attempt to trek the 1700km across Antarctica in October 2017, in temperatures as low as – 50°C and wind speeds of over 60mph.
On Sunday 28 August, at the Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management Marathon, the group of five women, which includes a mix of regular and reserve army personnel, will be toughing it out pulling training tyres in the relay race.
More than 250 women applied to take part in the Antarctic adventure and Guernsey girl Private Rin Cobb has made it to the half-way point in the selection process.
A dietitian by day, Private Cobb is a combat medical technician in the Royal Army Medical Corps and is based at 7 Rifles (A Coy) Reserves. She has run the Guernsey Marathon before but this time she will be joined by four of her Ice Maiden teammates to take part in the relay race.
Race director, Peter Head said: “I am immensely proud that Rin is bringing her fellow Ice Maiden hopefuls to compete in the Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management Guernsey Marathon as part of their endurance training.
“It is a fantastic achievement for all the ladies to make it to this stage of ‘Exercise Ice Maiden’ and we’ve got our fingers crossed that Rin can go all the way to Antarctica.”
The current military squad of 12 women will be whittled down to between six and eight in November 2016 to take on the final Antarctica expedition.
If the Ice Maidens complete their almighty challenge they will be the first all-female British Military team to cross the entire Antarctic landmass under their own power.
Through Exercise Ice Maiden, the Army aims to inspire a new era of female expeditionary spirit within the military and promote the development of leadership, teamwork and physical courage; all of which are vital for leading military expeditions.
Head of wealth management at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management in Guernsey, Andy Finch said: “The Ice Maidens are a truly inspirational group of women and we’re very excited that they’ve chosen to tackle the Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management Guernsey Marathon as part of their extensive training in preparation for the expedition.
“It will be fantastic to see the team pulling their training tyres around the island and no easy feat so we hope spectators will give the ladies an extra big cheer of encouragement when they see them.”
With just under a month to go there is still time to register for the Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management Guernsey Marathon on Sunday 28 August.
Runners can enter as a relay team of two, completing a half marathon each, or a team of five completing sections between 3.8 and 6.6 miles. Entrants can secure their place at the starting line by registering online at www.guernseymarathon.gg
