To find out more about the Polar Race, please visit the official website www.polarrace.com.  To read James and Jake's own story, scroll to the bottom of this page and work your way up!

Wednesday 2nd May
They've done it! James and Jake crossed the finish line abreast with two other teams. Now they are just waiting in their little tent at the North Pole for the weather to improve so that the plane can come and pick them up.

Tuesday 1st May
Almost there... The final leg is going well and the boys are expecting to reach the final checkpoint (aka The 1996 Certified Magnetic North Pole) tomorrow!

Saturday 28th April
James and Jake finish the Third Leg in the lead. And again, just in front of Polar Horizon. An impressive effort considering the backtracking and 2 hour penalty after dropping their gun and a set of skis!

Wednesday 25th April
Team Refuge put in the longest day of trekking by any team.  Unfortunately not all in the right direction due to some equipment that had come loose and some backtracking was needed to reclaim it.  But they pushed hard to remain in pole position overnight.

Tuesday 24th April
The third leg gets under way...

Sunday 22nd April
We are sent this press release and photos from the race organisers.

Saturday 21st April
A 2am start meant Team Refuge finished the second leg again in pole position - good dedication James and Jake! They'll have plenty of time to sleep in waiting for all the other teams to finish this leg.

Thursday 19th April
Still in second place on this second leg, but apparently only yards in it. Still, there is plenty of racing left (unluckily for them...)

Wednesday 18th April 07
They've lost the lead! The organisers may say this is more about the experience for Polar novices, but surely a race is still a race!

Monday 16th April 07
The first day of the second leg finishes with Jake and James in front, but only just.

Sunday 15th April 07
The second leg start has been delayed until tomorrow morning.  Jake's message from the pole about the polar bear incident reaches us from the race organisers.

Thursday 12th April 07
Team Refuge are first into Polaris, winning the first leg, nearly 3 hours ahead of the runners up.  Well done James and Jake!.  They now have a few days rest until the others have caught up....

Wednesday 11th April 07
Polar Bear encounter!!! They've both had their first wish of seeing a polar bear granted, and luckily the second wish too (the one where the bear doesn't get too close...). First Customs sniffer dogs, now young polar bears, here's hoping our boys stop attracting any more animals and just continue with their superb progress to next checkpoint!

Tuesday 10th April 07
Team Refuge literally leading the way...

Monday 9th April 07
They're off!  Conditions take a turn for the worst as competitors ready themselves for the start.  Watch the "Final Words from the Starting Line" video on The Polar Race Video Page for Jake's feelings just before the off.

Sunday 8th April 07
First night on the ice before the race begins and the boys aren't feeling as "fresh" as they might. View the video in the "first Night on the Ice" section of The Polar Race Video Page

The Adventure Begins
James causes some worry by attracting the attentions of the sniffer dogs at Ottawa Airport.  View the video near the bottom of The Polar Race Video Page