Fulda Challenge
A Final Flourish
Caroline Pick / 09.02.2004
British fortune finally took a turn for the better when a member of each of the two British teams recorded wins on the final day of the Fulda Tyres Arctic Challenge. Gill Watson collected a maximum nine points in the three-lap, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) race held on the outskirts of Dawson City - the historic home of 30,000 Klondike Gold Rushers. Barry Nutley, 59, the oldest competitor in the nine-country international competition, powered to victory in the men\'s event. \"I\'d hoped for a win,\" said Barry, a sales manager for Fulda Tyres and former motorcycle racer from Bridgnorth. \"But I just didn\'t quite think it would happen.\"
Barry\'s team-mate, Clare Dawson, finished sixth. \"I was delighted,\" Clare said. \"I\'ve never been on an ATV before. I think many Canadians are born on them. They are used for fun and for hunting.\" Gill\'s team-mate Gary Bullen, finished fifth.
Following the ATV event, the challenge climaxed with a daunting climb up a 20-metre frozen waterfall. Using crampons, ice picks and a rope, the competitors faced a race against the clock with the fastest team scoring the most points.
Gill Watson surprised herself by finishing third: \"I hadn\'t climbed ice for years and only managed to try it once before coming over here to compete,\" she said. \"I love it. I did fairly well. I think I may take it up.\" Gary Bullen finished eighth and Barry Nutley again surprised everyone when he scampered up the waterfall to finish sixth. \"I did as well as anyone on the British teams who have been over here to compete in the last couple of years,\" Barry said. \"I\'m delighted - I also may take it up!\"
Final results show the British \"A\" team in sixth place with 127 points, well behind leaders Canada. Gary Bullen was impressed with the level of competition the team faced: \"The Canadians were at times in a class of their own,\" said Gary. \"The overall standard of the athletes was high. We were up against the likes of Ironman tri-athletes and alpine winter sports instructors.\"
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Greg McHale, 31, and his wife Denise, 30, each collected a $5,000 gold nugget in Dawson City on Sunday night after winning. \"It was so close,\" said Dawson-based McHale. \"We weren\'t sure of a win until the end of the 13 events.\" See All Event Posts
