Fulda Challenge Selection
Fulda Team Selected
Anita Patchett / 04.10.2005
After the final half marathon stage the two-person team – Martin Yardley, a Royal Marine Physical Training Instructor from Portsmouth and Kate Balchin, a Metropolitan Police Officer from Bagshot in Surrey – now face the ultimate Arctic adventure as they prepare to represent the UK in the sixth Fulda Challenge. Combined, their sporting abilities make them a powerful team who are determined to do well.
Runners-up Mark Chryssanthou and Karen McDonald narrowly missed team selection but will maintain their fitness and remain on stand-by.
Nine teams from around the world will compete in next year’s Fulda Challenge, including Canada, Poland, Belgium, Austria, The Netherlands and Germany. The competition will take place from 28 January to 7 February 2006. As well as experiencing magnificent scenery, the teams will undertake a series of demanding activities such as ice climbing, cross-country skiing, mountain bike racing, chasm crossing, snowshoe trekking and much more.
Martin’s experience is considerable as training is part of his daily work regime. He is also a ski instructor, which will stand him in good stead for some of the tough winter events in Canada.
"I am very, very pleased,� Martin said. “I feel honoured to have made it through because the competition was so close. I have trained really hard for this and I feel like I deserve it. I am really looking forward to competing with Kate – we will make a strong team and we'll work well together.
“I'm in Canada over Christmas and I plan to do some training in Norway if I can. I'm also going to do some skidpan training in preparation for driving on ice.�
Kate, who has been running for three years and competing in triathlons for only two and a half, already has a number of accolades under her belt. In the World Police Games, which were held in Quebec earlier this year, Kate won three gold medals in triathlon, open-water swimming and team cross-country.
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