Richard Dunwoody and the

Interchange Shackleton South Pole Expedition 2007

Fifty years ago this winter the world watched on as scientists from many countries engaged in the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, setting out from opposite sides of the continent to meet at the South Pole.  The great British explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs then continued to complete the first ever crossing of the White Continent.

Half a century on, three times Champion jockey, Richard Dunwoody MBE, sets out on his toughest challenge to date as he undertakes an unsupported expedition to the geographic South Pole on a route that has never been conquered before.  He’ll be accompanied by two companions, explorer and broadcaster Doug Stoup and James Fox, a chartered surveyor and semi-professional photographer who has experience of mountain climbing. Richard himself has already completed two Arctic challenges, and participated in an exhibition to Mt. Aconcagua in the Andes. He’s been training throughout the year in Norway and Sweden, and has also spent up to 18 hours a week pulling tyres at home.

Although he’s not actually from Oxfordshire you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise, as Richard Dunwoody’s connections with the local area are long-lasting. Born in Belfast, he moved to England as a child and his first job after leaving school was as a pupil assistant at Tim Forster's racing stables in Letcombe Bassett, where he stayed for five years and experienced his first rides. Shortly after turning professional in 1984 he bought his first house, a two bed terrace in Stanford in the Vale, and he has lived elsewhere in the county since. Richard achieved 1699 wins in his career but retired in 1999 with a neck injury, but he is still involved with horses locally and he holds regular racing clinics at Holistic Horses in Kingston Lisle, where he trains and advises those interested in riding and racing horses. 

The virgin route to the South Pole that Richard and his companions will be taking begins at the Filchner Ice Shelf where Fuchs wintered at the Shackleton base before proceeding on tractors to the Pole to meet Sir Edmund Hillary.  Leaving in late November, Richard will not be travelling on a tractor but trekking around 650 miles in temperatures averaging at minus 40 degrees, pulling a 200 pound sled, on skis, across uninhabitable terrain for up to 14 hours a day and burning up to 8,000 calories a day.  The route includes a gruelling climb to the Pole which due to the narrow altitude at the Pole is effectively a climb of over 12,000 to 14,000 ft – almost as high as France’s Mont Blanc.

As well continuing to push himself to the limits, Richard is doing the South Pole expedition to raise money for his three chosen charities: Spinal Research (www.spinal-research.org), a UK charity dedicated to funding medical research into reliable treatments for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck; SPARKS - Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids (www.sparks.org.uk), a charity set up by sports stars and entertainers to raise funds for research into childhood diseases and disabilities; and Racing Welfare (www.racingwelfare.co.uk), providers of help and support to racing employers, employees and the retired who may be in need, through accident, illness, age or misfortune. Richard also aims to ensure his trip raises public awareness of climate change and global warming in polar regions. The Interchange Organisation, who currently work with and provide foreign exchange solutions for many of the horse racing fraternity both here and in Ireland are sponsoring Richard’s expedition. (www.interchangefx.co.uk) 

If you would like to sponsor Richard on his expedition and help his chosen charities, please send donations to: Richard Dunwoody, 4 Killy Hill Cottages, Gorse Lane, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8RF. Cheques should be made payable to Dunwoody South Pole Account. If you would like to find out more about Richard Dunwoody’s South Pole Expedition log on to www.dunwoody-southpole.com . You can sign up to get all Richard's latest news and follow his progress on the trip - there will be daily updates, photos and videos.