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Cannock Chase and a 4x4 tyre: Training to trek coast-to-coast across Antarctica

An army major is preparing to attempt a gruelling and record-breaking trek across Antarctica - thanks to Cannock Chase and a huge tyre.

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Sandy Hennis will ski 1,700km across the ice-covered continent if she can make the final team of five women for the expedition.

The group will attempt to be the first all-female team to trek coast-to-coast across Antarctica.

Major Hennis, aged 35 from Cannock, has been training since September 2015, including dragging a 4x4 tyre around Cannock Chase for the past eight months.

She said: "The team will be made up of five women who are all British Army females. They will either be in the regular army or reserves.

"Originally 250 people applied for a place and now it is down to the final seven. It is quite exciting."

Major Hennis is a Reservist officer with 37 Signal Regiment based in Redditch. She started her Army career as a radio technician before commissioning back into the Royal Signals.

After completing tours of Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan she left the Regular Army to join the Reserves in 2014.

The tyre exercise has helped build up Major Hennis' core strength ahead of the challenge. But she admits she has received a few quizzical looks.

Each team member will haul 100 kilogram sledges carrying equipment and food in the Antarctic.

Major Hennis completed tours of Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan before leaving the Regular Army two years ago

The final selection process will take place during an exercise to the Artic Circle in February. The expedition will then take place in November.

If she makes the final cut, Major Hennis will face 70 days of freezing temperatures and blizzards.

"The temperatures drop down to minus 40 and winds can reach speeds of 60 to 80 miles per hour," she said.

If selected, Major Hennis will haul 100kg sledges full of equipment for 70 days across Antarctica

"There is also the risk of ice caverns, where snow at the top means you can fall through into them.

"It is a dangerous trek. We will be so remote. If anything goes wrong, we are on our own."

The aims of the expedition is to inspire a new era of female expeditionary spirit and encourage women and girls to get outdoors.

It will also collect medical data on how the female body copes with extreme endurance in polar conditions.

Major Hennis added: "My family are aware of the risks, but they have seen how much training I'm doing and how much this means to me.

"I hope they are super proud of me but I bet they think I'm super insane."

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