AN endurance athlete from Yeadon is hoping to embark on an attempt to set a speed record across the world’s second-largest ice cap tomorrow.

Ben Thackwray had hoped to start his race against the clock in Greenland on Friday but problems with the helicopter due to take him and companion Ian Couch to the start meant they had to scrap those plans.

They spent the weekend practising their skiing and psyching themselves up ready to go. They spent the extra few days to double and triple check all the gear and talk strategies.

But news came through early on Monday that the helicopter could not take them to the start point again, which understandably caused considerable frustration.

Ben said: "After discussions with the heliport, things are looking promising for Tuesday evening,so our plan is to overnight at the start point and get set off at about 4am on Wednesday when the sun comes up for a long day.

"The first three days will be particularly tough but the first day is probably the most dangerous of the whole crossing, but Ian and I are looking forward to it!"

Ben and fellow adventurer Ian Couch, from Norwich, aim to travel 370 miles from east to west in 12 days, smashing the current 21-day record.

The two men will start with a gruelling climb on to the ice cap and will then endure temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees as they aim to travel at least 30 miles a day.

Ben said: “We should be out on the ice by Tuesday, night and will look to start on Wednesdayday.

“I’m really looking forward to, and hoping for, good conditions.

“There is so much that is out of our control in terms of the weather and the conditions under foot.

“The record is a bit ambiguous but the concept for our expedition is to go as fast as we can. The last speed crossing attempt took 24 days – we hope to be faster than that.”

When he was in training for the exhibition last year, Ben said: “The Endure expedition aims to cover 600km from east to west coast on foot and totally unsupported using a combination of forward thinking, revolutionary ideas and good old fashioned grit and determination.

“Even more challenging than this the Endure expedition aims to do the crossing of the ice cap in the style of an ultra-distance marathon and complete the crossing as fast as possible.”

He added: “Simply attempting to cross Greenland is a massive undertaking and is one of the big three classic polar journeys. It requires braving sub-zero temperatures, crevasses, polar bears and some of the harshest conditions on the planet.”

Ben and Ian met while taking part in a five-man transatlantic row in December 2007.

Ben said: “This was an enormous undertaking a mental and physical challenge.

“To put it in perspective, more people reached the summit of Mount Everest last year than have ever rowed an ocean.”

On his webiste this week he says: “We’re both very excited and raring to go. We’ll be out in Greenland on Wednesday and should be out on the ice by Thursday. We may take Friday to do some final checks and reccy of the start, or we might just get set straight off!”