ON Christmas Day after 50 days of relentless skiing across the brutal Antarctic landscape, the Polarquest team achieved their record breaking feat of reaching the South Pole. Capt Chapple, the former Harwich schoolboy, has now led the first unsupported armed forces ski expedition to the South Pole since 1912 and has completed the longest ski expedition in British army history.

In an extraordinary year for British exploration he led teams to both the North and South Poles. The team followed in the footsteps of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, of the Royal Navy, whose famous uncompleted venture in 1912 was the last time service personnel were involved in a trip to the South Pole.

Departing from an area known as Patriot Hills in Antarctica on November 11, each man has pulled a sledge weighing 20 stone plus, containing everything they need to survive. They have faced white-out storms which blinded them for days on end, freezing conditions and mountain ranges which tested each man to his physical limits.

When the team arrived at Scott's original polar camp the flags of the United Kingdom, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and a replica of Captain Scott's flag were flown and a remembrance service conducted in his name.

After a short rest they will start the return leg of an extraordinary kite-powered journey back to the base on Patriot Hills. The giant kites will harness the power of the wind and reduce the duration of the journey to some 15 days.

Britain is now the only country in the world whose armed services have conquered Everest and both the South and North Pole.

The hostile environment was brought into sharp focus when a Royal Airforce expedtion due to arrive at the South Pole on Boxing Day had to be abandoned after two of the party were injured on the ice.

With just miles to go on their epic journey, Capt Sean Chapple, Polarquest leader, set up his satellite phone and telephoned the Standard. On the verge of reaching the Southern most point on earth he described the final momentous day of their record breaking achievement.

He said: "We are so close now. Our goal was to be at the pole on Christmas Day and we should be there within hours. This is a very emotional time for the team and we are just taking a short break to celebrate Christmas before the final push."

Suffering from the affects of frostbite and massive weight loss, Capt Chapple said the team were holding up well under the brutal conditions and the sense of achievement was becoming overwhelming.

"The last few days have been tough - but the team have dealt with it, they are incredible people to work with. It is an extraordinary feeling to be following in the footsteps of Capt Scott. His team were here without the equipment we have and most strikingly they were completely cut off from the world. It must have been terrifying. We have been able to speak to our loved ones, contact support crews, I can't imagine being alone in this stark wilderness without any hope of being rescued if things go wrong."

Capt Chapple explained that the remorseless effort of pulling their sledges day after day was a tough mental battle aswell as a physical one.

He said: "A million and one things go through your mind in an effort to keep going. Hours can be taken up with day dreaming about food and what meals I will eat when I get home. Thinking about my family has helped me through many of the tougher days - and knowing that I will see my wife and children after reaching the South Pole is a powerful driving force."

The one time Harwich schoolboy said he will be raising his school flag when he arrives at the South Pole. He added: "Harwich is a very special place to me and I am proud to have lived and gone to school there.

"We will then hold a short service to honour Capt Scott and all the other explorers who have died in the Antarctic which will be an emotional time for us as it will mark the completion of our goal before the return leg."

The Polarquest team will not get much time to rest. After a nights sleep they will be heading back to the base camp at Patriot Hill using kites to pull them along.

Capt Chapple said: "We are relying on the prevailing winds and if all goes to plan the kites will haul us back to the edge of the continent. It took us fifty days to get here but it should only take 15 days to get back."

Sheena Chapple was elated her husband was within striking distance of the South Pole. She explained how life with a polar explorer was a little different to a regular marriage.

"I am immensely proud of Sean - he really is a hero and I am so thrilled for him after the extraordinary effort he has put into this expedition."

While Capt Chapple explores the most extreme places on earth, Mrs Chapple runs the home and looks after the couples three chidren, twin boys, Ben and Callam aged three and four-year-old Chloe.

She said: "The boys seem to be fine with their dad being away so much and just get on with it but Chloe finds it a lot more difficult, she really misses her dad. I've been telling the children their dad is away helping Father Christmas and he will be back in the New Year," Mrs Chapple said.

She added: "Having already been to the North Pole this year I really have not seen him a great deal but I knew what he was like and had to be prepared for this. Even when he is home he will often be training in Scotland or preparing for new expeditions. I think his adventurous spirit is helped by the fact he has a few screws loose in his head. He is due back in mid-January and we can't wait to see him."

The Goal

In November 2006 the Polarquest team set out on an epic 2,800 kilometre, 65-day, return ski to the geographical South Pole. The team lead by Capt Sean Chapple from the Royal Marines, included Surgeon, Andrew Brown from the Royal Navy; Marine, Craig Hunter and Major Paul Mattin from the Royal Marines. The aim was to achieve the following records:

The first service Expedition to the South Pole since 1912.
The first British military return journey to the South Pole in history.
The first Royal Marines to walk unsupported to the South Pole.