Rosie Stancer

Rosie Stancer née Clayton (born 1960) is a polar adventurer who, since 1996, has embarked on major polar expeditions of increasing severity and commitment.

She attended Heathfield School, Ascot and is the great niece of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

In 1997, Stancer was one of 20 amateur women selected for a place on the first all women’s expedition to the North Pole, The 'McVities Penguin Polar Relay'. A relay of five teams hauled sleds of up to 150 lbs across 500 miles (800 km) of shifting pack ice in temperatures down to minus 40°C. After 73 days, the final relay group stood on top of the world at the North Pole.

In 1999, Stancer and four others from the first expedition organised and managed their own expedition to the South Pole, The 'M&G ISA Challenge'. Without guides, and with one re-supply, they completed the 700-mile (1,100 km) journey from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole in 61 days.

In the Austral summer of 2003-4, Stancer walked alone and without re-supply to the South Pole on the 'Snickers South Pole Solo 2004' expedition. Hauling a sledge more than twice her body weight for over 700 miles (1,100 km), Stancer reached the Pole in 43 days 23 hours, breaking the original record by 7 days, but still being narrowly defeated in the race to the Pole by Fiona Thornewill.

In 2007, Stancer attempted to become the first woman to trek solo to the Geographic North Pole: 'Rosie Stancer Mars North Pole Solo'. Stancer walked alone for 326 nautical miles (604 km) and 84 days over the surface of the frozen Arctic Ocean before being airlifted from the ice just 89 nautical miles (165 km) short of the North Pole.

HRH Prince Charles was patron for both of Stancer's Antactic expeditions (M&G ISA Challenge, Snickers South Pole Solo 2004) and her solo Arctic endeavour Mars North Pole Solo (2007).

According to her website, in February 2013 Stancer will attempt to walk solo to the North Pole.