AN offshore engineer with an adventurous streak is representing the UK in a gruelling challenge in the freezing Arctic this week.

Richard Jackson, 33, a Territorial Army officer who works for Newcastle company Wellstream, flew out on Friday to take part in the Fulda Challenge in the wastes of Yukon, Canada.

The top prize includes a gold nugget.

Mr Jackson, from the Harrogate area of North Yorkshire, was chosen along with London marketing manager Emmie Gribble to represent the country in the week-long event, which began at the weekend.

They will be pitted against eight two-person teams from around the world. The challenge includes a 20-mile cross-country ski race across Fish Lake, ice climbing, a 30-mile mountain bike race, car pulling, a half marathon and driving challenges involving an all-terrain vehicle, snowmobile and hovercraft.

Mr Jackson, who has a strong fitness background and teaches outdoor pursuits, including, rock-climbing, sailing, mountaineering, kayaking and caving, said he was ecstatic at the prospect of the challenge.

He said: "I have travelled around the world leading expeditions, but have never competed in an event like this before."

Mr Jackson qualified to represent the UK following selection weekends in the UK and Sulden, Italy.

Mr Jackson, who is sponsored by tyre company Fulda, has skippered a yacht around the North Atlantic for a year, completed two marathons across White Sands Desert, in Texas, and served as an officer in the British Army for more than six years.

He has been in the Territorial Army for six years.