Maria Leijerstam

Established in 1645 as part of Sir John Aubrey's estate centred on Llantrithyd Place, the park hosts herds of fallow, red and sika deer and is a supplier of organic venison.

Over the years, she learned outdoor, water and winter sports, including long-distance running (single and double marathon, ultramarathon) mountaineering, hiking and trekking, skiing, cycling, multisport, canoeing and sailing.

[4] During the trip, she followed the South Pole Traverse, which led her on a steep climb through the Transantarctic Mountains, over the 2,941 m (9,649 ft) high Leverett Glacier and 500 km (310 mi) above the Antarctic plateau.

The 4.5 in (110 mm) wide balloon tires and a modified gear shift allowed Leijerstam to pass through snowdrifts and climb steep inclines.

She celebrated the tenth anniversary of her Polar World Record by cycling from the east to west of Ireland to the South Pole Inn, an historic public house established by the explorer Tom Crean.

Leijerstam can be booked for public speaking events, after dinner speeches and motivational workshops, telling the story of her South Pole World Record and how sport can be adopted as a way of life for personal benefit and that of future generations.

The adventure racing events held across South Wales are both a challenge and for fun, with the Mini Burn, a shorter and more diverse ‘triathlon’, aimed towards families.

Leijerstam's route (blue) over the South Pole Traverse (red)
Maria Leijerstam at the geographical South Pole