Corporal John Coogans (35) is training for a 450-mile trek across Greenland in August that will follow the route taken by Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen in 1888.

The group trip will mark the 100th anniversary of the Territorial Army (TA), which Cpl. Coogans joined in 1990 while living in Cupar.

He told the Fife Herald the TA had offered him great diversity of training as well as the chance to travel to places such as Hong Kong, Estonia and Germany.

Educated at St Columba's Primary School and Bell Baxter High School, Cpl. Coogans later studied at Elmwood College and Abertay University and still has strong family ties to Cupar.

Now a sport and exercise lecturer at Inverness College UHI, he also works for the Scottish Institute of Sport doing sports conditioning with the men's hockey squad.

About a year ago he was asked if he was interested in joining the group of 10 to tackle Nansen's Endeavour, aiming to complete the rarely-attempted east-west route in 30 to 35 days.

"The uniqueness and the magnitude of the challenge was something that appealed to me," he said.

Planning for the challenge began almost at once and has included a range of individual and group training exercises as well as working through all the logistical details.

Hill walking, running and endurance work with a tyre harness for extra drag have formed part of his solo training while team trips to Norway and the Cairngorms have developed skills such as ski mountaineering and ice breaking.

Cpl. Coogans said the ice climbing in Norway proved the most challenging — "Enjoyable, but challenging" — having to combine the technical and vertical aspects of climbing with the inevitable cold and wet conditions.

As well there has been plenty to organise including packing his main kit, due to be sent off this month.

"Things are definitely escalating in terms of preparations," he said.
"I'm looking forward to getting on the ice and getting on with it."