| NANSEN | Fridtjof, Norwegian explorer who tried to reach the North Pole on the ship Fram in the 1890s (6) |
| ETANA | Babylonian hero who tried to reach heaven on an eagle (anagram of AETNA) |
| PEARY | Robert ___, US arctic explorer credited as the first person to reach the North Pole, on 6 April 1909 (5,5) |
| EDWIN | And 30 Robert ___, US arctic explorer credited as the first person to reach the North Pole, on 6 April 1909 (5,5) |
| RACED | Tried to reach the finish line first |
| ROBERTSCOTT | British explorer who tried to beat 31-Across to the South Pole and who didn't make it back: 2 wds. |
| OSLO | The 19th century polar research ship Fram is exhibited in a museum in this capital city (4) |
| ANTELOPE | Ruminant worker goes to North Pole on first employment (8) |
| ROBERT | Peary, credited with being the first to reach the North Pole |
| FERRET | Animal introduced to New Zealand in the 1890s, a major threat to native birds (6) |
| SLALOM | Criticise over large number with no time for what's marked out by Poles on the slippery slope (6) |
| ROALDAMUNDSEN | In 1926, who was the first expedition leader to reach the North Pole? (5,8) |
| SUDDEN | Without warning, dude dismantled poles on the outside (6) |
| TAHITI | Pacific island, Gauguin's home in the 1890s |
| OTTO | Explorer Sverdrup, who sought to reach the North Pole |
| ROALD | Norwegian explorer who defeated Scott in the race to be first to the South Pole, ... Amundsen |
| BYRD | Richard E ___, US naval officer who claimed to be the first person to reach the North and South Poles by air (4) |
| AMUNDSEN | Roald ___, Norwegian explorer who became the first person to reach the South Pole (1911) |
| ANN | --- Bancroft, first woman to reach the North Pole (3) |
| CECILRHODES | English-born mining magnate and politician who founded a state in Southern Africa in the 1890s (5,6) |
