Greg and Denise McHale of Dawson City still lead the 2004 Fulda Challenge standings after eight events.

Greg finished second among the men in the rope climb across Miles Canyon Thursday night while Denise finished third in the women's competition. Corinne Van Dijkhizen and Timo DeBoer of the Netherlands won both the women's and men's rope competitions respectively.

The win moved the Netherlands into third place in the challenge, with 89 points after eight events. Canada leads with 104 points and Austria is second with 94.

Earlier in the day, Denise won the snowmobile race for Canada, twelve seconds ahead of Van Dijkhizen. Greg finished fifth, after running his machine off the trail on a corner and having to pull it out of a snowbank. He finished 17 seconds off the first place time posted by Italy's Michael Vonklausner.

In the cross-country ski race Thursday, Denise finished fourth in the women's event while Greg finished third in men's competition. The Germany Toyota team of Sandra Janish and Alexander Lang pulled off a double victory in the skiing event.

Next up for the Challenge teams was an event in Braeburn this morning followed by an event at Five Finger Rapids. The Challenge ends in Dawson on Sunday with the ice climb.