Providing financial medical and community aid to alleviate hardship and distress among Gurkha ex-servicemen of the British Crown
16/07/12
TRAILWALKER 2012
Trailwalker 2012 took place on the South Downs Way on 14th & 15th July.
The exceptionally heavy and prolong rain prior to the event had made the route extremely challenging. Despite the treacherous conditions 475 intrepid teams of four runners took part in this extraordinary event to raise vital funds for The Gurkha Welfare Trust and Oxfam. The 100km race runs from Petersfield to Brighton and must be completed in 30 hours.
The teams left the Queen Elizabeth Country Park in a downpour of rain and ploughed across difficult terrain, making stops to refuel at the various checkpoints along the route. When they arrived in Brighton the next day, the rain had lifted and so had the spirits as those that completed the course passed through the finishing line to the sound of Gurkha Pipers.
The winning team were Queen's Gurkha Signals who completed the course in an exceptional 10 hours 55 minutes.
The Gurkha Welfare Trust had its own team entered - The Gurkha Bhuros - which was made up of two Trustees, Brigadier John Anderson and Colonel Ian Rigden, and two other former Gurkha Officers, Ian Gordon and Bob Couldrey. They completed the course in a respectable 28 hours and 25 minutes (see photos below right). For further information please click the link below.
Over 200 Gurkhas from Queen's Gurkha Signals, Queen's Gurkha Engineers and 10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment supported the event and helped to ensure that it was a phenomenal success.
Trailwalker 2012 - Facts & Figures:
Fastest Team - Queen's Gurkha Signals (10:54:00)
Fastest Female team - Southern Discomfort (15:54:00)
Fastest Mixed team - Team Jersey (12:15:00)
Number started - 1902
Number finished - 1469
Number of plates of curry, pasta and breakfast served over the weekend - approx 20,000!
