More than 450 teams totalling nearly 1900 participants took on Trailwalker 2015 this weekend, 25 – 26 July, attempting to cover 100km across the South Downs in under 30 hours.
As ever, the event was brilliantly organised and marshalled by the Queen’s Gurkha Signals and Oxfam. Despite some unfavourable weather before the start day, participants showed an incredible enthusiasm and resilience to reach the finish line.
Gurkha 200 Ambassador Fiona Fullerton was also present at the start line to set off the teams and cheer on weary runners.
For the second year in a row,1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles led by Major Shaun Chandler were the runaway winners with an astonishing time on 9 hrs and 58 mins (just 8 minutes slower than the current record of 9hr 50min) beating their nearest rivals by 45 mins. The winning team was greeted by Colonel BG and a crowd of supporters at the finish point at Brighton Racecourse. Despite their disappointment at narrowly missing out on the course record during the Gurkha bicentenary, the team were an incredible example of the endurance, pride and team spirit embodied by the Brigade of Gurkhas. The team will now get a chance to compete the Oxfam Trailwalker Hongkong on 20 – 22 Nov 2015 representing the Brigade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K4QTxFL0UQ
The oldest team on the course must surely go to The Pukka Burhos, four British ex-Gurkhas who, despite their average age of 75, managed to finish in less than 30 hours and raised nearly £5,000 along the way.
Here’s the list for the top 20 teams of the Trailwalker 2015:
| Location | Pos | Team | Time | Elapsed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 1 | 424 1 RGR TEAM A | 16:02:14 | 9:58:21 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 2 | 265 QGS A | 16:47:30 | 10:43:37 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 3 | 011 10th QOGLR | 16:55:52 | 10:51:59 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 4 | 430 Blandford Team 7 | 16:59:58 | 10:56:05 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 5 | 061 Balaram QGE | 17:33:00 | 11:29:07 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 6 | 018 216 (Para) Sig Sqn | 18:21:20 | 12:17:27 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 7 | 002 ITC CATTERICK GURKHA COMPANY | 18:33:46 | 12:29:53 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 8 | 366 THE TEAM ARRC | 20:42:36 | 12:42:33 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 9 | 086 Cherry Godfrey Team Jersey | 20:44:14 | 12:44:11 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 10 | 415 Wrong Direction | 20:57:24 | 12:57:21 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 11 | 182 Ishwor QGE | 19:08:11 | 13:04:18 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 12 | 012 15 Signal Regiment (IS) TEAM 1 | 19:28:43 | 13:24:50 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 13 | 069 Big Red ‘1’ | 21:27:49 | 13:27:46 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 14 | 029 2RGR Team 1 | 19:33:58 | 13:30:05 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 15 | 025 251 Signal Squadron | 19:34:52 | 13:30:59 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 16 | 049 ACSC18 Men | 21:33:43 | 13:33:40 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 17 | 200 Lycra Legs | 19:38:29 | 13:34:36 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 18 | 151 Gurkha SPS | 20:37:39 | 13:39:36 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 19 | 165 Gurkha Pilgrims | 20:42:34 | 13:44:31 | |
| Finish – Brighton Racecourse | 20 | 010 10SR – Team Awesome | 22:16:36 | 14:16:33 |
