On 28-30 July 2017, over 1,500 people across 399 teams attempted the Trailwalker challenge across the South Downs.
Originally formed as a Gurkha training exercise in the 1980s, over the past 20 years Trailwalker has become a fundraising challenge phenomenon open to the public. Organised in partnership with Oxfam GB and The Queen’s Gurkha Signals, it is the ultimate in long distance challenges. Participants must trek, in teams of four, 100km in under 30 hours, finishing at the historic Brighton Racecourse for a well deserved beer and a Gurkha curry.
Heavy rain on the Friday night meant a very muddy start for teams on Saturday morning. The bad weather continued throughout the day, making the challenge an even more daunting task. However, that didn’t stop the troops giving it their best shot.
The 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles were the first to cross the finish line in an incredible 10 hours and 51 minutes. They beat their time of 11 hours and 4 minutes from last year, making them the reigning champions of the event for the third year in a row.
