The Gurkha Welfare Trust Jersey is a Jersey Charity that raises money for projects in Gurkha Communities in Nepal. A one page briefing note on its activities it attached.
One of the events it runs each year is a ‘Climbathon’ event at Mont Orgeuil Castle, courtesy of Jersey Heritage. The event involves individuals or teams climbing the steps of Mont Orgeuil from the lower ward (by the café at the bottom), to the top of the castle. A press release was sent out on 14 Aug.
Certain numbers of ascents are matched to the heights of well-known mountains, but ascents are limited to about 25 per individual for time reasons so the higher mountains will only be ‘conquered’ by a team. For example:
Individual Ascents;
x3 = Les Platons
x10 = ‘Midway’
x18 = Scafell
x20 = Snowden
x25 = Ben Nevis
Teams Ascents (fastest 7 of a team to count for the trophies)
11 ascents x 7 persons =Kinabalu
16 ascents x 7 persons = Kilinmanjaro
24 ascents x 7 persons = Everest
The event was run on Sat 29th and Sun 30th Sep this year. Some 9 teams and a number of individuals took part.
There were 4 trophies, each a bronze statuette of a World War One Gurkha soldier. The trophies were presented by our Patron, Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton. The results were:
1. Fastest ‘Running’ Team to conquer Everest (i.e. running 25+ ascents each person-non stop) were the Taekwondo Club Team of 7 from Fort Regent, in one hour 38 minutes, which is under 4 minutes for each ascent and descent combined!
2. Fastest ‘Walking’ Team, who walked and ran, were the ‘Align’ Team of 7 who completed Everest in about 2 hours 20 minutes.
3. ‘Best Supporter’ The Army Cadet Force, who provided marshals and also took part, completing some 228 ascents between them.
4. Top Fundraiser. Mr Bob Le Sueur MBE, who is 98.