KOKODA CHALLENGE RACE 2012 – commencing at the Kokoda archway at 7am – 25th August, 2012.

The competitors in this years race include, 22 PNG nationals; 8 Australian's and 2 Japanese. As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign, its interesting that we have Australian's and Japanese in this year's event competing against each other and our very own PNG local boys who all walk as porters on the Kokoda Track carrying backpacks for trekkers. The competitors in this year's race are listed below:

List of Competitors:

1. Andrew Yauga – Sponsored by Ko Trek – Matt Bollinger
2. Horace Yauga – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
3. William Bennett – Australia
4. Samson Joheri – Sponsored by Ko Trek
5. Luana Nagas – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
6. Damon Goerke – Australia – (International Competitor – 2nd time to enter – came 3rd in his first race on the track – so much more experience since then – can he win our 2012 Kokoda Challenge Race) – google his name, so many success stories.
7. Richard Mountstephens – Australia
8. Jonathan O'Loughlin – Australia
9. Chris Wight – Australia
10. Andy Turner – Australia – Ultra runner that has done the last 4 OXFAM 100k runs, came 4th this year
11. Dave Jennings – Australia
12. Mr Yukiya Higuchi – Japan TPA & New Balance Runner
13. Mr Makoto Yoshimoto – Japan TPA & New Balance Runner
14. Chris Turnbull – Australia
15. Ramsy Idau – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
16. Lenny Enjeka – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
17. Pescol Kageni – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
18. Trophian Ovivi – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
19. Lancelot Geroia – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
20. Tom Hango – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
21. Cyprian Aire – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
22 Jessie Aire – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
23. Tony Ogonemi – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
24. David Idau – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
25. Cliff Taimbari -Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
26 Lawrence Umbu – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
27. Justin Koneha – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
28. Aidan Bauba – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
29. Henson Konene – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
30. Mathias Geroia – Sponsored by Kokoda Trekking
31. Runner sponsored by Kokoda Historical – last minute entry yet to receive the name
32. Runner sponsored by Kokoda Historical last minute entry yet to receive the name

In this year's race we have several top class competitors from overseas and their CV's are listed below:

Damon Goerke's Racing CV:

2012 Maroondah Dam 50km Trail Run – 1st Place
2012 Coastal Challenge 250km Trail Run Costa Rica – 1st Place
2012 Macedon 50km Trail Run – 1st Place
2012 Dandenongs Rollercoaster 43km Trail Run – 1st Place
2012 Delatite Dash 45km Trail Run – 1st Place
2012 Geoquest 48hr Adventure Race – 1st Place (with Richard Mountstephens)

Richard Mountstephens Racing CV:

Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 100km, 2 * 1st place (2010 & 2011) and current course record holder
Cradle Mountain Ultra, 83km Australia
2nd place Bogong to Hotham Ultra, 65km (hilly!) Australia
2nd place Heaphy Track Race NZ, 80km
1st place World Rogaining Championships (24Hr off-road)
XPD Adventure Race 2010 (7 days, 800km), 4th place

Chris Wight's Racing CV:

2008 – Maroondah Dam 50km – 4th
2008 – Melbourne Oxfam Trailwalker 100km – 1st
2008 – Wilson's Prom 100km – 1st
2009 – Bogong to Hotham 64km – 3rd
2009 – Western States 100 mile (USA) – 32nd (2nd 20-29 age group)
2011 – Maroondah Dam 50km – 4th
2011 – Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne – 1st
2011 – Mt Macedon 50km – 1st
2011 – You Yangs 50 mile – 1st
2012 – Tasmanian 3 Peaks Race – King of the Mountains Winner
2012 – Melbourne Oxfam Trailwalker 100km – 1st

Jonathan O'Loughlin's Racing CV:

2012 – 9th in North Face 100 in 10hrs 45mins;
2011 – 10th North Face 100, 1st in Oxfam Trailwalker (100km), 4th in Great North Walk – 108mi (beating the previous year's record);
2010 – 7th North Face 100, 1st in Oxfam Trailwalker (100km) setting the current course record of 12hrs and 9 mins.

Yukiya HIGUCHI:

Mr. Higuchi is the editor in chief of a running magazine called ''Courir''. He is a veteran runner (51 years old) who has taken part in numerous races, such as 5,000m, 10,000m and a marathon (42.195km). Furthermore, he has completed the 100km marathon in Japan for 11 hours 55 min. Thus, he will be a good fit for Kokoda Challenge and the Tourism Promotion Authority Japan and New Balance Japan team are sponsoring him.

Makoto YOSHIMOTO: our second Japanese competitor. Mr. Yoshimoto is also a trail writer along as a competitive trail runner (47 years old). He has also participated in numerous races around the world – details are as follows:

2011 Tor Des Geants (Italy)
2010 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (France)
2005, 6, 9 Mt. Kinabalu climbathon (Malaysia)
2009 Mt. Kilima Njaro (Tanzania)
2007 Kepler Challenge (New Zealand)
2003-2012 Fuji Mountain Race (Japan)

Sponsored by Tourism Promotion Authority Japan and the New Balance Japan team.

Chris Turnbull:
2012 3 Peaks Race, 3rd Multihull
2012 The North Face 100km, 22nd
2012 Cradle Mountain Run, 3rd
2011 Great North Walk 100 miles
2011 Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney, 1st
2011 Sydney to Melbourne Run 900km in 11 days
2011 The North Face 100km
2011 Cradle Mountain Run, 7th
2010 Coast to Kosciusko Ultra 246km
2010 Western Australian Iron Man
2010 Great North Walk 100km
2010 Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney, 1st
2010 The North Face 100km
2010 Kayak Crossing of Bass Strait (via King Island)

Chris Turnbull MAP URL : http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/trakka.html?tripid=KTR02-12-054

Damon Goerke MAP URL : http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/trakka.html?tripid=KTR02-12-052

Chris Wight MAP URL : http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/trakka.html?tripid=KTR02-12-051

Richard Mountstephens MAP URL : http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/trakka.html?tripid=KTR02-12-055

Jonathon O'Laughlin MAP URL : http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/trakka.html?tripid=KTR02-12-053
IMG_1475 320×200.JPG