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As a lead up to our race across the track on the 27th August2011 commencing at 7am, I thought I would give you some background information about past Kokoda Challenge races.
2005
Our inaugural race of 27 August 2005 was won by John Hunt Hiviki, who completed it in 22:01:14 smashing the previous record held by Brian Freeman in a time of 24:59:26 set on the 30th August 2004. Prior to that, Osborne Bogajiwai held the record for over 15 years. In the 2005 race Osborne entered the race to get back his title from Brian Freeman but a porter by the name of John Hunt Hivik had other ideas and snatched it from him.
When interviewed by the local TV station EMTV John was asked what he ate to give him energy to win, he replied, three scones which he soaked in the river, a piece of Highway Biscuit and water including three bananas offered by kind villagers in Nauro kept him going for whole 22 hours until he reached the finish line.
And as for his barefoot; Hunt explained: I had a pair of runners on when the race started at Kokoda, when I got to Templeton's 2, I threw them away as they were full of mud which slowed me down a bit. My runners I discarded at Nauro, and decided to run barefoot all the way towards Owers' Corner.
Results of the top runners are listed below:
1st – John Hunt Hiviki – 22:01:14
2nd – Osborne Bogajiwai – 22:45:34
3rd – Tom Hango – 23:34:46
4th – Bernard Aruo – 24:08:46
5th – Andrew (Andy) Rowan – 24:15:21 – New Zealand
6th – Russell Gurisa – 28:32:21
7th – Abel Arari – 29:05:22
8th – Rod Ori – 29:36:52 (injured – struggled home)
9th – Wayne Urina Tihimi – 30:08:12 (injured struggled home)In the same race, Andrew (Andy) Rowan a doctor from New Zealand became the fastest international breaking Brian Freeman's record. His time 24:15:21
Osborne Bogajiwai was gracious in defeat and showed great sportsmanship seen here being interviewed by EMTV shortly after finishing his gruelling 96km race.
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IMG_5813b__640x480_.jpg2006 – Owers' Corner to Kokoda
On the 27th August 2006, Brendan Buka, a 22-year-old porter born in Goroka, Papua New Guinean who now calls KOKODA home, conquered the trail from Owers Corner to Kokoda in a winning time of 17:49:17 seconds. A Sydney engineer, Damon Goerke, 32 became the first Australian to run the track in under 24 hours, coming third in the 2006 challenge with a time of just under 19.5 hours. Damon being tall and strong, the guys described as having legs like tree stumps. And he proved those legs could climb as he led the race into Nauro, into Menari, Efogi and at 1900 Brendan Buka caught him.
Damon misjudged the junction at Efogi and instead ended up in Kagi whereas Brendan knowing the track went direct to Naduri. In Damon's words, the elastic band that held them together from 1900 to Eora Creek broke when Brendan left him shortly after the creek crossing and headed for the finish line at Kokoda. Brendan knew Damon was a good runner and was afraid he would pass him on the straight at Kokoda from Kovelo so did not hang around but planted his foot and left him in his tracks. What he did not know however, was that Damon had very little fuel left in his tank and could not have run if he had wanted to. If you would like to read Damon's article on the race, please click on the following link:
2nd place in 2006 went to Wayne Urina Tihimi who passed Damon somewhere around the Isurava area.
Results of fastest runners:
1st – Brendan Buka (KTL) – Time: 17:49:17
2nd – Wayne Urina (KTL) – Time: 18:51:57
3rd – Damon Goerke (Australia) – Time: 19:28:48
4th – Horace Yauga (KTL) – Time: 20:39:51
5th – Cyprian Aire (KTL) – Time: 23:29:30
6th – Tom Hango (KTL) – Time: 24:49:09
7th – John Korove (KTL) – Time: 24:30:30
8th – David (Duggy) Eroro (KTL) – Time: 24:41:27
9th – Nathaniel Isuki (Independent) – Time: 26:08:02
equal 10th – Rod Ori (KTL) – Time: 26:46:32
equal 11th – Andrew Yauga – Time: 26:46:32The other photographs are of Tom Hango and Horace Yauga arriving in Efogi
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Horace_arrives_in_Efogi__640x480_.jpg2007:
In 2007 porters wanted to chase different records. Brendan having set the record from Owers' To Kokoda in 2006 wanted to chase John Hunt's record and Tom Hango wanted to have a go at Brendan's record. Competitors could then choose which direction they wished to enter.
Results Kokoda to Owers' Corner set on the 26th August 2007:
1st – Brendan Buka – 17:20
2nd – Gibson Komori – 20:08
3rd – Luwana Nagas – 20:27
4th – Cyprian Aire – 20:32Shortly after Brendan Buka crossed over the finish line, Russell Eroro picked him up and carried him to a chair for him to rest. Brendan however always looks like he can keep going and never looks exhausted when he finishes his races!
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Russell_carrying_Brendan_Buka.jpg2007 – Owers' Corner to Kokoda:
Running in the opposite direction the race was won by Tom Hango in a time of 19:09
2008 – Owers' Corner to Kokoda:
In 2008 Brendan Buka challenged the winning team from the Gold Coast Kokoda Challenge to come to PNG and compete against him. Two competitors namely Don Wallace and Peter Hall accepted and submitted their applications. So in 2008 Brendan knew he had some serious competition that might push him to further heights so serious training set in. However, Brendan was to prove too strong once again and smashed the old record reducing it to an unbelievable 16:34:05
At the half way point of Efogi it was still anybody's race as the stats show below. However he had already lost Peter Hall who pulled out before reaching Nauro.
1st into Efogi – Brendan Buka – Time 2:10
2nd into Efogi – Don Wallace – Time 2:42
3rd into Efogi – Wayne Urina – Time 2:55
4th into Efogi – Michael Le Roux – Time 3:01
5th into Efogi – Jessie Aire – Time 3:06
6th into Efogi – Horace Yauga – Time 3:40
Start_of_Race.jpgCheck Point Eora Creek times are as follows:
1st – Brendan Buka – Time 7:14pm
2nd – Wayne Urina – Time 8:57pm
3rd – Cyprian Aire – Time 9:02
4th – Jessie Aire – Time 9:02
5th – Don Wallace – Time 9:50pm
6th – Michael Le Roux – Time 9:57pm
7th – Andrew Yauga – Time 10:15pm
8th – Kelly (Samson) Amos – Time 10:15pm
9th – Jennen Barai – Time 10:28pm
10th – John Korove – Time 10:56pm
11th Horace Yauga – Time 10:58pmThe final results for the 2008 Kokoda Challenge are listed below:
1st – BRENDAN BUKA (Kokoda Trekking KTL) – Time 16:34:05
2nd – WAYNE URINA (Kokoda Trekking KTL) – Time 18:34:06
3rd – CYPRIAN AIRE (Sponsored by Rohan George) – Time 19:11:40
4th – JESSIE AIRE (Kokoda Trekking KTL) – Time of 19:14:15
5th – KELLY AMOS (SAMSON) (Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions- CARDNO – ACIL) – Time 20:21:38
6th – MICHAEL LE ROUX (South African now an Australian) – Time 20:26:03
7th – HORACE YAUGA (Kokoda Trekking KTL) Time 20:35:27
8th – ANDREW YAUGA (Kokoda Trekking KTL) Time 20:38:35
9th – JOEY DUHUBE (Kokoda Spirit) Time 21:44:12
10th – DON WALLACE (Australia) Time 21:45:35
11th – JENNEN BARAI (Kokoda Trekking KTL) Time 21:45:35
12th – LIESI SEGA (Kokoda Spirit) Time 21:56:10
13th – SIRON OVERARI (Kokoda Trekking KTL) – Time 22:04:10
14th – NESTA GIPINE (PNG Trekking) – 1st FEMALE home – Time of 22:08:38
15th – LULU PEHARA (Kokoda Trekking KTL) – 2nd FEMALE home – Time 22:32:11
16th – GERRY GIPINE (PNG Trekking) Time 22:35:36
17th – CLIFF TAIMBARI (Kokoda Trekking KTL) – Time 23:09:31
18th – WILSON SEVESI (Kokoda Trekking KTL) – Time 23:09:35
19th – LUANA NAGAS (Kokoda Trekking KTL) – Time 23:09:35
20th – EMMANUEL AWAI KONEHE (Kokoda Trekking KTL) – Time 23:14:10
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Brendan_Buka_448.jpgIn 2009 and 2010 we did not run the race as we were quite frankly worried for Brendan as there were lots of comments such as he always wins the money and we were afraid something might happen to him.
However its now 2011 and some time has elapsed so its time to run the race again and may the best man win.
At the present time as I am typing this, over 20 of our competitors are walking off the track tomorrow and will no doubt prepare for the race ahead commencing on the 27th August. Today they are a group of porters earning a living from trekking, come the 27th they will be fierce competitors all out to collect the first prize of K10,000.00. If the record is broken they pick up another K5,000.00.
No doubt one of the people listed will be chasing the K15,000 and I suspect it will be Brendan Buka as he has been seen seriously training by heaps of people in Kokoda. Besides he has a reputation to live up to and everyone sees him as the man to beat.
In this year's race he also has two brother competing, Moses Buka and Bunny Buka. In the same race there is also the Aire brothers, Cyprian and Jessie along with the Yauga brothers, Horace and Andrew – all who have been placed in the top 10 in our races.
Come the 28th August we will all know who will hold the record for the 'Fastest Crossing of the Kokoda Track / Kokoda Trail. Who are you betting on?
I will leave you with some more images of Brendan Buka the present trek hero. The highlight was meeting his footy idol Mal Maninga in Brisbane and his trip to Australia to run in the Gold Coast Challenge event. Lets not forget Wayne Urina Tihimi or Tom Hango who have also featured in our races. In this race there are also some new names who might be an upset, only time will tell!
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