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Announcement: Kokoda Trekking will be putting in a team to compete in this years 2007 KOKODA CHALLENGE 96kms walk to be held in the hinterland that surrounds the Gold Coast on July 14-15th. Its for a great cause to help the KOKODA KIDS on the Gold Coast. The more money raised the more kids they can help. The more teams that enter = more money that goes to the Kokoda Challenge, so why not join with us and enter a TEAM!
To all our ex trekkers and future trekkers, the registration fee is a tax deductible expense; its a chance to come and support our KTL boys to cross the line first; or more importantly why not put in a team. Its a great way to catch up with our guys and to support such a worthy cause. With the OXFAM attracting so many teams where the money I believe goes overseas, its a chance to help a local charity to get more kids on the right path in life.
The 2007 Kokoda Challenge is a great event and is the passion of Doug Henderson and his wife Annie who we have had the pleasure of meeting this weekend.
The winner of our race, Brendan Buka will be offered the first cab off the rank and other placegetters, Wayne Urina, Horace Yauga, Tom Hango etc until we have a confirmed list of starters for this event.
Brendan Buka won our race in an unbelievable time of 17 hours and 49 minutes. Closely followed by Wayne Urina in a time of 18 hours 51 minutes and so on. We have invited Damon Goerke to join our team as he came third in our event in a time of 19 hours 28 minutes
Russell and I went for a drive and looked at the terrain which is quite similar but no where near the steepness of our hills back home. Another plus is that there are no tree roots and some areas are run on bitumen roads. We both feel compared to the real Kokoda Track our boys will do well. Russell is quite confident that our KTL boys will be in with a chance to win this event. This will help to promote KOKODA and what it stands for. Plus it has the added benefit of the more teams entered the more money raised which in turn means the more kids who might get the chance of walking the Kokoda Track one day!
Lets all pull together to make this '96kms Walk' one of the most popular in Australia.
Our team event winners in our 2006 Ower's Corner to Kokoda Challenge – left to right, Tom Hango, Cyprian Aire, Wayne Urina, Horace Yauga and the overall winner Brendan Buka – so yes, the FUZZY WUZZIES are coming, our very own KTL boys:
Team_Event_2.jpgAbout the event: The Kokoda Challenge is a cross-country bushwalking team event where teams of 4 people trek a 96km course through the Gold Coast Hinterland within a 39 hour time limit.
The event was designed to reflect the key elements of the Spirit of Kokoda – with 96km representing the actual distance of the Kokoda Track and the 39 hours symbolizing the 39th Militia who were the first of our Australian troops to arrive at Kokoda on the 15th July 1942. The event is not a relay event – all 4 team members must advance through the 14 check points to the finish line.
The Kokoda Challenge is the experience of a lifetime. You will test your inner strengths and weaknesses as you push your body and mind to it's limit to complete the event. At the same time, you will gain the incredible power and motivation that comes with contributing to and being part of a team."
To compete in the Kokoda Challenge you must be 18 years or over, unless prior approval is sought from the organisers.
Each team is required to pay a total of $800 entry – comprising of a $200 non refundable registration fee and further $600 (minimu) fund raising contribution which is fully tax deductible.
All funds raised contribute to the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program (KCYP) – a program helping young Australians at the crossroads who require an opportunity to reach their full potential.
For more information please visit: http://www.kokodachallenge.com or CLICK HERE:
are YOU up to the CHALLENGE? – do you want the challenge of competing against our own KTL boys? – the FUZZY WUZZY ANGELS from KOKODA, If so register today!
Details:
- Where – GOLD COAST HINTERLAND
- Date – JULY 14-15TH 2007
- Distance – 96KMS in 39 HOURS
- Register now at: http://www.kokodachallenge.com
First invitation from us will go to our 2006 Kokoda Track Winner – world record holder as the fastest man to walk the infamous Kokoda Trail – Brendan Buka seen here collecting his prizes which included a cheque for K10,000.00; a copper beating of Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel Raphael Oimbari leading wounded Australian soldier Dick Whittington; a yearly trophy where his name is engraved as the record holder and another trophy for him to take home.
Brendan also received a KTL race shirt with the letter '1' on the front. In PNG when you are the best, we say NAMBAWAN which means in English, Number 1. For Brendan this was the highlight of the day for him to wear around a t/shirt which symbolised he was the best, he was indeed, NAMBAWAN! A very proud boss Russell Eroro looks on as all trekking companies were invited to enter our race but a KTL staff member came home first across the line and won the event.
Brendon_Buka_prize_giving.jpgIf you wish to receive this flyer, please email me – gail@pngbd.com:
2007_Kokoda_Challenge_Flyer2.jpgKokoda Challenge e-news:
2_2007_E_News2.jpgjust received the following email from an ex trekker who is walking again this year: quote
The Kokoda Challenge sounds interesting. Have you got some details you can email me? …details about the cause and target, who, what role we'd play, when etc. I know Barbie would be interested. Ken might even fly up from MLB too. Alissa from Trek 55B (Apr05) is still right into Triathlons, so she'd be fit and keen too I suspect. Chris (a vet mate) and Peter (my own vet) are ex-trekkers who might also be interested. Send me some details and I'd be happy to help rally some troops for it. Dan
Will you both be coming over to the race in July? We'll be there cheering them on for sure! love Karen and Al.
So how about it – we would like to extend an invitation to all our trekkers both past and future, this is a great event for a great cause, will we see you on the Gold Coast in July?
- Enter a team in this year's race to support the cause
- Put the date in your calendar to come and barrack for our KTL boys
- Spread the word amongst any gym members you may know who might be interested in such an event
- Please keep in mind that the majority of people do not run this event but walk it. Hence you do not have to be a marathon runner to enter. All competitors have to work as a team. It is not an individual event!
- Perhaps you are a member of a club who has four people you could enter
- Another option is to send out an email to other trekkers who walked in your trek, it would be a great reunion catching up with each other again during another 96 kms walk – plus a couple of days R & R on the Gold Coast to recover!
Whatever, we are definitely registering a team and we would love to have your support either by competing in the race itself or by having you at the FINISH LINE!
Have just sent an email off to Sean and Bryan O'Hara. Both these guys entered our race in 2005 & 2006 and are great competitors. We have asked them if they would like to compete again against our KTL lads. Our boys just loved them and I sure they would look forward to catching up with them again.
Message from Bryan: hi gail. great to hear from you. sean just bought a new pub in wagga and i dont have his new details yet. ill be in sydney from this friday for 10 days or so and will speak to him then about july. think it will be tough for me as i will be travelling for most of the year but we'll see how it goes. great that youve got a team of your local boys in there.
keen for another crack at kokoda race in august this year but again ill need to wait and see how the year is shaping up for me.
ill be in touch soon. rgds, bryan
PS: I do not know how many pubs there are in Wagga Wagga…but if you are in the area and feeling thirsty I suggest you pop in for a beer. Sean is a wonderful guy and will make you feel really welcome. Besides their grandfather is buried in the Bomana War Cemetery so his heart is in KOKODA and he just LOVES a yarn!
Photograph: left to right. Bryan and Sean O'Hara
Bryan_and_Sean_O__Hara.jpgHi Gail,, It's one of your surveyor wantoks from the gold coast. Paul, Liam and I were on your trek 182, September last year. The challenge would be too great for me i think, having struggled over those mountains to kokoda,and having a few too many drinks since then, 96kms straight would be an incredible feat. Paul is interested and may be joining a couple of guys from our company (which numbers 50+). Clint from work has done this challange with a few mates the last couple of years.
I'm not sure who you will be sending but i would recommend Syprian ?, you know he wouldn't let the side down. A legend and fantastic person. I have kept in touch with my porter Lawrence Umbu, and am about to send him some more photos of our adventure together.
I will be away wednesday and thursday but i will be back and available all that weekend to help out in any way i can. I also have a spare room, and could fit a couple of people there if it was needed.
Your team went out of there way to show me a great time so i extend the same to you. Anyways, if i can help at all let me know and also, could you forward the flyers on to me, thanks.
Say gday to Lawrence and Syprian for me.
Dave.Editors Note: A big thank you to Dave….any more trekkers interested? A 96 k walk followed by R & R on the Gold Coast catching up with other trekkers in your trek! It could be a reunion for your all!
IMGP2409.jpgIt's official, Damon Goerke 3rd in our very own Kokoda Challenge in PNG has accepted an invitation from us to join our Kokoda Trekking guys to race in this years KOKODA CHALLENGE here on the Gold Coast: His email:
Hi Gail, I've checked out the Kokoda run you mentioned. It is on July 14-15, not June. I was thinking about doing the Aussie Rogaining Champs (24 hour orienteering event) which is at the end of July but that has fallen through. So at this stage I am able to join the boys if you need someone. As I mentioned in the last email, I would not want to take away a spot from one of the guys though, so if you have 4 guys from PNG who are fit and keen, I am happy to stand aside.
Things have been going pretty well here and I've been busy. We have the Melb Trailwalker 100km run on March 23. I am running with some mates again, we're not as fit as previously but should be interesting. I'm also competing in the Great Ocean Road Adventure Race next week, which is 4 days long, running, mountainbiking and kayaking along Victoria's west coast. I went to NZ a few weeks back for the Coast to Coast multisport race.
Damon…
I ran this past Russell and he said it was indeed very special to him and our guys that Damon an 'aussie' who came all the way to PNG to compete in our race will join our team Kokoda Trekking. Our boys will be honoured to know he has accepted our invitation as he is now one of them as he proved himself over our 96kms.
Update 21/3/07 How did Damon and his parter go in the Great Ocean Road Adventure Race….they came home in 4th place. A kiwi team won closely followed by Guy Andrews and his parter. Now Guy should enter our very own race in PNG, what do you think?
Subject to passports and visas our team will consist of:
Brendan Buka; Damon Goerke; Tom Hango and Horace Yauga
Update 21/3/07: Wayne Urina has had to pull out due to medical problems associated with smoking. Brendan Buka is set to go and cant wait. Other invitations have been issued out to 10 of our KTL boys. At this stage is would appear that Tom Hango will be one of the team. Tom came 3rd in 2005 and even down with Malaria two days earlier, came 5th in 2006.
Damon per above is ready to GO! Horace has just had his Year 11 school fees paid so might not be able to get away from school – but hey a trip to Australia…might be an incentive to accept our offer but at the moment his parents are saying NO. They are however in training and will be taking this event seriously. As Damon mentioned, they are already strong but have to do some long runs rather than just mountain walking. Kokoda to Popondetta is flat so they can practice there. They also have from Kokoda to Isurava which tests the best of us. So yes, the FUZZY WUZZIES are coming, please join the FUN and put in your own TEAM!!!
Then the hard part….getting a passort! Believe me in PNG this is not easy…then a tourist visa. All this takes time so we will get cracking as soon as we get these boys into Port Moresby in April.
Photograph: Damon Goerke shortly after his arrival at Kokoda after having come 3rd in our Kokoda 22 Hour Challenge 2006 – Kokoda Track:
Damon_Goerke.jpg
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