KTL Boys Heading To Oz To Compete Kokoda Challenge

[Boss Meri]

We wish to announce that we will be putting in THREE (3) teams in this years KOKODA CHALLENGE not one (1) as previously stated. Immigration in PNG have promised travel warrants for their travel as they cannot action passports at the present time due to their system breaking down. Our teams will be as follows:

Team 1 – KOKODA TREKKING – KTL Elite – Winner and placegetters of our own KOKODA CHALLENGE in PNG over 96 km set last August 2006:

• Brendan Buka, (winner of the 2006 PNG Kokoda Challenge in a world record time of 17:49:17 from Owers' Corner to Kokoda)
• Wayne Urina, 2nd placegetter in our 2006 PNG Kokoda Challenge in a time of 18:51:57
• Damon Goerke, (Australian engineer from Sydney) 3rd placegetter in our 2006 96km Kokoda Challenge in a time of 19:28:48. 2nd Melbourne Oxfam Trailwalker Event; 4th Great Ocean Road Race; 4th Geoquest Adventure event
• Horace Yauga 4th placegetter in our 2006 PNG Kokoda Challenge in a time of 20:39:51

Team 2 – KOKODA TREKKING – KTL Boys :

• Tom Hango (3rd in 2005 Kokoda to Owers' Corner time – 23:34:46, 5th after a bout of Malaria in 2006 Owers' Cnr to Kokoda time – 24:49:09;
• Cyprian Aire 5th 2006 PNG Kokoda Challenge time – 23:29:30;
• John Korove 7th PNG Kokoda Challenge 24:30:30;
• David (Duggie) Eroro, 8th 2006 PNG Kokoda Challenge 24:41:27

Team 3 – KOKODA TREKKING – KTL Wantoks:

• John Derick Eroro (one of the longest walkers/guides on the track 400 + treks spanning 15 + years. He looks really fit – the oldest member of our teams)
• Cyprian Haera (never entered our own PNG Race but considered by trekkers as VERY FAST. Came home 16th in a 5km charity run when he had never run before)
• Vincent Idau (fit rugby league player)
• Tony Ogomeni (fit rugby league player)

Photograph: left to right: Tom Hango; Cyprian Aire; Wayne Urina; Horace Yauga and Brendan Buka
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[Boss Meri]

Important Details:

Date: 14-15th July

Major Sponsors of the Kokoda Challenge: Southern Cross University

Major Sponsors KTL teams: Kokoda Trekking

Other Sponsors for KTL teams:

• Mountain Designs – for shirts and hydro packs
• Salomon – who sell the Number 1 Adventure racing shoes in the market. They have kindly donated XA Pro 3D shoes for our competitors

Place: Gold Coast Hinterland

Start Time: The Challenge will commence at 7:00am

Teams Entered:

[Boss Meri]

[Boss Meri]

Kokoda Trekking would like to sincerely thank Mountain Designs for their sponsorship of two of our teams competing in the Kokoda Challenge as it is much appreciated.
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[Boss Meri]

Message from Kokoda Challenge

Hi Gail – Just a quick email to touch base. Hope the PNG boys are looking forward to their trip and that their passports and documents are well on the way. Southern Cross University would be delighted to put the boys through an athletes profile test, but to do this we need them here on the Gold Coast on Wednesday 4th July. The actual tests will take place on the Friday and is really physically demanding and the boys would need the following week to recover from the test to be back in form to compete in the Kokoda Challenge.

Should the results show what I believe they will, there is a good possibility of some scholarships being offered to them to attend the Institute of Sport. Obviously we would need to discuss details of that ie. Accommodation, wages , etc, but we can cross that bridge when we come to it.

In the meantime, we are starting to pump up the publicity machine to pump up the boys trip to Australia and if you can get them here by the 5th July – they will be able to attend the briefing night for the Kokoda Challenge.

Doug Henderson

When Brendan Buka won our KOKODA CHALLENGE race last year here in PNG, he would never have thought possible that it could lead to a trip to the Gold Coast. Now this humble young man will soon be off to Australia. Just last week he asked me if he could keep a 'Uniform Shirt' coz he said trekkers wanted to have their photograph taken with him in Kokoda and he felt bad in his old clothes. So now he has a SHIRT ALL OF HIS OWN to keep for such photographs.
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[Boss Meri]

Thanks to those who have already started to DONATE on the KOKODA CHALLENGE WEBSITE on behalf of our KTL teams. Its a donation but also kinda like adding SUPPORT to our KTL boys…..do you THINK they have what it takes to win this event? Whatever, its for a really great cause and fully tax deductible from $2.00 + so please get behind them BY CLICKING HERE to be taken to their DONATION area:

Kokoda Challenge are still accepting teams but following is a current listing of the teams WE HAVE TO BEAT to win this event, can we? , now that is the burning question – win or loose our KTL boys will be just so PROUD to be there and show their support to Doug Henderson and all his helpers at this years 2007 96km KOKODA CHALLENGE:

• 2/4 Ambulance
• 4 Then and 4 Now
• A-Accurate House Raising Striders
• Active and Healthy Rangers
• Alby Mangels
• Ancient Mariners
• Another K
• ANZ Team 1
• ANZ Team 2
• Applies and Cherries
• Aquarius Rescue
• Are We There Yet
• B – Team
• Balboa
• Band of Brothers
• Beauties and the Beast
• Big Foot
• Bodychoice Intervest Trekkers
• Bunnings Nerang
• Bushwalkers
• Byron's Angels
• Cops on the Run
• Currumbin Vikings
• Deloitte Forensic
• Diehard Diggers
• Dunrunin
• E.T. 1 (Empowered to Invigorate)
• Ecospirit
• Effstix
• Everest Sucked
• Executive Excellence
• Ford Ranger
• Forsters Brewery Boys
• GHD FleetFeet
• GM Squared
• Gold Coast Bushwalkers
• Goodlife Players
• Griff Sumit
• Grumpy Old Women
• Hartbeat Fitness Centre
• Just Around the Corner
• Keema Kokoders
• Kokoda Kids Alpha
• Kokoda Kids Bravo
• Kokoda Kids Charlie
• Kokoda Kids Delta
• Kokoda Kids Junior Leaders
• KOKODA TREKKING – KTL Elite – the best we have to offer
• KOKODA TREKKING – KTL Boys – others who think they have what it takes to be the best
• KOKODA TREKKING – KTL Wantoks – older, wiser and training like hell to beat the younger ones
• LAME
• Levator Anii
• Likely Lads & Lasses
• Long Shots
• Lost
• Mad Cats
• McLaughlin Solicitors
• Miami High – Mixed
• Miami High – Seniors
• Misfits
• Mixed Nuts
• Mizuno Rebels
• ML Design Diggers
• Mudgeeraba Razorbacks
• nab FAWK
• Nike Hammer (ranked number 1 – winner last years event….the team to beat!!! can we ? ? ?
• Not Under Warranty
• One Steel Wilderness Warriors
• Ormeau Girls
• Panglossian Plodders
• Piniba Pyro's
• Puple Monkey Dishwashers
• Rock and Roll
• Romper Stomper
• Saint Stephen\\'s College
• Sand in Shoes
• SCI – Fleet Toyota Landcruiser
• SCU Team 1
• SCU Team 2
• Shotz
• Something about Mary
• SSS
• St. Andrew Lutheran College Team 1
• St. Andrew Lutheran College Team 2
• Strathfield Rocky's
• Sub 30
• Swain Train 1
• Swain Train 2
• Swain Train 3
• Swain Train 4
• TBA
• Team 53 – 53rd Battalion
• Beam Bling
• Team BWC – Because We Can!
• Team Craigie MAC
• Team Devine Sports Gel
• Team Exide
• Team Footwear
• Team GPS
• Team IP Wealth
• Team LM 1
• Team LM 2
• Team Nemesis
• Team Roxx
• Team Samford
• Team Tenacious
• Team Vodka
• That Hurt
• The Black Halfs
• The Bodhi Space Team
• The Dune Rats
• The Feebles
• The Hot Tomatoes
• The Lion Park Trekkers
• The Owen Rangers
• The Quarter Pounders
• The Ramsay Way
• The Saddle Rachers
• The Wanderers
• TSA
• TSA
• TSA
• United Nations
• Vincit Qui Se Vincit
• Walkie Talkie
• Wannabe Finished!
• Wattle Brae War Trace Team
• Webby and his Lovely Ladies
• Weli Crap
• Wild Women Walkin
• Windmoss
• Worko's Walkers II
• WoteVa4 – Team 1
• WoteVa4 – Team 2
• Zimmer

YES, the FUZZY WUZZY'S are going to compete against the AUSSIE'S, so come on ex trekkers, lets get behind your porters and guides…..anyone going to donate? …. anyone going to the Gold Coast on the weekend of the 14-15th July to barrack for them???

[Boss Meri]

Some photographs to refresh memories of boys, names etc:

Photographs – KOKODA TREKKING KTL 'Elite Team':

Pic 1: Eventual Winner Kokoda Challenge PNG – Brendan Buka 2nd into Efogi some 20 minutes behind Damon Goerke seen here eating bananas his energy food. Brendan is small in size weighing in around 55kg – but proves you do not have to be tall and strong like Damon to win at long distance endurance events

Pic 2: 3rd Placegetter Kokoda Challenge PNG – Damon Goerke 1st into Efogi Kokoda Challenge PNG – from Owers' Corner to Efogi in 8 hours. The boys thought his legs looked like trees, very long and very strong. This time instead of a competitor he is a team mate and we are just so happy he has accepted our offer to join this team. After all he earn't it by his place in our Kokoda Challenge race in PNG held in August 2006:
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[Boss Meri]

Some photographs to refresh memories of boys, names etc:

Photographs – KOKODA TREKKING KTL Elite Team:

Pic 3: 2nd Placegetter Kokoda Challenge PNG – Wayne Urina – 3rd into Efogi the 1/2 way point. In last years PNG race Wayne was sponsored by us and Ron Barrassie the AFL legend. Ron promised him a trip to Australia if he WON. Well now he has his trip to OZ – lean, long legged and according to Damon takes long strides compared to the others who take short steps.

Pic 4: 4th Placegetter Kokoda Challenge PNG – Horace Yauga seen here entering Efogi Village – the sentimental favourite. Horace has such a warm personality and we are presently sponsoring him to complete his schooling as he wants to become a pilot.
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[Boss Meri]

KOKODA TREKKING – KTL Boys – Silver Medal Chance – consisting of: Tom Hango; Cyprian Aire; John Korove and David (Duggie) Eroro

Pic 1: John Korove. In last years race John finished 7th and was well placed throughout our 96km race. John has walked a couple of times this year and is presently on the track.

Pic 2: David (Doogie) Eroro. David finished our race in 8th place overall and is quite popular with trekkers when he walks as a porter. He is fit and ready for this event.

Pic 3: Cyprian Aire, has been training hard for this race. He finished 5th in our Kokoda Challenge and was up with the lead competitors at every checkpoint throughout the race.

Pic 4: Tom Hango seen here in Efogi. Tom will push this team along and try and bring out the best of them as he does not like to loose. He is only small in build but has finished two 96km Kokoda Track Races and this year I tip him for our Kokoda Challenge Race providing he can stay healthy.
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[Boss Meri]

KOKODA TREKKING – KTL Wantoks consisting of: John Derick Eroro; Cyprian Haera; Vincent Idau & Tony Ogomeni

Pic 1: John Derick Eroro – one of the longest walking guides on the Kokoda Track with over 400 + treks to his credit and not about to hang up his boots just yet. Has competed in our 2005 Kokoda Challenge from Kokoda to Owers' Corner but his head torch ran out of batteries and he ended up finishing in 30 hours as he was forced to sleep in the bush. Looks really really fit and strong! Has always wanted to visit Australia so has trained hard for this race. Just check out those calf muscles – those legs can power up hills and has the determination to beat the youngsters!

Pic 2: Tony Ogomeni – is a Kokoda Guide who can talk and mix openly and a good embassador for Kokoda Trekking. He is quite a responsible young man and has taken this race seriously as he would like another trip to Australia and has been training hard.

Pic 3: Cyprian Haera – a guide with Kokoda Trekking. Cyprian is very very fast and I have been trying to talk him into our Kokoda Challenge for the past two years but with no luck. However, when there is a trip to Australia on the horizon, CP as we call him, quickly put his name down. I can still recall a time when I asked for 5 guys that work for us to come in and run in a 5km FUN RUN around the streets of Port Moresby with one large hill to test everyone. Cyprian powered up that hill which would leave most of up out of breath and came home overall in 15th place behind regular runners. CP had never run before and had not trained for the event. Three other team members finished shortly after with the 5th coming home in 21 minutes in 23rd position. I can still recall CP asking him what took so long. About 10 minutes later a large Solicitor firm in town was gloating they had won the team event. Not so, said the lady organising the event from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the Kokoda boys have been sitting under their tent for the past 10 minutes!
I have lost count of how many trekkers have told me to get CP to enter our race as they all notice him on their treks.

Pic 4: Vincent Idau – considered in Kokoda to be one of the fittest and fastest around when it comes to touch footy and rugby. Never entered a 96km event before but hey neither had Brendan Buka and look what he did to our record and that was without any training whatsoever. Sorry do not have a pic but will try and find one.

These guys could very well be the dark horses in this 96km event. John uses his head and the others in the team are considered fast … perhaps as a team with good leadership from their Captain John Derick Eoro they could do very well.
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