Rusty's 24 Hour Race Update

[Jessie Garap]

UPDATE Monday 29th August, 2005:

As mentioned below, 26 runners commenced at Kokoda Memorial Hospital and only 12 finished within the deadline set down of 36 hours cut off. Details of these 12 are as follows:

John Hunt – 1st – in a world record time of 22:01:14

Osborne Bogajiwai 2nd – 22:45:34

Tom Hango – 3rd – 23:34:46

Bernard Aruo – 4th – 24:08:46

Andrew (Andy) Rowan – 5th from New Zealand – now the fastest westerner ever to walk the Kokoda Trail – 24:15:21

Russell Gurisa – 6th – 28:32:21

Abel Arari – 7th – 29:05:22

Rod Ori – 8th – Rod injured himself around the Efogi area but still managed to complete the challenge. He says he will come back next year fitter than ever as he too wants this record. – 29:36:52

Wayne Urina 9th – he too fell and hurt himself around Nauro but until then was ahead. He hobbled home and is now at the doctors surgery attending to his knee. When the runners left Kokoda it was to the sound of the song TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROAD……dont laugh, but Wayne was struggling getting up that last hill at Ower's Corner so I started singing the song and others joined in.

This song got Wayne up the final stages to the archway in a time of: – 30:08:12

Equal 10th, 11th & 12th were the two brothers Sean & Bryan O'Hara and their friend Robert Drysdale – 30:24:50

UPDATE 10:30 PM three runners just passed Efogi, competitors – Runners 22 (Wayne-KTL) , 29 (Bernard-KTL), 14 (John Hunt-Eco-Tourism)

Update 11:00pm – Osborne is catching up….30 minutes later

Gideon come in at number 4, and Osborne just passed through at number 5 into Efogi 1:

Update 11:30pm – No. 21 – Tom, (KTL) – has just registered at the Efogi Checkpoint, 30 minutes behind Osborne & Gideon and an hour behind the group leaders.

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Rusty?s 24 Hour Race has started today, on the 27th August. Runners ranging from all walks of life have come to participate in this event. The race started from the Kokoda Memorial Hospital and will finish at the Owers Corner.

Checkpoints are posted along the trail to keep track of the runners progress.

Richard, our KTL 1 driver, reported that the race started at 12:00pm mid-day and runners are now on the move to hit the first check-point at Isurava Village.

There are 21 Nationals and 5 Expatriates, which gives a total of 26 runners. 5 Nationals have pulled out.

More progress reports will be posted here as we receive them from the track.

Competitors are as follows in their number order:

2. Andrew (Andy) Rowan – New Zealander – previously participated in the Auckland 24 Hour Race 2003 & Wellington 24 Hour Race 2003
3. Charles Chambers – Australian – Currently World Half Marathon Champion – Latest event – Bongong – Hotham Cradle Mt 2005
4. Robert Drysdale – Australian Entrant – Oxfam Sydney
5. Gideon Amos – Student – 21 years of age – sponsored by Gary Imiri
7. Alen Osbon – 28 year old Kokoda Spirit employee
8. Polly Tebe – 24 year old Kokoda Spirit employee
9. Lee Osborne – 22 year old Kokoda Spirit employee
10. Frank Tebe – 32 – Kokoda Spirit employee
13. Abel Arari – 28 year old Independent
14. John Hunt Hiviki – 30 year old – Eco Melanesian Tours
15. Bryan O'Hara – Australian
17. David Dugy Eroro – 27 year old – Kokoda Trekking Employee (KTL)
21. Tom Hango – 33 year old – Kokoda Trekking Employee (KTL)
22. Wayne Urina – 28 year old – Kokoda Trekking Employee (KTL)
23. Martin Rama – 30 year old – Naduri Village – Adventure Kokoda
24. Kila Eddie – 25 year old – Kokoda Holidays Employee
25. Mury Evari – 21 year old – Kokoda Trekking Employee (KTL)
26. Lancelot Yauga – 25 year old Kokoda Trekking Employee (KTL)
27. Ralph Pehara – 28 year old Independent
29. Benard Aruo – 29 year old Kokoda Trekking Employee (KTL)
41. Sean O'Hara – Australian
42. John Derrick Eroro – 37 year old Kokoda Trekking Employee (KTL)
43. Russel Gurisa – 26 year old – Independent
44. Rod Ori – 31 year old – Kokoda Trekking Employee (KTL)
45. Chris Gurisa – 27 year old – Independent
47. Osborne Bogajiwai – Kokoda Spirit who held the record for 18 years

Editors Comments:

Team Event:

1. Kokoda Trekking Ltd (KTL)
2. Kokoda Spirit
3. Anzacs (the five expatriates)
4. Independents

Russell Eroror said the KTL boys were all at his block last night and could not sleep. Would you believe they were all still awake at 3am this morning!!! drinking cups of tea…and lots of SUGAR

Photograph: THE ANZACS, left to right, Andy Rowan; 2nd at back row, Charles Chambers; front Robert Drysdale; back Bryan O'Hara and brother in front of him, Sean O'Hara:
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[Jessie Garap]

It has been confirmed that, most of the nationals are now in the lead, they have just passed Isurava village, 1:55pm, while the rest are still making their way up the test mountain.

Check-point 1: From the leading runner to the rest following behind;

1. Runner No. 29 – Bernard Aruo
2. Runner No. 23 – Martin Rama
3. Runner No. 43 – Russell Gurisa
4. Runner No. 44 – Rod Ori
5. Runner No. 13 – Abel Arari
6. Runner No. 22 – Wayne Urina
7. Runner No. 14 – John Hunt
8. Runner No. 17 – Duggy Eroro
9. Runner No 21 – Tom Hungo
10. Runner No 24 – Kila Eddie
11. Runner No. 3 – Charles Chambers
12. Runner No. 7 – Alen Osborne
13. Runner No. 25 – Mury Evari
14. Runner No. 42 – John Eroro
15. Runner No. 5 – Gideon Amos
16. Runner No. 47 – Osborne Bogajiwai
17. Runner No. 2 – Andrew Rowan
18. Runner No. 8 – Polly Tebe
19. Runner No. 26 – Lancelot Yaugo
20. Runner No. 10 – Frante Tebe
21. Runner No. 45 – Chris Gurisa
22. Runner No. 41 – Sean O'Hara
23. Runner No. 15 – Brian O'Hara
24. Runner No. 4 – Robert Drysdale
25. Runner No. 27 – Ralph Pehara
26. Runner No. 9 – Lee Osborne

Photograph: Osborne – a previous record holder:
IMG_1247.jpg

[Jessie Garap]

Another radio call came in from Alola village, just some few minutes ago. They?ve just informed us that, Bennon Aruo is still in the lead and also way ahead of the rest of the participants.

While others move in front and head toward check-point 2, others behind are yet to catch up with the rest of the group.

Check-point 2, just informed us that, this group of runners have passed check-point 2 already.

1. Runner No. 29 – Bernard Aruo
2. Runner No. 23 – Martin Rama
3. Runner No. 14 – John Hunt
4. Runner No. 24 – Kila Eddie
5. Runner No. 7 – Alen Osbourne
6. Runner No. 22 – Wayne Urina
7. Runner No. 21 – Tom Hunga
8. Runner No. 13 – Abel Arari
9. Runner No. 44 – Rod Ori
10. Runner No. 17 – Duggy Eroro

This group of runners have passed check-point 2 and now heading to check-point 3

Almost about to post up and this group of runners just passed check-point 2;

11. Runner No. 42 – John Eroro
12. Runner No. 47 – Osborne Bogajiwai
13. Runner No. 25 – Mury Evari
14. Runner No. 43 – Russell Gurisa
15. Runner No. 5 – Gideon Amos
16. Runner No. 9 – Lee Osborne

This two runners have just, passed check-point 2.

17. Runner No. 2 – Andrew Rowan
18. Runner No. 3 – Charles Chambers

Another 3 runners passed through check-point 2;

19. Runner No. 26 – Lancelot Yaugo
20. Runner No. 10 – Frante Tebe
21. Runner No. 8 – Polly Tebe

22. Runner No. 45 – Chris Gurisa

This last lot of runners just passed check-point 2 and now heading to check-point 3;

23. Runner No. 27 – Ralph Pehara
24. Runner No. 15 – Brian O'Hara
25. Runner No. 41 – Sean O'Hara
26. Runner No. 4 – Robert Drysdale

Kokoda Trekking Ltd – KTL Boys just before the challenge kicked off – KTL current leader is Bernard 4th from the left in the back row. Coming second & third is Wayne (bottom left) & Tom (1st on the left top row) :
IMG_1265.jpg

[aussie]

Independents Team:
IMG_1266.jpg

[aussie]

Get on your mark, ready, set GO…………….
IMG_1268.jpg

[aussie]

Some of the invited guests, Lloyd Jones (Associated Press); Warren Bartlett (CEO Kokoda Track Authority); Justus Baupo (policeman who fired the starting pistol); Colin Taimbari (Tourism Promotion Authority) – photograph taken at Kokoda airport shortly after arrival:
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[aussie]

Sing Sing Welcome for the overseas competitors who are seen here forming a guard of honour:
IMG_1235.jpg

[Jessie Garap]

Four runners have just passed Myola Junctions, Check-point 3 and now heading to check-point 4, all others are yet to check in.

1. Runner No. 22 – Wayne Urina
2. Runner No. 29 – Bernard Aruo
3. Runner No. 14 – John Hunt
4. Runner No. 23 – Martin Rama

This four runners have clocked in 7:59pm.

Word just came in from Check-point 2 (Iora Creek) that Runner No. 8 has decided to withdraw from the race, so that leaves us with a total of 25 runners.

Photograph: PNG Competitors talking with Justus Baupo re rules of the Kokoda Challenge prior to the commencement. The current leader Wayne Urina is the tallest guy in this photograph:
IMG_1242.jpg

[kate]

Good luck and best wishes to all the KTL team and especially to Wayne from Kate & Dennis in Melbourne (Trek 99).

[Jessie Garap]

Update on the runners progress;

At 10:30pm last night, these three runners ran past Efogi 1 village, check-point 4;

1. Runner No. 22 – Wayne Urina (KTL)
2. Runner No. 29 – Bernard Aruo (KTL)
3. Runner No. 14 – John Hunt (Eco Tourism)

Half an hour later these two passed by, clocking in at 11:00pm;

4. Runner No. 5 – Gideon Amos
5. Runner No. 47 – Osborne Bogajiwai (current record holder)

11:30pm and another KLT runner registers in check-point 4;

6. Runner No. 21 – Tom Hunga (KTL)

The rest of the group is yet to fall in and register in check-point 4.

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