{{Short description|World fundraising event}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} [[File:Oxfam trailwalker.png|thumb|Oxfam Trailwalker (Hong Kong) logo.]] [[File:End point of 2011 HK Trailwalker.JPG|thumb|End point of 2011 [[Hong Kong|HK]] Trailwalker 2011]]
'''Trailwalker''' and the related '''Trailtrekker''' are fundraising endurance events conducted across the world by [[Oxfam]] and [https://www.gwt.org.uk/ The Gurkha Welfare Trust] (Trailwalker UK). Teams of four competitors must complete a course of {{convert|100|km|mi}} in a set time limit - typically between 24 and 48 hours. The routes may be point-to-point or follow a circular route returning to the start.
==History== The event was established in 1981 by Brigadier Mervyn Lee in [[Hong Kong]] as a training exercise by the [[Queen's Gurkha Signals]], part of the [[Brigade of Gurkhas]] of the British Army, which was at the time based in the British colony. In 1986, teams of civilians were allowed to take part and [[Oxfam Hong Kong]] was invited to co-organise the event.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oxfam.org.hk/en/history.aspx | title=What We do - Oxfam Hong Kong }}</ref>
In 1997, with the handover of Hong Kong to [[China]], the Gurkha regiments were relocated to the United Kingdom. The Trailwalker event followed the Gurkhas' relocation and was organised over the [[South Downs]] in [[Sussex]], with [[Oxfam]] in the UK acting as partner since 2002, alongside the [[Gurkha Welfare Trust]]. Oxfam Hong Kong continued to organise the original event without the Gurkhas and the event has grown with 17 events now taking place across 10 countries worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfam.org/en/oxfam-trailwalker|title=Oxfam Trailwalker {{!}} Oxfam International|website=www.oxfam.org|access-date=2019-06-05}}</ref>
In 2017, Ian Crawford of Petersfield, Hampshire, continuing his support of the Gurkha Welfare Trust and aged 74 years old, completed a record 19th UK Trailwalker in a time of 29hrs 34mins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.petersfieldpost.co.uk/article.cfm?id=112814&headline=Petersfield%20man%20is%20hiking%20the%20trail%20for%20the%2019th%20time§ionIs=news&searchyear=2017|title=Petersfield man is hiking the trail for the 19th time|website=Petersfield Post|date=28 July 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-06-05}}</ref>
In late 2022, [[Oxfam]] withdrew from organising Trailwalker UK. It is now solely organised by [[The Gurkha Welfare Trust]] in partnership with The Queen's Gurkha Signals.
The Trailwalker UK course record was set in 2024 when team Gurkha ARRC finished in an incredible 9 hours 23 minutes, smashing the previous record set in 2004 by the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment.
==Events== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Country !! Location !! Start !! Finish !! Time Limit !! Year |- | [[Hong Kong]] || [[Maclehose Trail]] || [[Pak Tam Chung|Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung]] || [[Tai Tong|Tai Tong, Yuen Long]] || 48 hours || 1981 |- | [[United Kingdom]] Trailwalker || [[South Downs]] || [[Petersfield]] || [[Brighton Racecourse]] || 30 hours || 1997 |- | [[United Kingdom]] Trailtrekker || [[Yorkshire Dales]] || [[Skipton]] || [[Skipton]] || 30 hours || 2009 |- | [[Ireland]] Trailtrekker || [[Newcastle, County Down]] || [[Donark Park]] || [[Carlingford, County Louth|Carlingford]] || 30 hours || 2009 |- | [[Australia]] || [[Sydney]] || [[Hawkesbury River]] || [[Seaforth, New South Wales|Seaforth]] || 48 hours || 1999 |- | [[Australia]] || [[Melbourne]] || [[Jells Park]], [[Wheelers Hill, Victoria|Wheelers Hill]] || Wesburn Park, [[Yarra Valley]] || 48 hours || 2003 |- | [[Australia]] || [[Brisbane]] || [[Mount Glorious|Mt Glorious]] || [[Mount Coot-tha, Queensland|Mt Coot-tha]] || 48 hours || 2011 |- | [[Australia]] || [[Perth]] || [[Darlington]] || [[Lesmurdie]] || 48 hours || 2013 |- | [[New Zealand]] ||[[Whakatāne]]||[[Edgecumbe]]||[[Whakatāne]]|| 48 hours || 2019 |- | [[Japan]] || || [[Odawara, Kanagawa|Odawara City]] || [[Lake Yamanaka]] || 48 hours || 2007 |- | [[Belgium]] || [[High Fens]] || [[Bütgenbach]] || [[Eupen]] || 30 hours || 2008 |- | [[France]] || [[Parc naturel régional du Morvan|Parc du Morvan]], [[Bourgogne]] || || || 30 hours || 2010 |- | [[France]] || [[Vallee d'Abondance in the Haut-Savoie]], [] || || || 30 hours || 2014 |- | [[Germany]] || [[Spessart]] || [[Bad Orb]] || Bad Orb || 30 hours || 2010 |- | [[Spain]] || [[Girona]] || [[Olot]] || [[Sant Feliu de Guíxols]] ([[Costa Brava]]) || 32 hours || 2011 |- | [[Spain]] || [[Madrid]] || [[Valle de Lozoya]] || || 32 hours || |- | [[India]] || [[Bengaluru]] || Anekal or [[Mekedaatu]] || Eagelton-[[Bidadi]] || 48 hours || 2012 |- | [[India]] || [[Mumbai]] || [[Mulshi Lake]] || Lonavala || 48 hours || 2012 |- | [[Spain]] || [[Euskadi]] || Vitoria Mountains || Vitoria Mountains || 32 hours || 2017 |- | [[Korea]] || [[Gurye and Jiri MT. in Jeollanam ]] || Guyre Natural Dream Park || Guyre Natural Dream Park || 38 hours || 2017 |- |} <!-- Oxfam Trailwalker is Oxfam's flagship fundraising event which brings in around $20 million per year. The money raised through Trailwalker is crucial to Oxfam as it works to reduce poverty among men, women and children, in urban and rural areas around the world, regardless of race, religion or politics. In the UK, Trailwalker is the largest Oxfam fundraiser annually as well as the largest "ultra marathon" in the country and is unique across the world because the Gurkhas still organise and run it. -->
==Common rules== There are some common rules across all the Trailwalker and Trailtrekker events. * Each team must have four members, who are required to cross all checkpoints and finish line together, although teams may continue with only three members if one has to retire. * The Trailwalker event course, referred to as 'the trail,' is 100 kilometres long. * Participants should also organise a support team, plan and start their training schedule at least three months before the event. * All teams must raise a minimum sponsorship amount. Failure to raise the stated amount could mean teams do not take part in the scheduled event. Teams failing to meet the required amount approx $1600 are given an opportunity in the next years event with no refunds on entry fees and fund already raised. Teams raising over the threshold will take priority in registering for Oxfam Trailwalker next year.
==Macau TrailWalker== In mid-2010, Upward Bound Unlimited (UBU),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.upwardbound-unlimited.com/ |title=Upward Bound Unlimited |accessdate=2010-11-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201114612/http://upwardbound-unlimited.com/ |archivedate=2011-02-01 }}</ref> a Macau-based company which organizes sports tourism events in the Pearl River Delta region, and Macau's main English-language daily newspaper, the [[Macau Daily Times]], announced that a cross-country hiking event called "Macau TrailWalker"<ref>http://www.macau-trailwalker.com/ {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026003106/http://www.macau-trailwalker.com/ |date=October 26, 2010 }}</ref> would be held later in the year with the support of the local Macau authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/macau/13838-TrailWalker-discover-Coloane.html |title='TrailWalker to discover Coloane', Macau Daily Times, 28 June 2010 |publisher=Macaudailytimes.com.mo |date=2010-06-27 |accessdate=2013-09-10}}</ref> The event was held on 9 October 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0ITgANxpAY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/L0ITgANxpAY |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=1st Macau Trailwalker, October 9, 2010 - Part 1 |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-10-09 |accessdate=2013-09-10}}{{cbignore}}</ref> on the outer island of [[Coloane]] and consisted of a 30 km category and a 12 km category.
Prior to the event, [[Oxfam]] Hong Kong issued a press release stating among other things that it was not associated with the event or any of its organizers (nor had it been contacted by them), that it did not approve nor endorse the event, that no sponsorship money from the event would be used in any Oxfam aid work, and that it "reserved the right to take appropriate legal action to protect the Trailwalker name".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfam.org.hk/en/news_1272.aspx |title=Oxfam Hong Kong's Statement Regarding "Macau TrailWalker" 2010-09-02 |publisher=Oxfam.org.hk |date=2010-09-02 |accessdate=2013-09-10}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://trailwalker.gwt.org.uk/ The Gurkha Welfare Trust Trailwalker UK] * [http://www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk Oxfam Trailwalker Hong Kong] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20101126094839/http://www.trailwalker.jp/en/index.html Oxfam Trailwalker Japan] * [http://www.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker/melbourne/ Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne] * [http://www.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker/sydney/ Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney] * [http://www.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker/brisbane/ Oxfam Trailwalker Brisbane] * [http://www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz New Zealand Oxfam Trailwalker] * [http://www.oxfamtrailwalker.fr Oxfam Trailwalker France] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100121075549/http://www.oxfam.ca/what-you-can-do/oxfam-trailwalker-is-coming-to-canada/ Oxfam Trailwalker Canada] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20101126081005/http://www.trailwalker.nl/ Oxfam Novib Trailwalker Netherlands] * [http://www.oxfamtrailwalker.de Oxfam Trailwalker Germany] * [http://www.oxfamtrailwalker.be Oxfam Trailwalker Belgium] * [http://trailwalker.intermonoxfam.org/en Spain - Intermon Oxfam Trailwalker] * [http://trailwalker.oxfamindia.org Oxfam Trailwalker India]
{{Marathons in Australia}}
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1981]] [[Category:1981 establishments in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Sports competitions in Hong Kong]] [[Category:Oxfam]] [[Category:Challenge walks]] [[Category:Ultramarathons in Australia]]