The last team over the finish line,
Handle the Jandal, still together after all this time, a lively foursome from Office Max. Crossing in close to 34-and-a-half hours, they were in good cheer, carrying large bright yellow blow-up jandals on their backs. Just minutes before, the last
Rock On team member standing, Linda Johnson, finished brandishing a smile the width of Lake Taupo. Follow her team's story on TV1 Close Up tonight.
12:00pm - Almost done!
News just into Trailwalker HQ that there are now less than 50 teams to go! Amazing effort. Teams are relaxing and unwinding here, and cheering others on.
Incentive to keep walking! Or is he in pain?
10:30am – Fabulous and Fantastic at the finish line
It’s an epically emotional journey to the finish line. Teams have cart-wheeled, sprinted and cried tears of relief at the end of walking over 25 hours doing their part to end the injustice of poverty.
The
Les Mills team and their epic support crew were popping champagne and so too were the
Waikanae Wombles. The
Sloggers chose to sip their champagne, while their support crew were in tears with their beers.
Just Judes gym could not be missed in purple and the Wesley Healin Love team came through wearing bright pink bunny ears. Not to be outdone were the Chubby Chasers wearing fluorescent wigs and wings.
The Carmel College team were bandaging their feet after 26 hours and 28 minutes of trailwalking, yet smiling because something so epic has been achieved – they are one of the youngest teams to enter this year and finished with all their members.
Medals were handed out to those who completed the epic journey of over 100 kilometres and massages were given to the much deserving participants.
Through the blisters, the cold, the sun and the sweat teams have braved the off-road trail and raised money for a brilliant cause, spurred on by their terrific support members.
9:00am - Tears at checkpoint 7
It can get very emotional at checkpoint 7. The end is so near yet still so far away! Heaps of teams come through in the early morning hours looking tired and fairly buggered, but they are still happy to go on, no matter how many blisters they have or how sore their battered bodies may be.
We met Team E=MC2, where supporter Mangesh is busy rubbing the sore shoulders of his team. I find Team member TK very well looked after –in mid massage, feet up, eating Subway and McDonalds at the same time! He says the Subway is a bit soggy and is waiting to devour Burger Fuel at the finish line.
We also catch up with Team WDC Wonderfools – who we had a chat to hours earlier at the Craters of the Moon site. They unfortunately had to retire a team member at checkpoint 7, and said that getting through the night was really tough. But they held their heads up high and were eager to carry on. They told me luckily they have no blisters yet!
Team Having a Ball arrived tired yet extremely motivated to beat the time their support crew completed the Trailwalker in last year. The team who supported their parents in Oxfam Trailwalker 09 said "if our mums can, we can." Having a Ball were met at the checkpoint with their mums' big cooked brekkie of hash browns, scrambled eggs and a champagne shower. In keeping with five star treatment, the team intends to cross the finish line in black tie and ball gown attire.
Team
Having a Ball fatigued but still smiling at their last checkpoint.
7:00am - 100th team crosses the finish line
Things are getting busier at the finish line now – with 100 teams coming in under 25 hours. The walkers are being welcomed by their support crew and offers of massages are being given, hot drinks are being handed out and of course there is lots of celebration.
We’re amazed by the unwavering smiles on people’s faces even as they finish 100km through the cold of the night and the early morning fog.
Our famous City Girls team – who this morning completed their Masters in Trailwalker (with five years under their belt) came through with plenty of fanfare and dressed in their graduation cap and gown!
Oxfam's Executive Director Barry Coates poses for a moment with the graduate
City Girls
4:00am - Team positions update
Checkpoints 4 -5: 7 teams
Checkpoints 5 -6: 62 teams
Checkpoints 6 – 7: 84 teams
Checkpoints 7 and Finish line: 58
12:00am - Updates
At midnight, the main party going down looks to have been at Checkpoint 4. Here is the breakdown:
Between Checkpoints 3 – 4: 38 teams
Checkpoints 4 -5: 103 teams
Checkpoints 5 -6: 51 teams
Checkpoints 6 – 7: 34 teams
Checkpoints 7 and Finish line: 18
9:50pm - Third place and first all women's team
Congratulations to the Kinhang D-Cats! Hope you enjoyed our Kiwi trailwalker as much as your last 10 trailwalkers!
9:05pm - Finish line update
Second overall team Meredith Connell Total Sport from Auckland crossed the finish line at 14 hours and 5 minutes. They led the pack for much of the way and are the first mixed team to finish.
Team
Meredith Connell Total Sport embrace in a moment of affection at the finish line.
8:30pm - 13hours 12minutes 7seconds
It’s taken them just over 13 hours and across 100km of Taupo’s most spectacular scenery, and now the team of John, Glenn, Nigel and Romain – The Thommos – have come through the finish line ahead of the pack at the 5th annual Oxfam Trailwalker.
The family team of father, two sons and one son in law, say they surprised even themselves with their first time effort – father John says it was the ‘buzz’ which kept them going.
The team have not ever entered a competitive sporting event together – the longest they ran together was just 26km, something which the team says they may have to re-think next time round.
A big congratulations to you!
Team Thommos - John, Glenn, Nigel, and Romain
7:00pm - Checkpoint 7 at 7pm
News just in that the first team has reached Checkpoint 7. Not long to go now for them - only 13.5km to go.
Team Thommos leads the way now - A team of a father, two sons and one son in law. Shortly afterward, team
Meredith Connell also make their way past Checkpoint 7.
While Checkpoint 7 is getting just a bit of action....the same goes with Checkpoint 3 where a few teams remain. Team Rock On is currently having dinner with TVNZ's Close Up team. You can watch team
Rock On's Trailwalker journey on Close Up sometime soon.
5:00pm - News from the field
Teams are really starting to spread out now across the checkpoints. Here's a quick update:
Teams between Checkpoint 2 and 3 - 65
Teams between Checkpoint 3 and 4 - 196
Teams between Checkpoint 4 and 5 - 14
Teams between Checkpoint 5 and 6 - 5 (the crazy fast ones!)
4:00pm – Cheers at Checkpoint 3
Checkpoint 3 is a real treat for the Oxfam Trailwalkers. The Kinloch ladies at the Kinloch Community Hall put on quite a welcome, with tea and coffee but best of all lots of great encouragement.
The local ladies, some of whom are past participants, have helped out at Trailwalker for the past five years, and they say they know the importance of a good cheer. They are doing a fantastic job and I’m sure the walkers really appreciate their efforts.
The lovely Kinloch ladies
As for the walkers themselves, some are starting to show signs of fatigue! No wonder – they have almost walked 50km! Still, everyone seems to be really enjoying it. The scenery in the Kinloch area is simply amazing, so that must help the walkers somewhat too.
I stumble across team R we there yet, who come from Auckland, and look very well looked after. Supporter Steve, I am told is a very "well trained husband" – he was busy massaging sore feet when I met him - there's all the proof you need.
Supporter Steve doing his job well.
While at Checkpoint 3, I met one of our keen tweeters, MikeNZ from team Albany Roosters. It was nice to see him in person after reading his tweets all morning! He’s a second timer and has even done the Hong Kong Trailwalker. He says his team is having a fairly relaxed approach to Trailwalker - still seem to be doing really well though. Us lot back at HQ are wondering how he manages to tweet while climbing hills and manoeuvring cow pats!
MikeNZ stops for a chat with Oxfam
2:40pm - Checkpoint charlie
The last team has just passed through checkpoint two, and 35 teams have already arrived at Checkpoint 3!
2:00pm - News from the field
We went down to Whakaipo Bay (checkpoint two), manned by Taupo’s Girl Guides, only to find that we had just missed Oxfam Trailwalker’s leaders. The top teams passed through checkpoint two without the least bit of a break, while other teams were pacing themselves.
When we spoke to the Maven Movers at checkpoint two, their strict support crew gave them only minutes to shovel down a couple of mouthfuls of pie, and were already counting down the seconds they had left.
We then moved quickly onwards to checkpoint three to catch up with the leaders - they all stopped for more than a breath here while they recharged, refueled, and even relaxed (for moments!) with a quick massage.
Air NZ's Total Sport Koru Spirit were the leaders heading into Checkpoint 3. The three members said they decided to do Trailwalker because they loved running, and wanted to give back to the community. They were all feeling strong and confident.
From Hong Kong, the Kinhang D-Cats arrive at checkpoint 3 in their first Oxfam New Zealand Trailwalker. After having already completed more than 10 Oxfam Trailwalkers in Hong Kong and Japan, they came to New Zealand to enjoy its beautiful scenery and friendly people.
Bono's Bandits arrived third at this checkpoint bruised and battered, but not broken. After asking them why they chose to do Oxfam Trailwalker, their team leader said "Because we're crazy," and added that the name came from his team last year who wanted to sing U2 songs along the whole trail.
Member of Team Rad receives a brief massage and some TLC at checkpoint 3!
12:00pm - Lunchtime update
News in to Oxfam Trailwalker HQ is that all teams have now passed through Checkpoint 1 and 55 teams are through Checkpoint 2. Also....news just in that there is a wedding happening at Checkpoint 2! We will bring you details if we ever get any! Congratulations to Paul and his lucky lady. All the best from Oxfam New Zealand.
10:10am – Early arrivals at Checkpoint 2
We’ve just had word at Oxfam Trailwalker HQ that two teams have checked in at Checkpoint 2. Team
Bono’s Banditshave come in seconds ahead of Total Sport Koru Spirit. The race is on!
9:30am – All happy at Checkpoint 1
Close to half the Oxfam Trailwalkers have now streamed through Checkpoint 1 and everyone seems to be having a blast – despite having just walked 17.6km.
Hundreds of supporters are waiting for their respective teams and these guys and gals seem to be having just as much fun at the Trailwalkers themselves!
First Team at Checkpoint 1 from the 6am wave,
Team Ammo arrive at 8:12am.
Team Ammo were closely followed by Los Cuatro Fantasticos from Argentina. Third through of the 6am wave were Powerhouse, who summed up the first leg of the walk as “awesome!”
Sole Train came through the first checkpoint one by one. The first two members stretched their legs and said they were feeling good, but said their following team mates needed to do less talking and more walking!
One of the
Sole Train members streching his legs, while waiting on the others to catch up.
The first team through the first checkpoint from the second wave of the walk, was Meredith Connell Total Sport. Their support crew eagerly anticipated their arrival pledging to offer energy bars, foot massages….then struggled to keep up with the team as they ran right through!
We met Team WDC Wonderfools from Hamilton along the beautiful Craters of the Moon site. They are from the Waikato District Council and seem to be in great spirits! It’s their first year doing Trailwalker and say they are doing it for two reasons – to change the lives of people in need and also to change their lives too.
The sun is shining and it’s getting warm out there – a nice change from the icy morning. The thermals are coming off and sunnies are on.
A very happy team
WDC Wonderfools.
8:47am - Update from Taupo
19 teams are through the first checkpoint and the sun is shining!
7:00am - Kapa Haka
Watch this video of the kapa haka that sent off the second group of Oxfam Trailwalkers!
7:00am - No turning back now
The sun is up but fog is still creeping as the second wave of Oxfam Trailwalkers depart.
We’ve met some Aussies at the start line who have done two Trailwalkers across the ditch. Team PT Zoners (yes they are Personal Trainers and look fit) have come to Taupo for an extra challenge - they say they’ve heard this one is harder than Sydney!
The K* Team are all from Auckland and must be freezing as they are all in shorts! Luckily the Les Mills instructors are keeping these guys warm with their aerobics. It’s their first time and they say they are filled with all sorts of emotions, but above all excited.
Oxfam NZ Executive Director Barry Coates has been up since the early hours supporting the Trailwalkers and says the buzz this morning is just fantastic. He wants to thank everyone involved, especially the land owners. We’ll catch up with him again at the finish line.
6:00am - Waiata before the first start
Oxfam Trailwalkers were given a rousing sendoff with a waiata (Tutira Mai Nga Iwi) and haka from Te Awhi Orangi. Watch the video below to hear the waiata.
6:00am - And they’re off!
Wow! What a sight! Hundreds of Trailwakers and supporters pack in and say their goodbyes. It’s not very warm here in Taupo this morning, it can’t be much more than 5 degrees, but people don’t seem to mind all that much. Music’s pumping and the aerobics instructors are getting the crowd going and the sun isn’t even up yet.
There’s a big sense of excitement mixed in with nerves at the start line, and it is really all sorts of people embarking on this. Young and old, experienced and novice, old friends and new ones.
Team DLA Phillips Fox tells us they are both excited and scared and somewhat sleep deprived, but above all ready and pumped to go!
The team with the most creative name I’ve seen so far, the El Walke Pocoteam from Auckland, are embarking on their first Trailwaker, and although they think it’s a bit crazy they are doing this, they say above all they want to fundraise for a good cause.
The DBDC team (that stands for David Beckham’s Distant Cousins) hail from Hamilton want to give walking a go, after their indoor football team by the same name failed to impress, having only scored one goal all season! I’m sure there will be more success here ladies!
Credits
This year's Oxfam Trailwalker 2010 Blog was brought to you by Shamim, Prue, Sophie, Davide and July. We think you're all awesome and inspirational!!!!!!
