Oxfam Trailwalker organisers believe Hongkongers have reiterated their enduring interest in the annual event and revealed they have ideas to keep expanding it.
Michael Wong, director of fundraising and communications, expressed gratitude to this year’s roughly 3,400 participants – more than double the 1,600-strong field for the last edition in February – and revealed plans to focus on drawing more youngsters and overseas participants.
“We feel this event is an important lesson about resilience for the younger generations,” he said. “So we’d like to work with different organisations and schools to recruit more youngsters going forward.
“We also want to attract more tourists to visit Hong Kong to participate in Trailwalker, and to enjoy the stunning views of our natural environment. We feel this is a market with great potential.”
While Wong saw scope to further expand the event, the organisers will honour a “gentlemen’s agreement with AFCD [Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department]” to protect the MacLehose Trail used by the route.
“Trailwalker does not belong to Oxfam and we are just the caretaker,” Wong said. “The event belongs to Hong Kong and it is an important event for the city.
“Therefore the maximum number of teams shall not exceed 1,300, to protect the trail.”
Wong added that they have set a target of HK$30million (US$3.8 million) in donations this year and would be “very happy” to achieve it. The record is HK$38million in 2018.
Of the 850 or so teams who started Hong Kong’s largest hiking fundraiser on Friday morning at Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung, the last were expected to finish just before the 48-hour deadline on Sunday.
Late on Friday, team TTR (charity organisation Trailwalker Teaching Room) had been the first to finish, crossing the line at 8.42pm, about 45 minutes ahead of runners-up Team 8129.
The winners, made up of Leung Shing-tung, Leung Wai-yip, Ye Xiaoming and Lam Kin-ka, completed the gruelling route in 12 hours, 42 minutes and 47 seconds.
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But there was a new record this year for the top women’s finishers. Team 8111, made up of Cheung Man-yee, Wong Ki-chun, Leung Hong-kiu and Angie Yan, clocked 13:52:38 to finish fourth overall, slicing a minute off the previous best set in 2012 by Blister Sisters.
“I am glad to have you all around me, we can’t do this without any of us,” said Cheung, who finished second at TransLantau140 in the women’s category two weeks ago. “I can’t believe we can actually do it, this is really crazy.”
“We helped each other and we finally did it,” Wong said. “I honestly don’t dare to check the time, I can’t believe we did it still.”
The organisers revealed that the next event is expected to be held from November 15 to 17 next year, with the application window with the government opening only in February. They hope to keep the finish line at Crossroads Foundation in Tuen Mun.
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