This year, Wessex Archaeology entered three teams for the Oxfam Trailwalker 2016 challenge – 100 km non-stop across the South Downs in under 30 hours – organised with the Queen’s Gurkha Signals to raise much-needed funds for both Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. 
 
The teams were:
  • Wessex Primary (Matt Tooke, Chris Hirst, Lincoln Spencer and Jack Laverick);
  • Wessex Secondary (Alexandra Grassam, Gareth Chaffey, Si Cleggett and Phoebe Olsen); and
  • Wessex Tertiary (Dave Norcott, Andy Callen, Rachel Williams and Guillermo Santamaria).
The teams were supported by Chris Brayne, Garreth Davey, Vi Pieterson, Paul Baggaley, Phil Weston, Lisa McCaig, Jo Lathan and Andy Crockett.
 

It was a very hot weekend, which makes any sort of endurance test particularly difficult. Team Primary, first out at 7am, had to face some of the hardest stretches of the course in the hottest weather. As the gruelling conditions took their toll, Matt and then Lincoln had to withdraw through injury, but it is a testament to Chris and Jack that despite their own discomfort they then joined with, and supported Team Secondary up to Checkpoint 8. By that point both had gone so far through the pain barrier that they also had to withdraw; this was along with Alex who was walking on pure adrenaline, but who knew that to continue might prevent Team Secondary from finishing within the required 30 hours.
 
However, we are absolutely delighted to report that Dave Norcott, Andy Callen, Rachel Williams and Guillermo Santamaria (Team Tertiary) completed Trailwalker 2016 in an excellent time of 27 hours 11 minutes, and Gareth Chaffey, Si Cleggett and Phoebe Olsen (Team Secondary) completed in 29 hours 30 minutes.
 
We are so very proud of each and every one of our Trailwalkers, and they can all, likewise, take great pride in their achievements, their team spirit and their grit and determination – not least because, through their friends, family and colleagues, and our business partners, the sponsorship total stands at just under £5k.