New Hong Kong endurance race Gurkha Trailblazer honours soldiers’ sacrifice to city and the world
Charity trail race in northeast New Territories in January is a nod to the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker, first staged along city’s Maclehose Trail as a training run for Nepali soldiers in the British Army protecting Hong Kong
Organisers of the inaugural Gurkha Trailblazer race in Hong Kong’s New Territories say it is intended to commemorate Nepali soldiers who died in battle zones around the world – and those formerly based in Hong Kong, who played a key role in initiating the city’s biggest annual charity race.
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The first Gurkha Trailblazer charity race will take place on January 20, 2018. Open to 500 participants, it is being organised by the Gurkha Cemeteries Trust Hong Kong and Child Welfare Scheme (CWS).
“The Gurkhas made a significant contribution to maintaining social stability in Hong Kong during unsettling times, enabling it to become the world city it is today,” says Amod Rai, secretary of the trust.
“We have worked for more than a year with CWS, doing recces to decide on the route of this race, in areas where the Gurkhas used to train,” says Rai, whose grandfather was a Gurkha in Hong Kong.
“The Gurkha Trailblazer charity race was initiated to promote Gurkha history – to remember their contribution and sacrifice to the world and Hong Kong. It honours the bravest of the brave.”
I was overcome with nostalgia when we began to explore the area to figure out the route for the race
From 1948 to 1997, Gurkha soldiers serving in the British Army in Hong Kong secured the border, provided humanitarian support during natural disasters, and handled bomb disposal, among other duties, Rai says. Their tough training regimen also left a lasting legacy.
The 100km Trailwalker race that follows the Maclehose Trail from east to west across the hills of Hong Kong’s New Territories was first staged in 1981 as a test of endurance for soldiers of the Queen’s Gurkha Signals regiment. The race evolved into an annual event and was opened up to civilians in 1986.
