Early start for rotary walkers
DESPITE blustery and wet conditions, the Saffery Rotary Walk 2019 saw a stream of orange T-shirts circumnavigate the island on Saturday.
Beginning at around 4am the walk takes entrants from St Peter Port, along the south-coast cliffs, up the west coast, rounding the north of the island, before ending up once again back in Town.
The walk totals 39 miles and sees entrants run, walk and relay the course to raise funds for their chosen charity.
Walker Gary Thorne, who was rounding the headland at Grandes Rocques, said: ‘I’m really enjoying this, it is better than I thought it would be to be fair. I should have done a bit more training I think, but not to worry.’
Fellow participants Gina Rowe and Jeanne Svejstrup were making their way along Richmond.
‘We’ve had a brilliant time so far, the support is amazing from everybody.
‘It is going super well,’ added Ms Svejstrup.
The first competitors were back at about 10am, making that an impressive six hours to cover nearly 40 miles on rough terrain.
However, the event is not a race but a challenge and walkers were coming in steadily throughout the day with the last of them arriving back in St Peter Port just after 8pm.
President of Cystic Fibrosis Guernsey and relay team member Mike Read said: ‘We were part of a relay team. I did the first leg along to the Imperial.
‘It is an excellent challenge that means we can raise money for our charity, which is one of those selected by the walk to support.
‘We’ve all had a really good day.’
It was also Angela Huettemann’s first time on the course: ‘It was amazing, this is the first time I have done the course and it the perfect way to see beautiful Guernsey.
‘I have had amazing support right the way along the course and I would definitely do it again next year,’ she said.
