Atmosphere at the 4.30am start was amazing – organiser

PERFECT conditions saw more than 1,000 people take to the cliffs and coastal roads yesterday in what looks set to be a record-breaking year for the annual Saffery Rotary Walk.

Lindsey O’Mahoney, seated, had been allocated the number 50 as it was her 50th birthday. She was walking with a team from cardiology and oncology at the hospital. Left to right, Paula Dodd, Mr Dee, Karen Dawe, Codey Brown and Simon Timberlake. (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin)

While most people were still sound asleep at 4.30am, Lt-Governor Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder and GFC player Ross Allen led a long queue of walkers off from the start at the Guernsey Information Centre.

‘The atmosphere at the start was amazing,’ said walk organising committee vice-chairman Nigel Dorey. ‘There was a massive queue. It went all the way up the Pollet almost up to Moore’s Hotel.’

As the day wore on the sight of bright orange shirts and hats winding their way along the coast became a familiar one.

‘If you take into account the Guernsey Disability Alliance, they had 45 registered walkers, and every one of those had a non-registered carer walking with them, during the afternoon, at one point, we probably had 900 people all walking at the same time. That’s the most we’ve ever had.’

He was unable to say how many walkers had not managed to make the distance and there were no incidents that he knew of where someone had serious medical issues, although a couple of people had to take a break for heat exhaustion, but nonetheless made it to the end.

Generally, though, he said the sunny day with a cool breeze had been ideal for the walk.

The cliff paths behind them, time for an ice cream at Portelet for, left to right, Richard Vowles, Martyn Dorey, Andre Bisson. (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin)

It was the seventh time that Saffery had sponsored the event, and company director Lisa Vizia was among the Saffery team at the Liberation monument welcoming the walkers home.

She said the first one to finish was a runner, Fabio Telles, who made it over the line at about 11.20am – by comparison, the last walker crossed the line some 10 hours later, at about 9.30pm.

‘It’s been brilliant,’ she said. ‘It’s been great because we’ve also had the family walk and it’s been wonderful to see the kids getting their medals.’

This was the first year that the family element of the walk had been introduced and Mr Dorey said he hoped it would be back.

. Walkers who have not yet sent in their sponsorship money are being urged to do so as soon as possible.