2022 will be the 42nd TGO Challenge. The first was in 1980 when participants had 3 weeks to cross Scotland. As only one (Chris Townsend) took more than a fortnight to cross subsequently it has taken place over 15 days in May. In 2001 the UK was affected by foot and mouth disease and restrictions were still in place running up to the Event so it was only possible to run an event from the A9 to the East Coast. The 2020 Event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic but despite ongoing restrictions and the need to postpone the Event by 6 weeks a smaller 2021 TGO Challenge went ahead in June. The midgies ensured it will go back to May for 2022!
Participants
During the 41 full Challenges:
- 3,560 people have participated
- 10,139 crossings have been started
- 8,959 have been completed
- 254 people have completed 10 crossings
- 27 have completed 20 crossings
- 1 person, Bill Robertson, has completed over 30 crossings. His first crossing was the inaugural Challenge in 1980 and he participated in every Challenge, except 1990 and the mini Challenge of 2001, until his 33rd and final crossing in 2016 aged 83. He retired only once in 2011.
- Two of our ever youthful vetters are hot on Bill’s heels. Alan Hardy has completed 28 whilst Graham Brookes completed his 29th in 2021 and hopes to make 2022 his 30th crossing.
Regular Challengers
3560 people have completed at least one crossing with around 10% of first timers retiring and never returning. Allowing for those who participated in recent years and may choose to return, around half decided that once is enough! However after a second Challenge you have a 65% of coming back at some point for a third and a 75% of then doing a fourth. By the time you have done nine there is a 96% chance you will come back for your tenth. So beware – its addictive! You might think you can resist the urge to fill in the entry form each September but chances are you won’t.
Retirements
Every year a number of people have to retire from the Event. The commonest reason for pulling out is sore feet or blisters. Not surprisingly the weather has a marked effect especially if bad weather hits near the start of the Event. The highest retirements were in 1983 (17.5%) and 2012 (16.5%) – both years were blighted by bad weather. 1983 was persistently wet and the three inches of torrential rain and gale force winds of “Stormy Sunday” in 2012 will be long remembered by many. Too much sun and heat can also cause retirements but in 2007 the Challenge was blessed with mild weather, sunny skies and gentles breezes and a record low retirement rate of 7%.
There is a perception among some that early Challengers were tougher than the present day crop. This may be fuelled by the fact that total retirements were lower in the earlier years but so were entry numbers. As a percentage 4 out of the 5 highest rates of retirement were in the 80s. So the current bunch should also be applauded for their mental and physical toughness too!
Age
Our oldest Challenger was Jim Taylor who completed his 20th crossing in 2014 at the age of 91. He walked solo and wild camped every night. Sadly Jim died the following year. He took the record from Jack Griffiths who crossed for the eleventh time in 1990 at the age of 90 and lived to the grand age of 104.
The lower age for entry is 18 and several teenagers have completed crossings. In 2014 we had an age range from 19 to 91 – a span of 72 years which we suspect few other events can surpass.
Overseas Challengers
Over the years Challengers from 29 countries have participated in the Event. They have come from: Australia (7), Austria (5), Barbados (1), Belgium (14), Canada (35), Denmark (11), Finland (4), France (8), Germany (31), Hungary (5), Iceland (1), Ireland (13), Italy (7), Israel (1), Japan (1), Kazhakstan (2), Netherlands (58), New Zealand (4), Nigeria (2), Norway (3), Oman (2), Poland (18), Qatar (1), South Korea (1), Spain (1), Sweden (6), Switzerland (8), Uganda (2), USA (121).
We can also lay a claim to Antarctica as one Challenger prepares his route whilst working over the winter on the British Antarctic Survey station!