Done and dusted: Titirangi Mt Everest Challenge signs off for another year

Ngati Porou Oranga had a team of 84 people and took out first place on the team leaderboard with an impressive 1725 climbs. Picture supplied

The annual challenge to climb the equivalent height of Mt Everest has wrapped up, after 130 people successfully completed it.

The Titirangi Mt Everest Challenge ran from Monday, October 2 to Sunday, November 19.

An iconic event for the region, it involves a seven-week challenge where individuals or teams walk, run or cycle up Titirangi 68 times, which works out to the height of Mount Everest.

Participants could also use alternative peaks wherever they are located and convert the climbs using the Strava app or Topographic online.

Morehu and Arohea Pewhairangi from Ngati Oneone closed off the 2023 Titirangi Mt. Everest Challenge with a karakia on Sunday.

A total of 1269 participants completed 10,557 climbs collectively, with 130 participants completing 68 climbs to reach the equivalent of Mt. Everest.

“The 11th edition of the Titirangi Mt Everest Challenge once again turned the maunga into a hive of activity and motivated our community to use this historical landmark to walk, jog or run their way to the height of Mt Everest.” Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti events adviser Debbie Hutchings said.

“Through this, friendships are created, stories are shared and some achieve more than what they ever thought they could or would do.”

At the top of the individual leaderboard was Bevan Brooking, with a total of 286 climbs. A multiple title holder in both judo and jiu jitzu, this year he  was nursing an injury, so swapped the mats for the maunga.

This year, Ngati Porou Oranga had a team of 84 people and took out first place on the team leaderboard with an impressive 1725 climbs. One of their members, Norm Ngaira, has his own story.  He has attempted the challenge for seven years. This year he not only achieved the 68 climbs, but he finished with 200 climbs. His motivation for the challenge and lifestyle changes, was to be able to look after himself so he could look after the most important people in his life, his whānau.

In third place on the team leaderboard was Last of the Summer Wine. With an average age of 77 years, they collectively climbed the maunga 824 times. The team is made up of nine members, with 74-year-old Liz Thodey placing second on the individual leaderboard with a total of 222 climbs.

Fellow teammate Helen Humble also reached a milestone having turned 82 recently. She celebrated by completing her 82nd climb on the final day of the challenge.

With support from Ngati Oneone, Sean and Fiona Shivnan, the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society, the Gisborne District Council and ProTraffic, as well as local champions such as Huringa Pai, the event was able to raise awareness and funds for the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society to support locals living with bowel cancer.

This year the online donations amounted to $1362, all of which will be donated to the  Cancer Society here.