FOUR archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology’s (CA) Kemble office recently completed the 2017 Trailwalker challenge, despite battling injuries as well as awful weather and ground conditions.

The endurance event, organised by and benefiting Oxfam and The Gurkha Welfare Trust, involves teams walking 100km across the South Downs in one go and without sleep.

Alistair Barber, Sara-Jayne Boughton, Michael Joyce and Gary Baddeley set off from Queen Elizabeth Country Park near Portsmouth, at 8am on July 29 and reached Brighton racecourse, 28 hrs and 15 minutes later.

Alistair Barber said: “I can’t deny it was a tough challenge.

“From Saturday lunchtime onward we endured 12 hours of rain, as well as strong winds and heavy fog during the night.

“Team members suffered knee injuries and blisters during the trek but although this slowed us down we’re still very happy with our finish time.

“Trailwalker is very much a team challenge and we made sure we looked out for each other and finished as a complete unit of four.

“Many other teams dropped out due to injury or fatigue.

“I think the fact that our CA team succeeded came down to stubbornness and tenacity, we’re used to being outside in bad weather!

“But mainly is was down to the amazing encouragement from our support team.

“Fellow archaeologists Hazel O’Neill and Andy Clarke met us at checkpoints with smiles, plasters and hot food and drinks.

“The event was really well organised by Oxfam and the Queens’ Gurkha Signals, and being cheered on by polite, smiley, Gurkhas really helped.

“We were determined that we weren’t going to let down everyone who got behind our Trailwalker fundraising - it’s amazing that friends, families, colleagues and the wider public have taken our fundraising to just a few pounds short of £2500 now, money that will really help people in real need both in Nepal and globally.

“Thank you so much to everyone who has helped us.”

Go to justgiving.com/fundraising/cotswoldarchaeology and select Team Kemble to donate.