MOST of a near-record number of participants in the TMF Group Island Walk completed their challenges yesterday in spite of fears that bad weather might affect the annual event.
Force Seven winds battered the Island during the morning after the 3am start, but in the event the walk took place in largely dry conditions.
Two sections of the 48-mile course – at Grosnez in St Ouen and Noirmont in St Brelade – were adjusted because of safety concerns, but the rain stayed away until a heavy squall passed over the Island at around 10am.
The first person to cross the line registered a time of seven hours, 16 minutes and 58 seconds and by early afternoon a steady stream of walkers were reaching the finish in St Helier.
The majority of finishers had completed the course by sunset at 9.16pm, but the checkpoint at the finish line remained open until midnight.
Winds from the south-west remained a feature but eased to force five by the evening, while a maximum temperature of 17.2°C was recorded at Maison St Louis in St Helier.
A total of just over 1,600 people had registered for the event, a 20% increase on the 2023 figure and close to a record.
As well as the main walk, the event featured the 13-mile Lieutenant-Governor’s Challenge, a four-stage relay and the ONE TMF Challenge along the St Aubin’s Bay coast path.
Thousands of pounds are expected to be raised for a range of charities, including the RNLI, Trees for Life Jersey and Skate Space.
Full coverage and pictures will be in Monday’s JEP.
