Generations Take on Jersey Island Walk as Heat and Distance Test Endurance

A 75-year-old participant, Ed Wilson, was among the standout finishers at this year’s Island Walk, crossing the line at 7.38pm after completing the 48-mile coastal route in 16 hours and 37 minutes.

Rita Hill, aged 73, was the oldest woman to complete the challenge, finishing in just under 19 hours, while the youngest participant, 10-year-old Élise Gardner, made it to the finish shortly before midnight after spending the entire day on her feet.

Among the younger finishers, 11-year-old Philip de la Haye completed the course in under 17 hours, becoming the youngest boy to finish this year’s event.

In the competitive category, Euan McArthur was the fastest overall finisher, improving on last year’s winning time by seven minutes with a completion time of 8 hours 41 minutes. Megan Buxton led the women’s field, finishing in 10 hours 25 minutes.

A total of 1,480 walkers registered for the event, marking the 35th anniversary of the Island Walk and reflecting a record level of entries. The event continues to be a major fundraising challenge, having raised more than £3 million for local charities since its inception in 1991.

This year’s completion rate fell to 60%, down from 80% the previous year, with 880 participants reaching the finish at the Waterfront in St Helier.

Walkers set off from St Helier harbour at 3am in calm early conditions under light cloud cover. Temperatures rose significantly later in the day, peaking at 27.2°C, though this remained cooler than the previous year’s high of 32.4°C.