HIMALAYAN 100 MILE STAGE RACE 28 Oct. – 01 Nov. 2007, DARJEELING, INDIA The 17th International Himalayan Run & Trek annual events (Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race) went off successfully during 28 Oct – 01 Nov. 2007 in Darjeeling area, the North-East Himalayan ranges. Adventurers from sixteen countries including USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Spain, Taiwan, New Zealand, Austria, Singapore, Japan, Czech Republican, Israel, South Africa, Norway, Chile, etc took part in this novel event. The Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race has been distinguished as one of the world’s most challenging and toughest endurance events with ‘AAA’ rating. Mr.Duncan Larkin (USA) won the 17^th International Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race with a time of 15 Hrs. 39 minutes got the privilege to receive the first prize. The second and third position won by Mr.Miguel Angel Merino Gomez (Spain) with a time of 15 Hrs. 58 Minutes and Mr.Alan David Colley (UK) with a time of 17 Hrs. 33 Minutes respectively. Among the females, Ms.Elin Margrethe Engdahl Wright (Norwegian) with an overall time of 18 Hrs. 33 Minutes won the Sant Nagpal Baba Memorial Gold Award. The second position won by Ms.Prunella Venning Hayhow (UK) with a time of 22 Hrs. 17 Minutes and Ms.Tsafnat Neeman Einhoren (Israel) with a time of 22 Hrs. 29 Minutes declared the third winner. The oldest participant was Mr.Andrew Kotulski from USA (67 years) while Gold Award for environmental mission was presented to Ms.Carolyn Ann Powell from UK. The race finish rate was 98.30%. The course traversed vast tea gardens, isolated jungles and small villages. Participants also got opportunity to have the spectacular view of Mt. Everest, Kachenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu (four out of five highest peaks in the world). According to the runners, the race trail is most beautiful and it offers a rare opportunity to enjoy the cold breezes that hover around the rhododendron forests which holds more than four thousand types of flowering plants and three hundred varieties of rare ferns. Simultaneously the 13th Mt. Everest Challenge Marathon also took place on the third day of the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race. Mr. C. S. Pandey was the Race Director of the events. According to Mr.C.S. Pandey, “eco-friendly adventure sport is the best way to spice up and brighten life. Becoming one with nature is the most satiating experience one can have, as it helps to keep the body and mind in perfect condition.” The central ambition behind this eco adventure sport mission is to preserve the environment and local heritage of Indian Himalayas for future generation. The 18th Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race will take place during 01^st – 08^th November 2008 (seven nights / eight days and from Bagdogra airport to Bagdogra airport), at Darjeeling, INDIA MT. EVEREST CHALLANGE MARATHON OCTOBER 30, 2007 DARJEELING, INDIA The 13^th international annual Mt.Everest Challenge Marathon was successfully held on October 30 at Darjeeling. It started at Sandakphu National Park with Seventy participants from Sixteen countries (USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Spain, Taiwan, New Zealand, Austria, Singapore, Japan, Czech Republican, Israel, South Africa, Norway, Chile, etc) negotiated the trails from Sandakphu to Rimbik via Phalut. Altitude varied from 12,000 ft to 6,350 ft. Mr.Miguel Angel Merino Gomez (Spain) won the first position with a time of 4 Hrs. 31 minutes. The second position went to Mr.Duncan Larkin from USA with 4 Hrs. 37 minutes and the third position went to Mr.Robert Forbes Murdoch (UK) with 5 Hrs. 4 minutes. Ms.Elin Margrethe Engdahl Wright (Norwegian) was the first woman to finish the marathon with an over all time of 5 Hrs. 40 minutes. Second position went to Ms.Tracey Chalfant Nicholson of USA with 6 Hrs. 14 minutes and the third woman to finish was Ms.Prunella Venning Hayhow from UK with a time of 6 Hrs. 40 minutes. Walkers got a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the race trail at own pace. Participants seemed to agree with Runners World magazine in describing the Mt.Everest Challenge Marathon as the “world’s most beautiful marathon”. Mr.C.S.Pandey was the Race Director. The race finish rate was 100%. The course traversed isolated jungles and small villages. Participants also got opportunity to have the spectacular view of Mt.Everest, Kachenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu (four out of five highest peaks in the world). The event was held simultaneously with the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race. The 14^th international annual Mt.Everest Challenge Marathon is scheduled to be held on 05 November 2008 in Darjeeling, India. For further information contact C. S. Pandey, Race Director, Himalayan Run & Trek Pvt. Ltd. T-5, Manish Chambers, Plot No.6, Block - B, Local Shopping Complex, Mayur Vihar Phase - 2, Delhi - 110 091, INDIA Phone : +91 11 22772700, Fax +91 11 22772800 E-mail : hrtpl@del2.vsnl.net.in / cspandey@vsnl.com