AN INTREPID Petersfield man is attempting his 19th consecutive Trailwalker challenge at the weekend.

Ian Crawford (74) has, albeit unofficially, taken part in the arduous 100km trek across the South Downs more times than any other competitor.

His team Take It Easy Part Two is one of 400 four-strong teams looking to complete the trail –?from Queen Elizabeth Country Park (QECP) to Brighton Racecourse – in under 30 hours.

The course record set in 2004 by the Ghurka Logistics Regiment, is an incredible nine hours, 50 minutes, but the average time taken by the teams, made up of 1,600 competitors, is around 27 hours.

The event, from Friday to Sunday, raises money for Oxfam and the Ghurka Welfare Trust, and Ian, who has been involved since the start, has collected around £25,000 in total for the charities.

It is an annual challenge he relishes, but one he also knows is going to require him to really dig in to get over the finish line.

“It’s an absolute killer and it gets harder and harder every year,” admitted Ian, of Rother Close, who finished close to the cut off time last year, at 29 hours.

“I am not sure I will be able to complete it in the time this year, but I?have got to the point now where I?am just going to keep going until I?can’t anymore. A lot of it is mind over matter.

“Unless you are a really top athlete you are going to find it really difficult.”

The Ghurkas pull out all the stops to provide revitalising hot food and refreshments along the route, which is always very much appreciated by the walkers, he enthused.

Although Ian has an old and severe knee injury from a football game more than 50 years ago, he has only pulled out of Trailwalker once, unable to make the distance on time.

Trailwalker is a global event, with annual events taking place in many countries.