On Saturday 7th October at 05:15hrs, Bignor checkpoint contacted Plumpton HQ to report that their checkpoint was open, thus marking the start of the 2023 Downsman Hike.
This was an extraordinary year with 83 teams starting the hike. This is a staggering number which, admittedly, came as a surprise but was fantastic to see. Of the 83 teams there was almost a perfect symmetry with 42 teams competing in various classes and 41 teams in the non-competitive Open Class.
Put simply, the Downsman is a point-to-point, start-to-finish hike. In truth, it is so much more. It tests both mental and physical endurance of hikers and, equally, the morale and determination of a team. It was a challenge that was admirably conquered by the hikers, and they did so with smiles and high spirits. All who entered should be brimming with pride. Well Done!
The majority of teams were supported and encouraged along the way by their fantastic service crews, providing much needed refreshments and running repairs. We were even blessed with good weather for hiking, including a strong tail wind to help teams reach their finish location.
For the majority of the hike, I was stationed at Eastbourne, where I was able to witness first hand the excitement of so many teams as they finished. It was brilliant to see teams being enthusiastically applauded and congratulated by their supporters as they crossed the line. A truly wonderful and jovial atmosphere. On Sunday 8th October at 01:30hrs, Eastbourne checkpoint closed, marking the end of a long, exhausting but utterly amazing day.
The hike is only possible with the support of a huge number of volunteers. It is a massive undertaking to ensure the safety of all hikers at all times while spanning a 55 mile route. May I express my sincere thanks to everyone involved, including checkpoint staff, road and rail crossing safety marshals, Eastbourne District Scouts First Aid Team (EDSFAT), radio operators, check-in staff, 4×4 rescue team, ‘On-foot’ rescue team, logistics team, landlords, service crews, scout leaders for preparing and entering their teams. I would like to also mention that some of our helpers were not adults, it was fantastic to see Explorers and Scouts help in a variety of roles including being on checkpoints, service crews and logistics. And a big thanks to the hikers of all ages that were foolhardy enough to enter the hike, the fact that so many came made it all worthwhile.
I must extend an extra special thanks to my committee. For the majority, including myself, 2023, was our 6th and final year of organising the Downsman Hike. It has been an honour to lead such an incredibly dedicated team who all worked tirelessly and relentlessly in their roles, thank you!
What does the future hold? To be abundantly clear, as things stand, there are not enough remaining committee members to run the hike. The Downsman Hike holds legendary status, it has run in its current format since 1967, prior to that it was an incident hike. I can’t with any certainty say how old the Downsman is but the B Class “Boot” trophy has an engraving dating back to 1960! It is of vital importance that new Committee members come forward ASAP to guarantee the future of the hike.
If you are interested in applying to join the Committee, please contact ACC Activities, Paul Arkle activities@westsussexscouts.org.uk
If you would like information about the various committee roles and what it takes to run the hike, then I would be more than happy to answer any questions downsman@westsussexscouts.org.uk . I remain available to assist with a handover.
Before I sign off, there remain some post hike tasks, we will endeavour to update the website with the Open Class timings soon and, not least, there are quite a number of medals and badges that need collecting. Again, please contact downsman@westsussexscouts.org.uk to arrange.
Yours in Scouting
Chris Searle (Downsman SASU Manager)
Downsman Hike 