A record 509 walkers took part in the Colin Hudson Great Train Hike sponsored by Butterfield, with more than 350 people finishing the gruelling course of 26 miles from Independence Square to Belleplaine, St Andrew, yesterday.
Although it was not a race but a hike to perpetuate the memory of inventor and ecologist Hudson, serious walkers left at five a.m. with Shawn Grandison wrapping up the hike in five hours and 43 minutes, just before Stephen Bignall.
The first woman to reach Belleplaine was June Boyce, who finished after just over six hours.
Hudson not only invented the cane harvester but he was known for hiking twice a day every Sunday. Â
He also established the Great Train Hike which followed the path of the long gone train moving from Independence Square, through Carrington Village, The Belle, Bulkeley, Carrington, Sunbury, Three Houses, Fortesque, Consett Bay, Bathsheba, Bath, the Ermie Bourne Highway and on to Belleplaine.
One of the chief organisers of the hike, William Gollop, general manager of the Barbados National Trust, was ecstatic over the number of new and repeat hikers.
The first group left at four a.m. while the more casual hikers departed at six a.m. with a healthy mix of locals and visitors.
Gollop expressed thanks to Butterfield, whose sponsorship during the past 15 years had seen tremendous growth taking place.
Visitors such as David and Ann Ashberry, from Canada, are among those who arrange their holidays to coincide with the Great Train Hike.
Butterfield marketing officer Nicola Greaves was pleased with the response and interest, which were augmented by Butterfield giving branded shirts to the first 100 hikers who registered.
Butterfield also set a corporate example with 47 employees and associates taking part once again.
In addition to Butterfield, several partners such as WIBISCO, BICO, Hanschell Inniss, Hawaiian Tropics, Dimes Juices and Trinidad Orange Juice got on board and provided refreshing samplings for the hikers.
