COMPLETE the Trailwalker within 24 hours - this was the target that two teams from Police Training School headed by PTS Commandant Stuart McDouall recently set themselves.

Of course preparation for the event had begun well before the big day with both teams taking time out on Sundays to complete small sections of the walk.

Appropriate footwear had been purchased in advance and come the day everybody was psyched up for what is a tall order by any standards.

During the daylight hours all went very well with even the seemingly invincible Ma On Shan providing few problems. But come nightfall team members became weary and the craving to stop and sleep for just a few minutes became almost irresistible, and both teams were unanimous in agreeing that climbing up Pipers' Hill only to be confronted with Needle Hill was the most challenging part of the walk.

Although there were occasional mutterings of discontent (not to mention the blisters) the teams overcame their difficulties together, the task rendered all the more easy thanks to a well-equipped support team led by CPTI/PTS Thomas Cheung who awaited them at every control point. Both teams completed the walk in 23 hrs 30 minutes. Next year PTS Staff will raise their sights even further and aim for a time of 20 hours.

As usual, and as these pictures attest, the Hong Kong Island Regional Sports Day was exciting, competitive and fun.

Major Unit Competition: CDIST and WDIST; Minor Unit Competition: EU HKI; Victor Ludorum: PC Chung Kiu-man, EU HKI; Victrix Ludorum: WPC Chong Chi-ning, EDIST; Tennis: WCHDIST; Swimming: EDIST; Running: CDIST; 7-a-side Football: EDIST; 7-a-side Touch Rugby: CDIST; Basketball: T HKI; Tug of war (men): WDIST, (women): EU HKI; Ten Pin Bowling: CDIST; Squash: CDIST; Table Tennis: WDIST; and Shot Put: T HKI. Congratulations!

ON a sun-blessed Sunday afternoon, 14 December 1997, TSWDIV participated in the Treasure Hunt for the Children's Cancer Foundation held in Tin Shui Wai. The event was organised by Citybase Property Management Limited to raise money for the Foundation. The venue was at Phase 7, Kenswood Court, Tin Lung Road.

The event first started back in 1989 when a group of doctors, nurses, clinical psychologists, social workers, parents of children with cancer and concerned individuals founded the Children's Cancer Fund for the Chinese University of Hong Kong, in an effort to improve the quality of life for young cancer patients.

In 1991, this volunteer organisation, under the patronage of Lady Ford, grew to become the Children's Cancer Foundation.

Money raised by the Foundation is used for sponsoring the purchase of medical equipment, providing counselling and support services to children with cancer and their families, and the funding of paediatric bone marrow transplants.

TSWDIV raised a small but meaningful sum, all directly deposited into the account of the Children's Cancer Foundation.

To participate, TSWDIV assembled a team of five officers consisting of Inspector Ng Ka-wang, ADVC ADM; PC Lee Wai-yin, MESU (trying to lose weight); PC Lam Hon-keung, PSU 2 (just transferred to TSWDIV from Airport Security Unit); Mak Him-long, PSU 3 (sub-nine-minutes time for 2.4 km run, SDU material) and PC Cheng Kam-cheung, PSU 2 (just passed out from PTS last week, yet to be wasted and corrupted by shift duties).

At the end of the day, Tin Shui Wai Police Station came first in the most coveted and prestigious category of all, The Fastest Team, beating out 16 other teams of treasure hunters.

All involved must be thanked for their great kindness and charity, with special thanks going to the TSWDIV team members for their excellent spirit and for giving up their own free time to take part.

It is sincerely hoped that this event can become a regular affair on the police calendar and perhaps grow into something to rival the Sedan-chair Race for the Matilda Hospital.