The Flinders Shire Council, in conjunction with Queensland Events, held the 14th annual edition of the event with 174 competitors – a record number of entrants.

The event continues to grow each year.  Last year saw 130 competitors complete the challenge.

The inaugural challenge was held in 2001 as a part of the Centenary of Federation celebrations.

The event was devised to not only ‘‘challenge’’ serious competitors, but to draw locals and residents from neighbouring communities to visit this amazing, natural attraction.

Competitors travel vast distances and often compete in the Mount Walker fun run, which is held the following day.

Challenge categories include open men’s, women’s and under-16 and under-12 section for boys and girls, with the overall winner taking pride of place on the perpetual trophy.  A special perpetual trophy is also awarded to the first local Flinders Shire resident past the post.

Prizemoney is given to the first four placegetters in the open men’s and women’s sections, while juniors are awarded with individual trophies and a prize pack.

The challenge started at 10am, with start times staggered from under-12s through to open men’s and ladies. The race began at the bottom of the gorge and competitors raced to the top, finishing near the Pyramid Camping Ground. Men and women competed over   8 kilometres; under-16 boys and girls competed over 3.6km, while the under 12 boys and girls raced over  1.6km.

The winners for 2015:

Opens men’s

Tim McGrath (Cairns), 1; Max Fegan (Townsville), 2; Ian Anderson (Townsville), 3; Christopher Rix (Cloncurry), 4.

Open women

Julia Anderson 49.02 (Townsville), 1; Kristin Lawrence 51.08 (Longreach), 2; Liz Tate 52.48 (Longreach), 3; Alison Whitehead 54.03 (Mt Isa), 4.

Under-16 boys

Casey Rankine 19.42.90 (Hughenden), 1; Toby Rankine 20.05.90 (Hughenden), 2; Jayson Coward 22.35.50 (Hughenden), 3.

Under-16 girls

Sophie McLaren 20.53.60 (Charters Towers), 1; Shanelle Flute 24.20.50 (Hughenden), 2; Lexie Mitchell  24.33.20 (Winton), 3.

Under-12 boys

Riley Flute 12.00.09 9 (Hughenden), 1; Jack Rogers 14.57.91 (Hughenden), 2; Blake Mitchell 16.16.44 (Winton), 3.

Under-12 girls 

Dominique Wiggins 15.33.22 (Hughenden), 1; Grace Moloney 16.20.50 (Hughenden), 2; Danielle Brennan 16.21.05 (Hughenden, 3.