FOR most of the 535 competitors who took part in last Saturday’s KPMG Consulting Central Park Tower Stair Climb, stepping over the finish line was achievement enough.
For individual competitor Paul Crake (pictured far right) the achievement is that much bigger. He conquered Perth’s tallest building in the record time of 5:26 minutes, knocking 34 seconds off the previous record set by Troy Kelly in 1995.
Mr Kelly had to be content with second place this year, with a time of 6:22 minutes.
Mr Crake’s efforts have won him a trip to New York City, where he will again put his body to the test when he competes in the grand-daddy of all stair climbing events, The Empire State Building Run Up.
A total of 58 teams signed up to compete in three different categories, and it was the four members of Cool Bananas whose combined time of 27:54 minutes won them first place.
Most of those who started the climb did make it over step 1236, including the youngest competitor, Carl Brackstone, aged 10.
The average men’s time was 11:12 minutes and the average women’s time was 15:30 minutes.
And while there may have been some aching limbs on Sunday and Monday, it was all for a good cause, with the money raised going to event organisers Activ Foundation, a WA organisation that supports those with intellectual disabilities.
Activ Foundation event manager Suellen Fuller said the money would be used to build a pre-school in Bayswater for children with intellectual disabilities.
Ms Fuller hailed the event a huge success and said it was likely the stair climb would join the Foundation’s City to Surf Fun Run as an annual fundraising event.
“It was a really good day, a great success for the first year that we have run it,” Ms Fuller said.
“We are so pleased that so many people put themselves to the test and I think a lot of them were actually thrilled that they were able to conquer the tower.
“We will definitely be doing it again next year.”
