Soldiers Tackle Gruelling Gurkha Doko Race at Pirbright Training Centre
Gruelling Doko Race Tests Soldiers at Pirbright
Anyone driving past the Army Training Centre in Pirbright this week might have noticed something unusual on the training ground. Soldiers from across the British Army were pushing themselves through the Gurkha Doko race, a punishing challenge that has become one of the most talked-about events in the area. Competitors strapped a traditional Nepalese Doko basket, weighing 15kg, to their shoulders and heads and covered 5km. The time limit is 43 minutes. Anyone who misses it does not progress to the next stage of selection.
For those of us who live nearby, the training centre is a familiar presence. Pirbright sits in the heart of the Surrey countryside, close to Woking and Guildford, and the army’s heathland and woodland training areas are part of the local landscape. Walkers on the paths and cyclists on the lanes often see troops training in the distance, but a race of this kind is rarely held in public view. It is a reminder that the sprawling site is far more than a barracks; it is a place where some of the army’s most demanding tests take place.
The Doko race dates back to 1989. It is a rite of passage for every Gurkha who wants to join the British Army’s Brigade of Gurkhas. The version held in Surrey is a scaled-down cousin of the real selection test. The original course runs through the foothills of the Himalayas, where candidates carry a Doko loaded with 25kg of sand, uphill, over rough ground. Those who take part in Surrey are getting a taste of what that journey demands, and of why only a small share of applicants succeed.
Corporal Gurung and the People Behind the Race
Corporal Nisaan Gurung spoke to BBC Radio Surrey about the event, and his enthusiasm was clear. He described it as a big date on the calendar, especially for the Nepalese community in Britain, many of whom have family connections to the Brigade of Gurkhas. For people who have served, or whose relatives have served, the Doko is more than a physical test. It is a link to a tradition that stretches back generations and across continents.
Gurung also spoke from personal experience. He completed the race in Nepal, where he remembered the route as very hard, mostly uphill and unforgiving. He said the challenge tests both body and mind, and he was candid about the odds. Roughly 2 to 3 per cent of candidates make it through selection. That figure gives a sense of why local families and younger recruits take the event so seriously.
The race also featured Alex Tetley, who competed for the RAF and said she was one of only a few women taking part. Her message was simple: everyone should feel capable of pursuing what they want. She prepared by running through local woodland and admitted she had not studied the course beforehand. Her light-hearted comment that she might not have signed up had she seen it in advance will resonate with anyone who has ever taken on a challenge without fully knowing what it involved. Her participation also signals to young women in Surrey that military fitness challenges are open to them too.
What Surrey Residents Should Know and Watch Next
For local residents, the most practical takeaway is that Pirbright and the surrounding area will continue to see military training activity. If you walk, ride or run on the heathland paths, keep an eye on signage and any access restrictions. Training areas can close at short notice, so checking the official notices before setting out is sensible.
The event also offers a chance to get involved in the community. Local Nepalese associations, cultural groups and veterans’ organisations across Surrey often welcome volunteers and visitors at commemorative and cultural events. If you want to learn more about the Gurkha tradition, ask at your local library, community centre or the army’s public information channels. Schools in the area sometimes invite speakers to talk about military life and careers, which can be an excellent opportunity for students to hear first-hand accounts.
On a more everyday note, many of us are thinking about home improvements this year, and a loft conversion or loft rebuilding project can add useful space and value to a Surrey home. If you are considering one, look for Guildford builders who are registered with a recognised trade body, ask for references and written quotes, and confirm that planning permission or building regulations approval is in place before work begins. Good preparation, like the training behind the Doko race, makes all the difference.
Watch next for BBC Surrey’s follow-up coverage and any announcements from the Army Training Centre about future selection events. Send your own story ideas to the BBC Surrey team if you know of local people taking on their own physical challenges.
Source: Soldiers take part in gruelling Gurkha race in Surrey
