The Swartkop Challenge is an extreme sport event which takes place each year at the site of the Anglo-Boer War Battle of Wagon Hill, also known as Platrand, near Ladysmith. The event sees teams of twenty members, and two leaders, each hauling a 1,300 kg artillery field gun up a steeply graded hill, over a course of a 130 m.

The Swartkop Challenge gains its inspiration from the events of the Anglo Boer of War of 1899 -1902, which saw heavy guns repeatedly drawn up steep hills to be mounted on top. Eventually it was realised that most of these hills, although strategically important, were too steep for draught animals to make their way up, so man-power was utilised. The Challenge duplicates the Swartkop Battlefield where fourteen guns were mounted by the British for the Battle of Vaalkraz - one of the many fruitless attempts to lift the Seige of Ladysmith which kept the British Empire on the edge for 118 days.

The origins of the Naval Gun Run Competition are based on the feats of the Naval Brigades during the defence and relief of Ladysmith, for which 20 Victoria Crosses were awarded. All teams completing a timed run will receive prize money, with the fastest three teams sharing a sponsor’s prize. The fastest team to complete the daunting physical task will be awarded the Perpetual Trophy, which is a working model of the long range twelve pounder cannon, mounted on its wooden trail.

The field of entrants usually consists of competitors from a number of defense forces from across the world, and the most recent event featured teams from Manchester and Salford University Officer Training Corps from the U.K, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Defence Force of the Kingdom of Lesotho, SANDF and others.

For more information regarding the Swartkop Challenge contact the event organisers, Campaign Trails Tour Operators by sending an e-mail to info@campaigntrails.co.za.