🌈 Rain, Resilience & Remarkable Climbing – Tower One Stair Challenge 2025

The day started with a rainbow and ended with triumphant smiles – despite the drizzle, the occasional downpour, and a few unexpected hurdles, the Tower One Stair Challenge in Sydney proved once again why this is one of the most loved stair climbing events on the calendar.

This year’s climb saw more than 1,000 steps and 40 floors conquered by a passionate community of stair climbers, all united to raise vital funds for Giant Steps, a Sydney-based school supporting children and young adults with autism. Their incredible work goes far beyond education – offering individualised programs, therapeutic services, and support that empowers families and transforms lives. We’re proud to share that over $110,000 was raised this year!

While the rain meant we missed out on the usual breathtaking views from the top, it gave us a unique perspective of the harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge shrouded in mist. And just to keep things interesting, helicopters flew overhead due to a massive protest nearby – making for some logistical headaches but, true to form, our stair climbing community was undeterred!

👏 Hats off to Steve Corrie & Stair Challenge Australia

Once again, event organiser Steve Corrie of Stair Challenge Australia delivered a seamless, spirited event. Known for his sparkling blue sequinned jacket and his infectious energy at the start line, Steve made sure every participant felt seen, supported, and motivated. His attention to detail and commitment to the sport continues to elevate the standard of stair climbing events in Australia.

🏆 Top Performers – Fast & Fearless

Men's Top 3:
🥇 Jackson Bentley – 5:50
🥈 Josh Freer – 5:50 (just 0.022 seconds behind!)
🥉 Paul Ambrose – 6:01

Women's Top 3:
🥇 Josie Riseley – 6:49 and then went on to complete another 12 climbs!
🥈 Emily Perrins – 7:39
🥉 Brianna Taylor – 7:55

🔥 SCA Climbers – The Heartbeat of the Event

Our Stair Climbing Australia (SCA) community once again turned up in force, with many participants taking on multiple climbs (and smiling the whole way through!).

SCA Women

13 climbs – Josie Riseley
6 climbs – Amber Thompson
6 climbs – Margaret Butera
5 climbs – Erin Kuhl
5 climbs – Alison Hills
5 climbs – Lyndell Murray
4 climbs – Maria Pia Piemontese
3 climbs – Stacey Peatling
3 climbs – Danielle DiRosa
2 climbs – Mikaela Bentley

SCA Men

11 climbs – Marcus Burgess

10 climbs – John DuBoulay

4 climbs – Kevin Thompson
2 climbs – Jackson Bentley
2 climbs – Steve Bentley
2 climbs – Grayson O’Connor
2 climbs – Rod Unsworth
2 climbs – Howard Lister
1 climb – Josh Freer
1 climb – Benji Burgess
1 climb – Bert Eldridge
1 climb – Frank Cervi
1 climb – Brian Wilson
1 climb – Peter Moore

Participant Highlight: Marcus Burgess
"Taking part in the Sydney climb is one of our family getaways that mean a lot to us. Supporting Giant Steps is also an important part – helping raise funds for such a meaningful cause really matters."
For Marcus, the welcome at the event is always a highlight:
“Being welcomed by Steve and the other SCA members is just amazing.”
The climb itself didn’t disappoint either:
“The support from the start line, volunteers in the stairs, and the enthusiasm at the finish is awesome.”
His favourite moment?
“Running through the tinsel at the finish line to cheers – it was fantastic!”
From a multi-climb perspective, Marcus appreciated the event's thoughtful logistics:
“Having multiple elevators was brilliant – no waiting, just jump in and go.”
His advice for first-timers?
“Buddy up with someone and just have fun. The support all the way along is encouraging and motivational – it really gets you to the top.”
And the best news of all?
“We will be back 💯”

💕 A Shoutout to the SCA WAGS Who Climbed!

We couldn’t let the moment pass without a heartfelt shoutout to two of our long-time behind-the-scenes champions:

Corinne Bentley, wife of SCA Vice President Steve Bentley
Renee Burgess, wife of committee member and SCA ambassador Marcus Burgess (and proud mum to little Benji!)

These two incredible women have been quiet powerhouses – always there to cheer on their husbands and kids, help with SCA pop-ups, and support our events in every way.

This event was extra special, as Corinne and Renee both tackled their first official stair climb – experiencing the nerves, the challenge, the exhilaration, and the joy that comes with crossing the finish line. Congratulations to both of you – we hope it’s just the beginning of your stair climbing journey! 💪

Participant Highlight: Renee Burgess
"I wanted to surprise my two stair climbing boys, and signed up without them knowing. We’ve been doing lots of stair training lately, so I thought it would be fun."

Renee admits to feeling “nervous excited” at the start, but quickly found her rhythm and joy in the experience:
“It was fun, chatting to others on the way up. I loved seeing everyone encouraging others.”

When asked what stood out most, she couldn’t pick a single moment:
“No one part, it was just a great morning.”

Crossing the finish line brought a sense of relief and gratitude – helped along by a welcome cool breeze at the top. While there were no major surprises, Renee’s already thinking about the future:
“I’d like to try for a faster time next year.”

And perhaps the best part?
“Yes – this was my first ever stair climb event… and I’ll definitely do this one again and others too!”

Participant Highlight: Corrine Bentley

I probably joined the Tower One Stair Climb thanks to a little gentle pressure from my son. He’d seen some of the climbs I’d completed while travelling overseas and was confident I would manage it easily.

When I arrived, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement. Once the climb began, I focused on my breathing, used my arms to help, and made sure to stop for water when I needed it. I chose not to look at the floor markers — I just kept moving at my own pace.

The most memorable moment for me was finishing with my family. They walked a floor behind me at my request, as I didn’t want to feel pressured, but they called out encouraging comments the whole way. ❤️

Crossing the finish line felt fabulous. It was the first event I’d been able to participate in for 30 years. Managing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for so long has made it hard to pursue my strong desire to be my fittest, so this was a huge milestone for me.

One thing that surprised me was that it wasn’t as hard as I expected — although I did pace myself carefully. This was my first ever stair climbing event, and I’m so glad I took part.

If I could give advice to anyone thinking about doing their first climb, it would be: have a go, prepare and pace yourself, and focus on the amazing fundraising cause.

Would I do it again? Yes — as long as my health allows me to train and take part.

🌟 Our Junior Stars – Benji & Josh

Two of our youngest climbers delivered outstanding performances this year. Benji Burgess and Josh Freer each set themselves personal best (PB) goals – and they both smashed them! Benji completed the climb in an impressive 8:39, while Josh came heartbreakingly close to the overall win, finishing in 5:50, just 0.022 seconds behind first place.

One of the beautiful things about our junior climbers is the way they naturally gravitate toward each other at events, picking up conversations and friendships right where they left off. They lead by example, showing us all how to support, encourage, and celebrate each other – both on and off the stairs.🙌 Gratitude for Our Volunteers

A massive thank you goes out to the volunteers, whose smiles, encouragement, and support kept everyone going from bottom to top. From check-in to medal distribution, your presence made the day even more special.

💙 Until Next Time

Rain or shine, nothing can dampen the spirit of the stair climbing community. Tower One 2025 reminded us of the resilience, camaraderie, and joy that define this sport.

See you at the next climb!

Tower One Stair Challenge Sydney 2025