Christopher Ward Partners With Explorer Jamie Maddison
By: Michael Penate
When it comes to brand sponsorships and ambassador programs, you’ll find that in many cases, there’s a lack of real substance. We’ve touched upon this briefly in our podcast before and as a result, we’re often pretty skeptical when we see new partnerships come along. Recently, Christopher Ward shared something a little different that caught my eye and we thought it would be great to pass it along. It’s what they call the Christopher Ward Challenger Programme. Established in 2013, the goal of the Challenger Programme is to help support under-represented fields in terms of funding and coverage, or individuals taking on incredible challenges we’d never even dream of trying ourselves. Their latest partnership is with Jamie Maddison, a young explorer set on completing a 100-mile ultra-marathon across the Saryesik-Atyrau Desert in Kazakhstan, in under 24 hours.
What’s important to note here is the fact that these aren’t NFL superstars, Hollywood socialites, or the next action heartthrob gearing up to play our favorite MI6 agent on the big screen. No, these are real individuals setting out to do some pretty incredible stuff out in the real world. Now, a runner and explorer at heart, Jamie Maddison is prepping for his 100-mile marathon this September with the help of Christopher Ward. “The route has been measured, it’s just under 100 miles, and I’m going to attempt to run across it in one go, all in under 24 hours” says Maddison. As of now, Christopher Ward is assisting Jamie with funding for the logistics side of the trip. In a way, it almost reminds us of the old days of watch brand sponsorships that focused on really pushing individuals and timepieces to their limits.
Also noteworthy is the fact that Jamie seems to be a watch guy. According to Christopher Ward, he has been wearing their C60 Trident COSC 600, which should hold up pretty well on his upcoming adventure. The watch is limited to 300 pieces, features an insane 120 hour power reserve, and comes with a movement fully certified by COSC. We hope Jamie’s ultra-marathon goes well and look forward to seeing how Christopher Ward will support similar ventures in the future. To learn more about the Christopher Ward Challenger Programme, visit their dedicated page here.
Plus, check out this interview where CW sits down with Jamie to ask him about his experience in the Christopher Ward Challenger Programme and his upcoming run (interview text provided to us by Christopher Ward).
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.
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