One of Scotland's toughest races set for this weekend
Scotland’s toughest mountain duathlon is set to take place tomorrow (Saturday) so loved ones should have a nice hot bath and a well deserved glass of something special on stand-by for the night time!
The Corrieyairack Challenge involves an 11.5 mile hill section from Fort Augustus to Melgarve across the historic Corrieyairack Pass which climbs to 2526ft and is Scotland’s highest mountain road.
There is then a 38.5 mile road cycle from Melgarve to Badaguish Outdoor Centre near Glenmore where the event finishes.
More than 100 competitors are expected to take part in the event in order to help raise funds for the Speyside Trust.
The Corrieyairack Challenge is a core fundraising event organised by and for the Speyside Trust in order to help subsidise the cost of places for disabled people to attend the holiday care unit at Badaguish.
The Leader of Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson, will be attending the presentation ceremony to present competitor trophies after they complete the challenge.
The event has had an impressive 6500 competitors over the last 24 years and has raised over £906,000 towards the cost of respite places at Badaguish holiday care unit. This has assisted an average of 200 holidays per year for families.
This is the first year that the event has a main sponsor with renewables company RES providing additional support to the event including a team of seven RES staff who are taking part in the event.
Andrew MacKenzie, Director of Speyside Trust, said: "We are proud that the Highlands is home to Scotland’s toughest mountain duathlon. The Speyside Trust can’t wait to welcome everyone to this year’s Corrieyairack Challenge - we have dedicated runners who take part every year and we appreciate the fundraising work that they undertake on behalf of the Speyside Trust.
"The Corrieyairack Challenge is essential to allow us to fund respite places for families in the Highlands and we would also to thank all of our event sponsors to the event, in particular to RES as our main sponsor.
"Next year we celebrate our 25th anniversary of this event and we also hope to reach our target of raising over £1 million from the event since it began, so next year will be a really special year and we hope many people will return to celebrate with us next year and make it a record year for competitors too."