Backwards in the Outer Hebrides?
Rob / 07.03.2003
There has been a race running the length of the Outer Hebrides for many years now, but this year’s One.Tel Hebridean Challenge is going to take a new direction. All previous races have started in the South (on the Isles of Barra and Vatersay) and finished in the North, on Lewis. But this time Gary Tompsett is the Race Director and the race will be run the other way around. (Wonder if there is a connection there?)The plan is to start with a Community Day on Midsummer Night’s Eve, hosted by sponsors One.Tel, in the scenic Castle Grounds in Stornoway, ‘capital’ of the Outer Hebrides. Launch attractions will include mini-competitions at which race competitors and local kids will jointly perform some taxing outdoor adventure tasks! How the locals will tell which are the big kids is debateable though!
Then the teams will head South, which is expected to present a whole new set of challenges, not least the greater likelihood of a strong headwind. As usual the race organisers stress the need for very competent hill navigation –including in darkness or nil visibility - and prior experience in similar events. Paddlers should hold the BCU 4 Star Sea certificate.
The teams will be hosted by a different Community Association each night of the race, which is known for it’s friendly spirit and is organised by a local Community Trust. This year the famed Ceilidh Prize-Giving will be on the Isle of Barra, whose residents are renowned for knowing how to throw an awesome party!
With nearly 4 months to go the race is around half full and some strong teams are entered. Last year’s runners up (in a still unnamed team presently being dubbed Team Um Er...) are back again, fielding a powerful team in the form of Jon Brooke, Brendan Bolland, Jon Whittaker and Liz Cowell with top UK paddler Sean Morley as their canoeist.
Previous One.Tel ‘Heb’ competitor Tom Gibbs will be back too, at the helm of top ranked International team, Saab Salomon. With him will be Steve Birkinshaw, Morgan Donnelly and Helen Jackson, with top UK paddler Ian Tordoff in the kayak. Other entries included Forces and local teams, and all are being encouraged to raise money for the chosen race charity - the Meningitis Trust.
The entry fee is great value at just £300 per team (including accommodation during the race) and entry forms are available on the race web site. (There is no Solo section this year though it may make a return in 2004.) It all starts on Monday June 23rd, and if you’d like to get a flavour of what it’s all about take a look at our race coverage from last year here.. (No one is saying the weather will be that good again though!)
[You might bump into the Race Director at the Outdoors Show at the NEC, where he will Captain the One.Tel Hebridean Challenge team, including Phil Davies and Nicola McLeod - themselves, top adventure racers.]
