Hebridean Challenge

The Teams – It’s a Wide Open Race

Rob / 03.05.2002

It’s hard to even pick a favourite from the 21 teams on the start list, there are so many strong contenders it’s sure to be a close race.

Many of the UK’s top racers are there including both the solo champions from the 2001 ACE Race series, Tom Gibbs and Annette Morris. There are others who have formidable ‘big race’ experience (Steve Birkinshaw from the Discovery World Championships and Neil Gard in the Eco Challenge), and most of the field seem to have raced in the Western Isles before.

The unique format of the race and it’s setting keep drawing competitors back. Most of last years teams are back again and many raced in the Western Isles Challenge in the late 90’s with some success. Local team Sula Sgeir can never be counted out. With the fearsome kayaking skills of Murdo Campbell, infectious leadership of Gavin Earons and their detailed local knowledge they are sure to feature near the front. HIFB, are an experienced local team too.

The number of women competitors in the teams is particularly noticeable, it’s like a who’s who of British female racers. Liz Cowell, Angela and Janice Mudge, Helene Diamantides, Ju Panter, Kathryn Newberry, Nicky Davies, Maggie Creber and Helen Jackson – between them they’ve won just about every adventure and endurance challenge going. Helen Diamantides, not long back from Australia, won the solo class of the old Western Isles Challenge, beating the top male competitors.

There are strong, established teams too. Kona Xtreme are fresh from their recent win in the first Salomon X-adventure one day race and are perhaps the most active team so far this year. They only narrowly missed out on a place in the British Championship Finals at the first qualifying race in Devon and will be trying to do better this time. Dave Peel, a recent GB international at orienteering will add a sharp navigational edge to the squad.

Then there are the formidable Parrot/Lythgoe squad, who won last years inaugural race as ‘Wrong Box No Score’, and have won just about everything else too! Team Wales are back too, led by Aled Rees and joined by Helen Jackson, part of the new Saab Salomon squad. They too have past Western Isles Challenge experience, but the navigational complexities of the islands are likely to be one of their biggest challenges.

Parts of last years 9feet.com squad are in Intersport who should feature at the front of the race and will benefit from having two top class navigators in Tom Gibbs and Steve Birkinshaw, an essential in team selection for this race. Compeed/Maxim are another really strong team likely to do well, and there is no doubt whoever comes out at the front will have earned the title and the place in the British Championships – this is one of the best contested races of the year.

You can see the full team list on the race web site. See All Event Posts