Team Shannoch have been crowned winners of our Great Glen Challenge 2022, sponsored by United Auctions, battling it out against 16 other teams to take home the trophy on Friday 26 August.
Returning for the first time since 2019, this year’s Great Glen Challenge welcomed a total of 85 competitors from the Scottish and UK agricultural and rural business sector. Teams of four, plus a support driver, completed the course from Fort Augustus to Benavie by Fort William in four stages – 46km mountain biking, 6km kayaking, 18km walking and 17km running.
Newcomers Team Shannoch, from Perthshire, put in a strong showing across the four sports, with Robin More coming fourth in the mountain biking, Rebecca Drummond coming in joint third in the walking stage, Claire Black taking third place in running and Scott Drummond taking first place in the kayaking, despite never having been in a kayak before.
Second place was taken by the team from Begbies Traynor, with Ken Pattullo coming first in the walking stage and Lawrence O’Hara putting in an impressive time to win the running stage as he did in 2019 when the event was last held.
Coming in third was the B Team from Bank of Scotland, who were helped to the bronze medal by Phil Reid’s win in the mountain biking stage and Stewart McNaughton’s second place in the walking.
The For Our Growers team from Agrovista UK are currently the team who have raised most funds with their total sitting at a fantastic sum of over £4,400.
The results for the different sections of the event were as follows:
Mountain Bike:
1st place – Phil Reid – The B Team (Bank of Scotland)
2nd place – James Towers – Galbraith Gazelles (Galbraith)
3rd place – Seamus Murphy – SAC Basic Subscription (SAC Consulting)
Kayaking:
1st place – Scott Drummond – Team Shannoch
2nd place – David Findlay – Commission Commandos (Crofting Commission)
3rd place – Christian Ramsey – Johnston Carmichael
Walk:
1st place – Ken Pattullo – Begbies Traynor
2nd place – Stewart McNaughton – The B Team (Bank of Scotland)
Run:
1st place – Lawrence O’Hara – Begbies Traynor
2nd place – William Fettes – For Our Growers (Agrovista UK)
3rd place – Claire Black – Team Shannoch
Find full results on our GGC22 page
To date, teams have raised an impressive sum of over £27,500 and there is still time to support teams. Donations will stay open until Monday 5 September, and RSABI is encouraging people to make a donation to show support for the 17 teams who put in such effort during the Great Glen Challenge.
RSABI’s Chair David Leggat said:
“We had the most amazing day at our Great Glen Challenge 2022, particularly special because this is the 125th year of RSABI. I’d like to thank the 85 competitors who took part and gave it their all. It was a thrilling competition, a very sporting occasion and it was wonderful to see everyone back. The atmosphere on the day was just fantastic, no doubt helped by the weather, and a lot of new friendships have been made.
“We’ve had amazing support from our main sponsor United Auctions, and thanks go to George Purves for coming to Fort William to present our prizes. Thanks also go to our event partners Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Retties who have given us great support and our media partners The Scottish Farmer who have been very supportive and given us great coverage.
“I’d like to thank everyone who helped us stage the Great Glen, particularly our stewards, marshals and staff team. We had around 20 volunteers involved on the day and in the lead up and sincere thanks go to all – we really couldn’t do it without you.
“A fantastic sum has been raised so far by the Great Glen Challenge. Funds raised will help us provide vital emotional, practical and financial support to people in Scottish agriculture, including Help for Heating grants, support to access counselling, and our Freephone Helpline – 0808 1234 555 – which is now open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.”
George Purves, Managing Director of United Auctions, said:
“We’re proud to be the main sponsors of the RSABI’s Great Glen Challenge this year. The achievements of the teams both on the course and in their fundraising efforts have made a vital contribution towards the RSABI’s support for agricultural communities in these increasingly difficult times.
“We’re also pleased to sponsor the #Challenge125, which has helped our staff achieve many physical personal goals. Extending this fun initiative to December will allow more people to get involved with this important cause – and reap the health and wellbeing benefits.”
RSABI’s Great Glen Challenge is sponsored by United Auctions, and is also supported by event partners Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland and Retties with The Scottish Farmer as media partner.
You can support the Great Glen Challenge Teams until Monday 5 September by going to: https://rsabi.enthuse.com/cf/rsabi-great-glen-challenge-2022