The 16th annual Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon pushed entrants to their limits yesterday with challenging conditions on the course.
A total of 231 participants faced the elements to take on the route, which consisted of swimming, running, kayaking and cycling – before participants were challenged to chop a watermelon in half with a claymore sword once they got to the finish line.
The event comprised a 24km run over seven peaks, including a total of 2,500m ascent, a 1.35km swim across Loch Tay, an 11km kayk crossing; and a 54km bike ride all in the atmospheric highland landscape.
This year’s winners – Sean McFarlane and Drew Shackney, Team Craft – completed the course in eight hours fifty-one minutes, while the fastest runners-up – Paul Daccus and Stuart Gregory, or Third Time Unlucky – were hot on their heels, at eight hours fifty-four minutes.
Despite open water temperatures of just 14 degrees Celsius, one participant set a new event record for the swim section, crossing the loch in just 17 minutes and fifty-one seconds. Fastest female team Taxi for Two, Arabella Connell and Clare Spurway, came in at 11 hours and forty-six minutes.
Founder of WildFox Events David Fox-Pitt said: “It is due to excellent organisation, stunning surrounds and the charities involved that participants keep coming back year after year. Thanks to the sponsorship of Artemis, all money raised by Quadrathletes will support the excellent work done by Mercy Corps and Mary’s Meals.”
The night ended with fireworks and a ceilidh, led by live band Heid. The event hopes to raise around £200,000 to be split between the event’s charity partners, Mercy Corps and Mary’s Meals.
