Students relying on their thumbs and the gift of the gab to travel more than 1000 miles across Europe have arrived at their destination in record time.
Seventeen-year-old Rhiannon Crossley and Emett Pooler (18), of the University of St Andrews, blagged a free flight to get to Madrid from Fife in just under 27 hours without spending a penny.
The pair, among 200 students competing in Race2Madrid, hitchhiked to Gatwick Airport.
Once there they persuaded an airline to give them a free ticket and used money they raised en route to buy a second one.
Their time was the lowest recorded since the annual charity race, the biggest of its kind in Scotland, was launched by the Universities of St Andrews Charities Campaign 10 years ago.
Race convener Emma Robertson said the pair’s tactic of raising money on the road, collecting over £1000, had paid off and that overall the race had provided participants with an amazing experience.
She said: “It was a bit scary at times wondering if everyone was going to make it but I’m really pleased with how everything went.
“Last year we raised £38,000 and I’m hoping for a big total again.”
Teams were dropped off at secret locations around central Scotland last Thursday and given six days to get to Madrid spending as little money as possible.
Most racers hitched lifts and persuaded kindly people to give them money for ferry and rail tickets.
The last team reached the hostel where Emma and a team of volunteers were co-ordinating the expedition and keeping tabs on travellers late on Tuesday evening.
Emma said: “We had some really nice stories.
“One of the last teams to get over the border into Spain went into a hospital, which was the only place open, and when they told doctors and nurses what they were doing were given hospital beds for the night.
“The message most people arrived with was how different an experience it is.
“It’s not just about winning. You see places you would never see on a normal holiday.”
The Race2 event is among the highlights of the year for the charities campaign and this year’s event raises money for Families First St Andrews, Macmillan Cancer Support and Doctors Without Borders.
Students were given t-shirts and certificates to show what they were doing and checked in with the co-ordinating team every four hours or as they embarked on another leg of their journey to ensure their safety.
Previous race destinations have included Prague and Berlin, with Madrid being the furthest flung yet.