It began as a 1980 pub conversation at the Neuadd Arms Hotel and is now an annual institution… On Sunday, April 21, dozens of horses and their riders will line up above Loch Ness for the region’s second annual Man vs Horse Challenge.
The event sees runners and riders compete over a 26km course against a spectacular backdrop of stunning Highland scenery.
Starting from the Whitebridge Hotel the runners will be piped out at 11am and the horses will set off in staggered starts. The race follows a linear route which covers sections of the Trail of the Seven Lochs and the South Loch Ness Trail.
Competitors will climb up the challenging ‘Corkscrew’ beside the stunning crag of Dun Deardail before tackling the ‘Fair Haired Lad’s Pass’, which will lead them on a dramatic descent to Loch Ness.
The race finishes at the home of the hosts, Loch Ness Riding, at Drummond Farm in Dores. Horses will be vetted to make sure they are in good shape at the finish and competitors will be restored with tea and cakes!
“There’s no reason why a human can’t win the race this year,” says organiser Candy Cameron. “A horse is definitely faster on the flat but the route has plenty of steep hills and the horses will slow down over these stages.
“The event is a unique opportunity for people to discover the lesser known side of the loch as the route takes in a variety of terrain and scenery including farm tracks, forestry roads, open moorland and hill trails, so it’s exceptionally scenic … and, moreover, it has the iconic Loch Ness as a backdrop.”
Places for runners and riders are limited to 50 and 30 respectively and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. The entry fee for both runners and riders is £10 at the time of placing an entry plus a minimum of £20 in sponsorship to be paid on the day of the event.
Fifty per cent of all profits (including sponsorship) will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust as the event’s chosen charity this year, and the other 50% will go to the South Loch Ness Access Group to help continue its work in the area.
See www.doresonlochness.co.uk/man_versus_horse for more details.
