One.Tel Hebridean Challenge 2002
Follow the above links to read my race diary or see some photographs taken during the race. In short, we competed in and completed the race - winning the veterans category for the fifth year in a row! Three Western Isles and two Hebridean Challenges! Yet only a couple of weeks before the race it looked like we would not be entering!
I was very reluctant to take part but Donald, Murdie and Janet were very keen - even when the Co-op's decided not to sponsor us this year (their assistance over the years was fantastic though!). Donald refused to take no for an answer and persuaded me to enter and then found us a new sponsor!
Norman MacRitchie of Nessglaze presenting the sponsorship
cheque to Team Sula Sgeir
(from left) Norman MacRitchie, Gavin Earons, Donald Thomson, Janet Smith
and Murdie Campbell
Without this financial support we could not have entered the race - particularly in light of the decision by the Hebridean Challenge organisers to charge local teams an entry fee this year. Donald also found us a fifth team member, Team Sula Sgeir 2002 was Gavin Earons, Murdie Campbell, Donald Thomson, Janet Smith and Jim Galbraith. Four locals and a local-in-law - Jim's wife Doleen comes from Ness!
I contacted Mackinnon Self Drive who once again generously gave us the use of a transit van for the race - their continued support is very much appreciated. While, Janet found us accommodation, fuel and food - she also brought enough horse bandages along to cope with the casualties at the Aintree Grand National! Many thanks to all who helped us.
Sadly, we were the only local team taking part in the race, although four other canoeists from the island competed for mainland teams - Tim Pickering, Mike Sullivan, Sean Stephen, and Robert Emmott. A sixth (Adrian?) was substituted into a team during the race. The five-way scrap for the honour of finishing the top local paddler certainly added a little bit of spice to Murdie's race!
Gavin Earons
email: sula.sgeir@virgin.net