Begbies Traynor take the RSABI Great Glen Challenge 2018 honours!

The team from Begbies Traynor was crowned winner of the 2018 RSABI Great Glen Challenge, sponsored by Ledingham Chalmers, solicitors on Friday, beating 25 other teams to the trophy following a thrilling competition played out in stunning late summer conditions.

Teams competing for the first time in the event, Algo (Blairgowrie) Ltd Team B and Knight Frank took second and third place respectively.

This year’s event saw a total of 104 competitors from teams throughout the Scottish agricultural and rural business sector complete the multi-sport 46 km course from Fort Augustus to Benavie by Fort William. Competitors in teams of four plus a support driver mountain biked, kayaked, walked and ran their way down the Great Glen against the clock.

Ledingham Chalmers, solicitors, and supporting event partners Bank of Scotland, The Scottish Farmer, Rettie & Co and Royal Bank of Scotland all fielded teams, with a team from Royal Bank of Scotland achieving 5th place overall.

The results for the different sections of the event were as follows:

Mountain Bike: 1st Ran Morgan – Knight Frank 2nd David Lyle – NFU Mutual Stirling/DM Hall 3rd Rodney Wallace – HSBC UK Team B
Kayaking: Joint 1st Sandy Farmer – Algo (Blairgowrie) Team B, Chris Rogerson – United Auctions 3rd Duncan Clow – NFU Mutual Stirling/DM Hall
Walk: 1st Ken Pattullo – Begbies Traynor Joint 2nd Brian Murphy – Royal Bank of Scotland Team A Craig Nixon – Algo (Blairgowrie) Team A Andrew MacDonald – Royal Bank of Scotland Team B
Run: 1st Lawrence O’Hara – Begbies Traynor 2nd Euan Wilson – Clydesdale Bank 3rd George Gauley – SAC Consulting Solutions Team B

Funds raised by this year’s Challenge event teams will help support people in Scottish agriculture and those wishing to donate can still do so at www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/RSABIGGC18. The current total already raised is fast approaching the initial target of £50,000 with donations still open for another few weeks to help RSABI smash the target.

Since the launch of RSABI Great Glen Challenge six years ago, the event has raised around £250,000, helping to enable RSABI to keep providing emotional, practical and financial support to individuals and their families across the agricultural sector, including farming, crofting and growing.

RSABI’s Paul Tinson said: “Congratulations to the team from Begbies Traynor, an RSABI Corporate Supporter, who worked superbly well together to take home the 2018 trophy winning both the walk and running sections outright.”