Hebridean Challenge was established as a non-profit Scottish Community Trust in 2000/2001 to conduct an Adventure Sport Race in the outer islands of Scotland. Its aim is to benefit both the sport of AR and the islands on which it is conducted. As a bi-product, very substantial sums are raised each year for national and local charities.
The 'Heb' as it has become affectionately know, was created by Stephanie Sargent, who had been the Deputy Director of the island's only other AR event, and Martin Stone, creator of the Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon. They were helped by local people and AR competitors.
The Heb still exists through the moral support, goodwill and enthusiasm of a range of people from the islands, the UK and abroad who have helped or taken part in it over the years (some of them repeatedly!).
The Heb was set up with the backing of local bodies including CNES (Western Isles Council) and Western Isles Enterprise- both of whom have now ceased assisting the event, having judged that it should become financially self sufficient.
The Hebridean Challenge Community Trust has Directors and members from the local community of the Western Isles (Outer Hebrides) and is a Scottish limited company (number SC 213145). The Trust offers preferential race entry rates to its members and to anyone on the mainland who can prove they were born within the islands and who wishes to participate.
The purpose of the organisation and of the event is, as stated, to benefit the sport itself and the people of these remote and sparsely-populated islands. It also raises substantial sums for charity and has done every year it has existed. For example in 2006 two teams from the RFU at Twickenham raised over £100,000 in sponsorship for taking part in this event, the money went to an English Spinal Injuries Unit. The organisation itself raised over £2,000 for Breast Cancer Care in 2005 (when it was also televised in an hour-long programme for BBC Scotland's first, flagship programme in 'The Adventure Show' series).
Teams raised many thousands of pounds for the national charity Access Sport, in the years of their involvement with us. (AS works to get more youngsters involved in sport –especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds- and to fight the scourge of obesity among the young.) Competitors have, each year, also raised substantial sums of money for a range of other charities of their own choosing: these have included many children's, cancer and armed forces (including American armed forces) charities.
The week-long race now takes place in the first week of July. In 2009 it will start, for the first time ever, on the Isle of Skye. Entry is currently (2009 event) set at £299 per person for the week, with –for the first time- a £99 entry fee for a short two-day 'hors d' oeuvre' on the Isle of Skye only. The latter is open to pairs and solos. Pairs and teams of 5 or 4 can also do the whole week, crossing over to continue in Harris and Lewis.
A wide range of athletes takes part in the Heb each year, including some of the crème de la crème of the AR community within Britain; members of HM Forces and Special Forces (in 2008 we also had a team of US Special Forces, stationed in the UK); Universities; Clubs; Corporate bodies; groups of friends. We have competitors operating at elite level and also ordinary club runners, cyclists and kayakers.
Most years the race starts on the Isle of Barra, or the Isle of Eriskay and heads in a northerly direction, to end at the Butt of Lewis lighthouse. As the crow flies, this is a distance of some 160 miles –but the route (different each year) means that each team will have covered substantially more than that distance by the end of the race –and all under 'human power'.
Each team has four or five members –normally five but four if they cannot, or do not wish to have, a kayaker. Competitors run on terrains varying from fell, to mountain, machair (sand dunes), beaches and bog-land, bike on roads and mountain tracks, swim short sea sections and (five-man only) kayak some of the most challenging seas in the world.
The value of our event to the islands is incalculable. An impact study done on behalf of CNES showed that its value is substantial in promotional terms and in terms of the 'spend' by competitors while here –also when, as often happens, they bring family back to visit the islands they have grown to love! Racing stops every evening and a local Community Association or school hosts the evening meal –making much-needed revenue from doing so. Competitors may camp or use hotels and B&B's each night –many do some of each.
Hebridean Challenge (the event is now the longest-standing fixed-venue AR event in Scotland) is affectionately known as 'The Heb' in AR circles. It costs on average around £40k per year to stage and is funded wholly by the entry fee and by its sponsors. Its constitution does not allow it to either make a profit or continue with a substantial loss. These requirements produce a delicate balancing act each year.
We are just preparing for our ninth Hebridean Challenge and are again talking with various companies who we hope will provide sponsorship, financial or 'in kind'. In the past, well known outdoor names including Lowe Alpine and The North Face have done so.
If you have offers of sponsorship, want to discuss an entry or wish to get in contact.