Perthshire sporting figurehead Eve Muirhead OBE gained another medal on Sunday - this one for cycling.
The Olympic curling skip, celebrated for her Team GB gold at the Beijing 2022 Games, was a first-time participant in the Etape Caledonia in Pitlochry.
She completed 85 miles on her bike on Sunday, May 14 in a respectable five hours, 23 minutes and 58 seconds.
Commenting afterwards, the Blair Atholl native said: “To get the chance to do a sporting event like this in my homtown is pretty cool and it’s something I will remember forever.”
Eve was gifted her Etape medal along with thousands of cyclists who took part in the closed road sportive that circled the Highland Perthshire town for the 16th year.
Organised by LimeLight Sports Club, cyclists in their thousands travelled a 85-mile, 55-mile or 40-mile course taking in the scenery in a challenging day.
Participants were free to pedal safely at speed on peaceful closed roads, braving the changeable and, at times, inclement Scottish weather conditions which added complexity to the challenging distances and inclines.
Beginning in Pitlochry at 6.30am, participants started arriving back in town at around 8.30am to collect their well-earned medal and enjoy the local hospitality in the event village.
The fastest times on the course were set this year by: 40-mile route - John Hayes (men: time 1h, 55m, 06s) and Louisa Brown (women: time 2h, 19m, 21s).
On the 55-mile route leading riders were Tim Baker (Men: Time 2h 51m 13s) and Kate Woodward (Women: Time 3h 27m 56s).
For the punishing 85-mile route, first back was Perthshire-based Donatas Markevicius (men: time 3h, 39m, 41s). Leading the long distance women was Rozanne Boynton (women: time 3h, 59m, 19s).
Rozanne retained her position as fastest female on the 85-mile course for the second consecutive year, knocking a very respectable seven minutes and 44 seconds off her time from 2022.
Louisa Brown, 18 , the youngest female participant, topped the leaderboard for the 40-mile course.
Crossing the finish line in Pitlochry, participants and their supporters enjoyed a visit to Perthshire and, with many in no hurry to leave, Etape Caledonia gave the economy of the region a welcome shot in the arm.
James Hogben, managing director of event organisers LimeLight Sports, said: “Taking part in a sportive of this scale, in stunning surroundings and peaceful roads, is a tremendous experience and my congratulations go to everyone who has embraced the physical challenge and completed the course.
“A great achievement.”
