One of Scotland’s toughest endurance challenges which weaves through the beautiful Perthshire hills has raised over £425,000 to help soldiers, veterans and their families.
The 11th Cateran Yomp, which took place during The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend, saw 631 soldiers and civilians walk side by side on a 24-hour trek across the historic Cateran Trail.
Participants travelled from as far as the USA, Canada, Australia, Cyprus, Poland and the Netherlands to take on the route, located between Blairgowrie, Alyth and Glenshee.
Blairgowrie’s Bob Ellis, who founded the Cateran Trail, was the most mature participant in this year’s event at the age of 73.
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the Army’s National Charity and, since 1944, has been providing a lifetime of practical and financial assistance to soldiers, veterans and their families across the UK.
Since its launch, the challenge has raised over £4 million for The Soldier’s Charity, with donations funding everything from wheelchair ramps for soldiers’ homes to respite care and personal recovery plans for injured soldiers returning from the front line.
Last year alone, the charity supported 60,000 people in 63 countries around the world.
This year’s event took on extra significance as an official Queen’s Platinum Jubilee event, with the Queen the patron of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and commander in chief of the British Army.
Starting at 6am on Saturday and ending in the early hours of Sunday, the event challenged teams of brave souls to walk 22, 36 or 54 miles in less than 24 hours.
They enjoyed favourable weather with only brief showers on the 54-mile route around the foothills of the Cairngorms, with the distraction of live music, magical lit forests and fireworks.
The winner, the first ever female solo winner of The Cateran Yomp, was 50-year-old Bonny Smart from Plymouth, who ran the gold route in 12 hours and 50 minutes.
Part of the four-strong ‘Limping Lunatics’ team, Bonny only started running a year ago.
She said: “I’m a boxer and couldn’t run a mile a year ago.
“I’ve only ever run 30 miles in one go before this weekend but running’s definitely my thing now.”
Meanwhile, second place gold medals went to Martin Greenaway (52) from Essex, finishing in 13 hours and eight minutes, with third place going to Alexander Seagar (37) from Sunderland, completing in 13 hours and 30 minutes.
This year’s event was sponsored by The Famous Grouse, alongside Dover Fueling Solutions, Pure Storage and Arnold Clark Car and Van Rental.
The Cateran Yomp also work with a range of local sponsors who donate gifts in kind for the event including Castle Water, Mackie’s of Scotland and Tunnocks.
Global brand manager of The Famous Grouse, Caitlin Maley added: “We are delighted to support The Cateran Yomp which raises funds for such a deserving cause. Our sponsorship also builds on a growing association with the event, with teams participating in both 2019 and 2021.
“As part of this year’s team of five, the Cateran Yomp was undoubtedly one of the toughest yet most rewarding undertakings I and my colleagues have ever embarked on. We are absolutely staggered to hear that the winner completed the gold route in just under 13 hours.
“We applaud every single person who took part in the weekend’s events and are proud of the part we play in supporting the countless soldiers, veterans and families who rely on, and benefit from, the charity’s amazing work.”
Setting off the participants was Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Alan Crawford. Alan served with the Scots Guards for 40 years, and completed operational tours of Northern Ireland, the first Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as deploying on OP CORPORATE in the Falkland Islands as Platoon Sergeant of No1 Platoon, Right Flank.
Major General Tim Hyams OBE, chief executive of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, added: “An immensely tough, but also incredibly rewarding event, my heartfelt congratulations and thanks go to every participant.”
