The following statement was issued by Ian Callaghan, founder and Race Director of the Western Isles Challenge, on January 15 2001:

Following the sudden death of my wife from cancer in late October last year, and the emergence of a "rival" event which has caused significant confusion among competitors and sponsors, I have been contemplating the practicalities of mounting the Western Isles Challenge as planned in May 2001. After much thought, I have concluded that it will not be possible to do so, and with regret I must therefore announce the cancellation of the race this year.

Many of you may have been approached about the other event mentioned above, the "Hebridean Challenge", scheduled for April 2001. As this has caused much confusion, I would like to make the following points clear:

1. The Hebridean Challenge is an exact copy of the Western Isles Challenge, using (without my permission or even any consultation) the concept I have developed since 1994, both in terms of the parallel team/solo events and the disciplines, relay format, timings etc. Not only is this copy unauthorised, there are also serious doubts about its legality and the legality of the behaviour of the organisers.

2. As well as being one of the first adventure races (predating the Eco-Challenge, for example) the Western Isles Challenge has a highly unusual format, uniquely suited to the geography and topography of the Western Isles of Scotland. I believe this total adaptation of event to terrain is what gives the race its special appeal to competitors from around the globe; put simply, no other format would work anything like as well. The organisers of the Hebridean Challenge are aware of this, and that is why they have effectively had to resort to theft to stage their event.

3. One of those organisers is Martin Stone, a former Challenge competitor and Results Officer for the last three events. Though the Hebridean Challenge seeks in its literature to portray itself as a "new" event, readers may be interested in an article Martin Stone wrote for Fell Runner in the summer of 1994, after his team had won the inaugural race. He describes meeting "Ian Callaghan, who has devised this most unusual and exciting new team event, the Western Isles Challenge... He is a fairly quiet, unassuming guy, but obviously has a giant imagination and great vision. " Stone's article then goes on to describe in some detail the format of the event, which apart from a few rule changes and the introduction of the solo event in 1996, is pretty much unchanged in essence today - precisely the event, in fact, which the "new" Hebridean Challenge is now seeking to rip off!

4. The other main organiser of the Hebridean Challenge is Stephanie Sargent, my former Deputy RD, who I had to "let go" after the 2000 event following many complaints from competitors over the years about her abrasive manner, and indeed my own increasing difficulties with that manner. Ms Sargent was one of a tiny handful of people who knew about my wife's illness, and (therefore) the reason for our enforced absence from the Western Isles since the spring of last year. She has chosen to exploit my difficulties and that absence to steal the event that I created and which has brought very significant benefits to the Western Isles both in terms of cash and worldwide publicity.

I believe that adventure racing continues to be a sport where right and wrong mean something. I therefore hope that everyone who respects the contribution that the Western Isles Challenge has made to the development of the sport will refrain from becoming involved with the Hebridean Challenge - whether as competitor, sponsor, or volunteer - as by doing so they would effectively be condoning the theft of my work over seven years to develop this unique event. Instead, I hope that they will await the revival of the real Western Isles Challenge in 2002.

Race well!

ENDS

For further information please contact Ian Callaghan at +44 1635 250814 or ian@wichallenge.co.uk