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Outer Hebrides have once again been invaded for the 1999 Lowe Alpine
Western Isles Challenge. Friends and rivals from across the globe
have converged on the Isle of South Uist to register for one of
the most arduous and gruelling athletic competitions in the world.
By competing, team and solo contestants must take on the elements,
battling with sea, mountain, track and bog, in an event that tests
the very limits of physical endurance and tactical know-how. In
a race stretching the length of the Outer Hebrides, teams must prove
themselves at a variety of disciplines, negotiating 200 miles on
land, including 20,000 feet of climbing, plus 50 miles of seakayaking. |
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Tuesday
saw the final stages of preparation, as registration formalities
were completed and teams attended briefing sessions, while squads
of volunteers were organised. In the late afternoon kayakers set
out from South Uist for Barra in readiness for the start the following
morning. As they paddled out to sea they were accompanied by music
from a lone piper, signalling the beginning of the three day event.
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Later that evening cyclists
embarked on a 20km ride to Valersay, the Southernmost island of the
Hebrides. The Prologue Tensions were high among the cyclists on Barra,
waiting to begin the prologue of the 1999 Lowe Alpine Western Isles
Challenge.
It may only have been a two
hour circuit but there was a lot to play for and competitors were eager
to make a good start. In the end, the winning cyclist almost beat the
race organisers to the finishing post at Vaternay Beach. 220 Triathalon
competitor Andy Peace, 30, twice National Duathalon champion steamed
into a magnificent sunset with a winning time of 1 hour 15 minutes.
"This is a good start for us. We've got the ball rolling," he said.
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Graham Meeks, 38, from last
year's winning team Sula Sgeir, who came in behind him said: "I could
not believe how long he kept going. I kept thinking he would have to
stop, but he just powered over the hill. I've done alright for the veterans
side though."
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Competitors
cycled from Cidhe Eolaigearraidh to Castlebay Square, where they
discarded their bikes to scale Sheaval, before rejoining their cycles
and powering to the finish line at Vatersay Beach. "That hill was
quite kicking," said Nick Taylor, 30, of the Luckentyre Lounge Lizards.
Directing cyclists to run the final yards to the beach, coastguard
Donald Mackiggan, 32 ,was greeted with comments ranging from "you
must be joking" to "you mean we've got to use our feet now". |
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Provisional
Team Results
| Position |
Team
Name |
Time |
| 1 |
220 Macmillan
Extreme |
1:15:00 |
| 2 |
Sula Sgeir |
1:26:00 |
| 3 |
Royal
Flash - RM Condor |
1:28:00 |
| 4 |
The Avengers
- OTC |
1:32:00 |
| 4 |
3 Jessies
and a Rock Hard Lass |
1:32:00 |
| 4 |
High Peaks |
1:32:00 |
| 5 |
Nameless
2, The Sequel |
1:33:00 |
| 5 |
Aberdeen
University |
1:33:00 |
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