PICTURES: North Kessock RNLI team among runners in Loch Ness 24 event
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Crew and volunteers from the North Kessock lifeboat were among hundreds of runners who took on a gruelling 24-hour challenge on the edge of Loch Ness at the weekend.
The Loch Ness 24 took place from Saturday morning with participants running through the night in a bid to complete as many of the 7km laps as possible within the time.
Despite a showery day, organisers said the atmosphere was fantastic as around 700 people took on the challenge, either as solo runners or in teams.
Among those taking part were two teams from Kessock RNLI and two individuals running solo.
The RNLI teams were made up of Tom Booth (volunteer helm and trainer), Mark Jarrett (volunteer crew), Allyson Macgregor, Joanna Shephard and Gavin Macpherson, and in the second team Yvette Kershaw (area lifesaving manager and volunteer crew), Micky Jones (tractor driver and shore crew), Julie Jones, Janette Randall and Ewan Harper (HM Coastguard).
Dougie Munro (volunteer helm) and Lindsey Randall (volunteer crew) ran as individuals, raising funds by completing 70km each.
The teams ran a combined 46 laps, totalling 322km (200 miles) and both solo runners completed 10 laps each.
Dougie Munro, who recently attended the garden party of King Charles to represent Kessock RNLI said: “The course itself can be quite gruelling. That coupled with probably the wettest day of the year so far made it almost treacherous.
“I’m still getting some stick for cracking a joke to his Royal Highness about taking the boat to the garden party, but we probably could have utilised it again at Loch Ness 24.”
Tom Booth said: “This was my first Loch Ness 24, and despite the weather, it didn’t disappoint. It was a great way to spend the weekend, working and encouraging each other in the team whilst raising vital funds for the RNLI.”
The RNLI teams have raised more than £4000 from the event. It was one of the events official charity partners along with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Centered and Held in Our Hearts.
