The imminent Malcolm Group 9 Pack Challenge, sponsored by The Malcolm Group, was officially launched at Blair Castle International Horse Trials on Friday. Top British event rider William Fox-Pitt and his wife, Alice Plunkett, were on hand for photographs in front of the castle and at The Malcolm Group sponsored fence on the cross-country course. There were also some impromptu circuits of the main arena, with Alice commentating and their kilted support driver Rory Boswell doing a great job encouraging the crowds to fill a bucket.

The challenge

This mammoth physical and organisational challenge involves a 365 mile route between nine packs of Scottish foxhounds in eight days by five girls undertaking three disciplines (cycling, running, riding) in aid of two causes, supported by one guy in a van.

The charity

Tragically, Alice Plunkett’s younger sisters Eloise and Katie both died of cancer, when aged 27 and 16. The Eloise and Katie Memorial Trust, founded in 2003, supports a wide variety of small projects which make a real and direct difference for children and young people in the UK. It provides positive opportunities to help young lives become long, happy and worthwhile ones - opportunities which they would otherwise not have funds for or access to.

One of the girls’ many interests was foxhunting, and the other cause being supported by this mammoth endurance triathlon is the Berwickshire Hunt, which the five 9 Pack challengers are members of. There is a major fundraising effort this year to help fund a kennel move and to continue the important work of the hunt, not least its role in the community, in an area of Scotland with an extremely low population density.

Hunting in Scotland

Rowena Ramsay, who was a great friend of Eloise’s, dreamt up the idea. She said: “The Scottish hunts are spread far and wide, without many obvious routes between them. The start is Kincardineshire, from where we all cycle to Fife, Renfewshire and Dumfriesshire, then ride and run between the Borders hunts – the Liddesdale, Jed Forest, Duke of Buccleuch, Lauderdale and back home to the Berwickshire kennels near Duns on Saturday 11th September. We’ve trained extremely hard, so with kick off this Saturday 4th we’re now enjoying the advice to tick over and carbo load in the final run up. It is going to be properly tough but, fingers crossed, a great and fun adventure too. We’re looking forward to seeing a wide variety of Scottish countryside and meeting the generous people who are having us to stay. Let’s hope we’re not too tired to enjoy the scenery or the hospitality.”

The Malcolm Group’s Marketing Manager Helen Ryan said: “We are delighted to sponsor this event. The Malcolm Group wishes the girls the best of luck in the challenge.”

Please support and help them on their way by sponsoring at www.justgiving.com/9packchallenge and follow their progress on their Facebook group – go to Facebook and search for 9 Pack Challenge.