Five girls have successfully completed an epic eight day cycle/run/ride between the kennels of the nine mounted packs of Scottish foxhounds, H&C is pleased to hear. 

Sore and weary bodies were forgotten on Saturday, as they elatedly rode the final 29 miles over the Lammermuirs from Lauder to Duns where their home pack, the Berwickshire Hunt, put on a grand BBQ welcome. 

Wonderful reception from hunts

Rowena Ramsay, whose idea the unique venture was, said they’d been bowled over by the wonderful reception from the hunts en-route: “It was a truly amazing week, everyone was unbelievably welcoming and generous - we’ve made lots of new friends.  Their energy spurred us on and the team worked really well, gelled together by support driver Rory Boswell, who was brilliant at entertaining us at the right moments and putting up with many bossy requests.” 

Participating in such a huge physical challenge was a first for almost all of the girls – Kirstie MacGillivray hadn’t cycled since school, and Judith Anderson was the only regular runner of the five.  Plus the mileage ended up being a decent amount more than the originally advertised 365, mainly to avoid the busiest roads. 

The girls managed to:

Cycle              326 miles          (Kincardineshire to Fife to Renfrewshire to Dumfriesshire to Liddesdale)

Run                 34 miles          (Jed Forest to Duke of Buccleuch’s to Lauderdale)

Ride                52 miles          (Liddesdale to Jed Forest, and Lauderdale to Berwickshire)

Total                 412 miles           

The achievement in numbers 

The girls experienced:

Punctures                                 4          (3 on 1 bike; puncture proof inner tubes recommended)

Girls with saddle sores              5          (cycling shorts not 100 per cent effective for road bikes on rough tow paths)

Wrong turns                              3          (and still mostly smiling)

Tumbles off bicycles                 11         (6 off 1 bike; SPDs not easy to get used to)

Tumbles off horses                   0          (much the safest method of transport)

Lucky straw lorries passed         7          (although one nearly squashed them)

Energy bars consumed             124       (eating while cycling – no problem)

 £20,000 raised for charity             

The enterprising venture was a fundraising effort for two causes, for which the team have already raised approximately £20,000.  With funds still coming in, the online donation site will stay open to help reach the £30,000 target.  The Eloise and Katie Memorial Trust supports projects for children and young people in the UK, creating positive opportunities and making a real difference to young lives in need.  It was founded in 2003, in memory of sisters Eloise and Katie Plunkett who lost their lives to cancer, aged 27 and 16.  One of the girls many interests was foxhunting, hence, with the Berwickshire Hunt being the other beneficiary, the idea of a tour of the kennels. 

Rowena had many thanks for everyone who had contributed to the success: “It wouldn’t have been possible without loads of people who have helped in all sorts of ways.  Particular thanks are due to our main sponsor, The Malcolm Group for their generous support, as well as the hunts, other hosts, individual sponsors, families and countless other supporters.  I’d also like to say a huge personal thank you to Judith, Amy, Kirstie, Vicky and Rory – I don’t think they knew what they’d let themselves in for when they signed up, but they were all ultra tough and wonderful to be with.”

To see photographs, videos and updates from the week search for their Facebook page.  But more importantly, make their massive efforts worthwhile by sponsoring at www.justgiving.com/9packchallenge.