7 July 2011

The Artemis Quadrathlon – Scotland’s greatest outdoor challenge

This Saturday one of Scotland’s greatest outdoor charity challenges begins on the shores of Loch Tay in Highland Perthshire. Now in its eleventh year, the Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon has raised a staggering £3.9 million for Mercy Corps’ work to bring hope to 14.5 million people in the world’s poorest countries.

Nothing beats the quadrathlon’s views, atmosphere and sheer quirkiness. Challenge participants must swim across Loch Tay and climb seven Munros before kayaking back up the loch and cycling 34 miles around it.

The clock finally stops once the participants split a watermelon in two with a cavalry sword. They then try their hand at archery, javelin and clay pigeon shooting, before spending the evening dancing reels and watching a dazzling firework display on the loch shore.

Event brainchild and WildFox Director David Fox Pitt held the first event in a field in front of his house on Loch Tay back in 1999. This year’s Artemis Quadrathlon has attracted more than 340 participants and is on track to raise £200,000 for charity. 

WildFox staff Sarah Willis and Caroline MacKecknie have taken the plunge by signing up for the “Quad” themselves. “I’m feeling pretty apprehensive about it,” Sarah admitted, “but the Quad combines all the outdoor pursuits I love doing and the money it raises really makes a difference.”

This year’s Quadrathlon will fund long-term support and training for farmers in Timor Leste. Mercy Corps hopes that this work will help 22,500 of people break out of the cycle of poverty in a country where 70% of the population survive on just £1.50 a day.

Twenty percent of the money raised by the Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon this year will also support Mary’s Meals, a Scottish charity that supports the education of over 500,000 hungry children in Africa, South America and Eastern Europe by providing daily meals to schools.

“Of all the events that we run this is without doubt my personal favourite,” commented David Fox-Pitt. “The Quad has made a real difference to thousands of people’s lives in the world’s poorest countries. It’s tough, make no mistake, but you just can’t beat the mood of celebration at the end.”