A pair of obstacle course races in Fife, which attract hundreds of competitors, have been given funding boosts.
The Beast Race, which is scheduled for Lochore Meadows on May 30 and 31 next year, and the MacTuff 2020, which will be held at Knockhill on January 5, have both been awarded a share of £72,000 through EventScotland’s National Events Programme Fund.
Fife will host the Beast Race for the first time, joining Banchory and Loch Ness as a location for the longest and toughest race in the series, with competitors tasked with a gruelling 15km run around Loch Ore and deep into the region’s wilderness.
Unlike the events elsewhere, the Fife Beast Race will run for two days and will include a 6km race and a children’s obstacle race, with £12,000 from the fund being used to establish the second day’s activities.
Challengers from across the country and further afield will take on huge obstacles, giant water slides, icy loch water and thick mud and swamp crossings.
Jonathan Buckland, director at organisers Zone Events, said: “We would like to say a massive thanks to EventScotland for their support of the Beast Race at Loch Ore in 2020.
“Thanks to the National Events Fund we can, for the first time, expand the event to include a second family day which will include four fantastic children’s and parent’s obstacle course races.
“This support enables us to attract a much wider demographic from further afield and help establish Loch Ore in Fife as an ideal sporting and event location.”
MacTuff 2020, widely considered to be Scotland’s toughest obstacle race, has received an £8,300 award towards a dedicated social media campaign.
It offers 7km, 15km or 30km courses consisting of challenging terrain through mud, water and obstacles built to test physical strength and mental grit.
For groups or individuals aged 18 or over, it is also a qualifying event for the World, European and UK Obstacle Course Running Championships in 2020.
Alex Potter, event director of MacTuff, said: “The support from EventScotland will enable us to use the social media platforms to engage with a wider audience across both Scotland and the UK, along with a well overdue website upgrade.
“It is an absolute privilege to be supported by EventScotland and we hope we can indeed let others see that Scotland is the perfect stage for events.”
Three other projects across Scotland will share in the cash awarded — £25,000 for the Granite Noir race in Aberdeen, £25,000 for the RunStirling event, and £4,000 for Scapa Fest in Argyll and Bute.
