Posted: July 7, 2006

Adventure Racing: Highlands & Islands at the 2007 World Championship

More details have now been released on the 2007 World Championships, which will be hosted by the Wilderness ARC in the Highlands of Scotland between May 24th and June 3rd next year.

The dates for the 2007 race were announced on January 12th, and many teams are already planning for a competition that will be the highlight of the 2007 adventure racing season, and the culmination of the AR World Series.

Today (July 3rd) first details of the race have been announced at www.arwc2007.com and teams from around the world are invited to register their interest for more information. (The full website will go online in August.)

The race will cover 500km over 7 days, in the region of Lochaber and based in Fort William, The Outdoor Capital of the UK. From here teams will explore one of Europe's great wilderness areas, a vast expanse of rugged mountains, deep sea lochs, windswept beaches and cliffs, and offshore islands washed by fierce tides.

The topography of the West coast of Scotland is complex and the maritime Atlantic climate ensures the weather is unpredictable and changeable. Both will test the best teams to their limit and offer them the opportunity to journey through a unique and magnificent landscape which South African competitor Erica Terblanche described as follows;

"While moving through the breathtaking landscape, I could not help but fall in love Š with the beautiful names of these far and rough places that so deeply captivate the hearts and imaginations of the Scottish nation."

The World Championships will be the 3rd Wilderness ARC, a race that has a unique organisational structure, combining the abilities and resources of the UK's two biggest and most experienced adventure race providers. ACE Races and Detail Events operate 17 other adventure races in the British Isles between them each year, and their organisational expertise, resources and outstanding course planning helped secure the privilege of hosting the 2007 World Championship.

Geoff Hunt, organiser of the ARWorld Series has attended both Wilderness ARC races to date and commented; "It was a pleasure to see the enthusiastic approach of the organising team and development of the professional support team that is now an integral part of the Wilderness ARC."

That professionalism, and the potential of the race to showcase the huge range of adventure opportunities in the Highlands and Islands, has attracted the support of Event Scotland, Visit Scotland, The Highland Council and The Outdoor Capital of the UK. The financial backing and logistical support of these government agencies helped win the race the accolade of World Championship.

ARWC 2007 will be an unsupported race, making travel, logistics and costs easier for visiting international teams and the entry fee is just £3,200 (US $5,900) which is one of the lowest entry fees for a major international race. The prize pool will be a minimum of US $50,000.

Race Director Phil Humphreys is looking forward to welcoming the best adventure racing teams in the world to Scotland, but points out that the course and entry criteria allow for any experienced team to compete.

"With the winners of World Series races taking part we know the very best teams will be at ARWC 2007 and the course will test their teamwork, navigation, technical skills and endurance to produce worthy World Champions.

"Our Course Planner Gary Tompsett has a reputation for innovative and enjoyable courses that make the best of the terrain with a good balance of disciplines, and few surprises as well. He has something very, very special planned.

"World Series qualification is also designed to allow entry to any teams who have demonstrated their expertise in expedition length racing and wish to race at the highest level. All teams who have taken part in World Series races in the past 2 years are likely to be eligible and there is provision for teams from comparable international races to enter as well. I'd urge any teams considering taking part to contact me with questions and assure them that our approach is to keep everything as simple as possible - administration for teams will be kept to a minimum!

"Within the race we will also have the option of an 'adventure course', for those teams who find the World Championship distance too much, but still wish to achieve a finish at Wilderness ARC and experience the Scottish wilderness.

"With the sport of adventure racing continuing to expand and grow worldwide we expect to host teams from as many countries as possible, alongside a strong entry from teams in the British Isles. We want ARWC 2007 in Scotland to be a celebration of the very best of worldwide Adventure Racing."

Pictures are available at: www.aceraces.co.uk

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