Speyside Challenge 2024 winners announced
Winners of Moray Council’s September Speyside Challenge for 2024 have been revealed.
Participants of the Speyside Challenge competition logged their journeys along the Speyside Way route with the most journeys, or the most distance covered, by foot or bike winning.
The route is now part of the Speyside Low Carbon Hub, running from Craigellachie, through Aberlour and Carron to Cragganmore.
This year 7,908km was logged with a total of 568 journeys recorded - over 5,000km and 300 journeys more than last year, saving 1,402kg of Co2.
Moray Loves Local gift cards valued up to £50, were given out as prizes and everyone who signed up and uploaded photos of their efforts were entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a new bike from Highland Bikes up to the value of £2,000.
Liam Ross won 1st prize in the Most Distance Covered category, covering 291km on foot.
Lain Rattray won 1st prize in the same category, cycling a total of 1,080 km.
Erin Wood won 1st prize in the Most Journeys Logged category, recording 41 journeys by foot.
Marion Duncan won 1st prize in the same category, cycling a total of 43 journeys.
Chair of the Economic Development & Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Marc Macrae, said: “It’s encouraging to see the huge uptake in this year’s challenge which is a great way to generate a bit of healthy competition, motivate residents to get active and reduce carbon emissions from travel.
“Well done to everyone that joined in and I hope to see folk continuing to use the path for their daily journeys.”
Mairi Weir, who took part in the challenge and won the prize draw for a new bike from Highland Bikes, said “The Speyside Challenge enabled me to reconnect with places along the Speyside Way after I'd been away from the area for a while, while also motivating me to get out on my bike on days when I might not have gone out otherwise.
“Participating in the challenge also encouraged me to choose more sustainable travel options, such as cycling to the shops or activities instead of driving. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have won the Highland Bikes prize and would like to thank everyone who was involved in organising the challenge.”
Click here for full list of prize winners.