Shinty Referee Completes Bike Challenge! | |
23 June 2014 Camanachd Association Grade 1 shinty referee and former Skye Camanachd player John Angus Gillies completed his sponsored cycle from Armadale to Mallaig well within the allocated time on Friday 20 June 2014. The Mallaig Harvest Station Manager aimed to complete the 145 mile journey in just fifteen hours. He started from Armadale, Skye at 5am on Friday morning and he aimed to cycle into Mallaig at around 8pm the same day. John Angus Gillies, more commonly known as Gillie, visited some of his colleagues along the route as part of what was been dubbed as the “Fish Cycle” which marks the tenth anniversary of the opening of the firm’s Mallaig Harvest station. Funds raised from the challenge will be split between The Mallaig Fisherman’s Mission and the newly formed Mallaig & District Camanachd Shinty Club which was recently resurrected after a 15 year absence by Gillie and two of his colleagues. The weather was perfect for the cycle – not too hot – and Gillie was joined throughout the trip by several friends and colleagues including Kingussie co-manager Russell Jones and Johnathon MacKinnon from Kyleakin. Gillie completed the 145 miles journey in a terrific time of 12 hours and 10 minutes although his actual cycling time was 9 hours and 35 minutes. The challenge was sponsored by Marine Harvest who have donated equipment and transport on the day. Gillie’s back up crew came in the form of Kyleakin firm DA MacLennan Joiners with support from Marine Harvest colleagues along the route. Food, power drinks and nutrients were being supplied by Nevis Cycles and David and Jackie MacLennan from Harry’s Coffee Shop in Kyleakin. There is still time to make a donation towards Gillie’s challenge by visiting the just giving site set up by Jayne MacKay |