Great Glen Challenge 2025

Posted by thepaddlerezine in SUP competition, SUP racing, SUP UK Competition, SUP UK Events, SUP UK News // 1 Comment

“In Scotland you have to take the forecast with a pinch of salt, and if it isn’t what you want, wait 15 minutes and it will change.”

Words: David Partridge
Photos: David Partridge, Derek Rendall & Gareth Ainge

This year was a very memorable one for the Great Glen Challenge. The 92 km race offers paddlers a non-stop or a two-day challenge. This year also introduced a new ‘Team’ option.

Ultra paddling is addictive, and I have written on this before https://paddlerezine.com/long-distance-sup/, so let’s stick to 2025.

In the week leading up to the event, Scotland saw quite a lot of wind, but as Emma Hepplewhite, the Race Director, says, “In Scotland you have to take the forecast with a pinch of salt, and if it isn’t what you want, wait 15 minutes and it will change.”

Add whisky to the salt
At the start of day two, the competitors lined up to toast Nessie with whisky, Great Glen Distillery Gin or Irn Bru! The toast paid off as Duncan (Emma’s Husband) made a courageous decision to switch race direction halfway through, which came good. This huge call was semi-anticipated but threw a whole new layer of complexity into logistics and event planning. What it did give was a somewhat smoother second day on the water.

A few new names have been added to the list of paddlers taking on the challenge, bringing national and international panache and style to the event. Emma noted how, this year, the paddle community had really come together to support each other. A paddler lost her luggage in transit but was soon furnished with a wetsuit, leash, hydration bags, PFD and rash vests. The cohesive competitors in the WhatsApp group swung into collective action. Others broke down en route. One managed a puncture on the way to the day two start and was rescued at 05:00, then transported to the start. Getting to the start line of this race is for many the hardest challenge. Deciding to do it, running through the comprehensive briefing and resources on route, logistics, timing and a step by (many) step guide to the portages.

There are so many stories and highlights that the final dinner became a celebration for everyone who had participated, a chance to thank the excellent support crew and volunteers who made the event possible. The room rose to a standing ovation to thank Emma and Duncan, who admitted the only reason they continue the race is the warmth, gratitude and buzz that it creates for every competitor.

Every challenger is a winner.

So the standouts and results:

Non stoppers:
Tanya Ecker had travelled from the Black Forest in Germany with her mum Moya and friend Marliese Mendel (who competed in the two day). “This was my first time at the Great Glen, it has been on my list for five years or more but has clashed with 11 Cities (which she has seven finishers medals for including a non stop and first places). I decided as it’s a long journey to travel to Skye and the West coast and see some of Scotland and then compete”. I asked Tanya about her choice to go straight for the non stop “I enjoy ultra events and as this has been on my list for a while I thought why not?” The conditions on the Friday started benign with flat water and just small bumps through the first lochs but with a building wind by the time Tanya was on Loch Ness the waves had grown (more later!) How was it? “Well, I saw that there were big waves in the middle of the Loch, and so I thought I would hug the north shore. This was good until I needed to cross to the exit, where the chop became difficult, and I fell once. When I got to the finish though (after a gentle canal section), I felt great and that I could go on and do another one!” I recommend anyone interested pop over to the Great Glen challenge Facebook pages and check out Alison Rennie’s amazing video of Tanya in action: https://www.facebook.com/720518212/videos/a.10162842870453213/630980226544875

Tanya’s time was extraordinary, 11 hours 5 minutes 45 seconds, smashing the women’s record, beating all the other competitors, and providing huge inspiration (not least for the wonderful video captured by Alison of her surfing down Loch Ness). Mum Maya was thrilled to be at the finish and received a special supporters’ award. However, her excitement to capture Tanya’s arrival led her to step back off the pontoon into the water! (something Emma H had done in previous years, so a deserved special medal). Maya is a stalwart of the International SUP scene and a regular volunteer at the 11 cities in the Netherlands.

Another new International competitor needs little introduction: John Knippers, winner of the Last Paddler standing and the first SUP paddler to complete the Alabama 650, MR 340, and numerous other ultra ultra events. He also took part in the non-stop, “I fell in say 12 times, my hands were white with cold, and I had to paddle on my knees for a while, this race is cool but hard, this dinner is a real celebration of people living life to the full.” John came in third, Peter Allen from Canada second, and legend Paul Drake in first place among males.

In total, just five paddlers completed the non-stop, several having to retire on the sides of Ness. Here, the trackers, mandatory mobile phones and rescue boats all came into play. In the briefing, several safe exit points were shown, and quickly the Paddle Challenge Team collected those who (I am sure) are going to come back again.

Emily King was the second female to finish again with an incredible time, “I love the atmosphere of this, it’s like the old days of racing, everyone knows each other or quickly becomes the best friend of everyone else. It was my first time, and it felt like an empowering moment; you are in control of your route, decisions and destiny. I couldn’t think about anything except the shape of the water and the wave sets. I looked up at one point and was amazed to see a tourist boat in front of me. The horizons are vast, with incredible scenery, but they also feel small, as you need to concentrate on the waves. My SUP surfing really helps.” Would you do it again? “Yes, definitely, but maybe biannually, I would like to try some other ultra events, maybe 11 cities next year.”

Two dayers
The first day started in Fort William, around 30 minutes after the non-stoppers departed. The large field was divided into ISUP and Hardboard classes with separate starts.

Again, Michael Barron, a US Competitor, provided a spectacular result, impressing everyone with the speed and determination to paddle hard. I must admit some trepidation having suggested this race to him. Suggesting a holiday in Scotland comes with some risk from the vagaries of the weather, and the views and conditions may not be the best. “This was my first time in Scotland and I have had more fun than anyone, it’s stunning: day 1 was about mountains and waterfalls, perfect paddling on canals and a couple of Lochs. It was great coming into Fort Augustus at the finish and meeting everyone. This is such a friendly event. Day two, swans and Castles, it’s a fairy tale.” Mike benefited from the decision to reverse the direction for day two with a paddle from Inverness back to Fort Augustus. “Everyone was so helpful, sorting logistics, board transport and stuff. The water was definitely flatter than Friday, but we still had great swell for the finish.”

I must admit to being slightly confused. I knew Jonny (Chainsaw) Stableford was ahead of me, enjoying the switch from an ISUP to hardboard, and he came in second, but another competitor was also there? Turned out to be a guy on a 17-foot ‘unlimited’ board, so not technically in the 14-foot race. Also ahead is the first team of Andy Burrows and Niall Colquohan.

Andy, who lives between Scotland and Spain, paddled the event in wellies. (Mike Barron asked him if this was traditional Scottish paddle wear, along with Dave Stransky famously rocking his kilt) Andy, “I get cold feet and wasn’t sure what to expect, I only normally paddle 20km events, so this was a new distance for me, I got cramp as well, so lots of lessons learnt between days one and two.” At the prize giving, he shared a Billy Connolly skit on wellies, much to the befuddlement of an international audience! Niall and he worked as a pair, drafting each other up the canals and on the smaller Lochs. They turned in a good time to win the inaugural team event, taking a big salver home.

So, by some misadventure, despite being behind Mike, Johnny, and the team, and another random paddler, I managed a third place. What does it feel like? Well, wonderful to finish, but the most important part is to enter. Once you are on the start line, you’re surrounded by a tremendous camaraderie and support; everyone is there just to do it. The special camaraderie of Ultra competitors is particularly unique and perhaps just a bit addictive. The WhatsApp chat was full of mutual support and encouragement. For some posts about their retirements, it was all about what to do differently to come back and kick Nessie’s butt next time.

In the iSUPS, the first male inflatable (standing joke from the awards) was Rory Press Worth. Rory, just 17 and in the upper 6th at school, is passionate about marine conservation. He recently paddled from Ireland to Scotland to raise funds for a marine conservation charity. He competed at the Great Glen two years ago at the age of 15 and loved it. This year, he was back racing on his Red Elite SUP. Everyone was impressed by his technique, Mike Barron noting, “He was generating so much power I could see the flex in his paddle.” Rory smashed the inflatable category with a total time under 13 hours, bringing in the awards for Northern Ireland. I asked why inflatable, “Because I am young and can’t afford a hardboard.” Manufacturers take note, this is one very promising paddler!

Carla Stripes, also from Ireland, had travelled over with the team, collecting paddlers from north and South. She was successfully defending her title from last year and summed up the event beautifully, “What an honour it is to come back and retain my title. This race is unlike anything you could ever imagine. The location is picturesque yet terrifying, the weather swings from torrential downpours and waves like the North Sea to burning sun (literally!). The route takes you through twists and turns of canals, to Lochs that you can’t physically see the end of when you start. You could spend hours alone, barely able to see any other paddlers, and then be side by side with a competitor, pushing to stay ahead. You have to prepare for everything, but no matter how prepared you are, Loch Ness can decide it’s not your day, and there is little you can do to control that. The ultimate challenge, physically, mentally and logistically. I can’t say I enjoy every second of this race, but I think that makes completing it even more satisfying – the iconic finishers coaster means almost as much as the trophy!”

John Knippers Partner Meral (celebrating her birthday on the Saturday) pushed for a close second, and Marlies Mendel (AUT) came in third. In the ISUP female category, Lucy Pearce (SUP North) powered to victory.

Every competitor, challenger, volunteer, and supporter was a winner. The event this year seemed particularly inclusive and cohesive.

It was great to see Alison Rennie and Allistair Swinco support the paddlers. They had loaned boards to John and Meral, hoisted boards out at the finish for tired paddlers, and generally led the great international party at the end with hugs, stories, pictures, and congratulations to all. Their images capture the event thanks to them and the volunteers for all the captured moments (check out the great glen socials!).

The spirit of the event is perhaps summed up by random moments: Tanya driving to the party stopped at the roadside to offer me a lift, then Marlies popped into the shop to buy me a beer!. I could have talked to John Knippers forever (I am sure between us we could put the world to rights!) – finally, a huge thank you to Duncan and Emma. I’m sure they were aware of a few tears welling up as the emotion of completing this extraordinary event started creeping into everyone’s minds. Would I recommend it? Yes, no doubts, just get to the start line and everyone will help get you to the finish!