Seven players, above, from Eskvale Hockey Club – including the Advertiser's chief reporter, Janet Bee – recently completed the Rob Roy Challenge and raised £4144 for the event's four charities.

The group started the marathon effort near Drymen at 7am.

Under attack from midgies, the team walked the 16 miles to Callander via Aberfoyle.

Once at the second checkpoint, it was off with the walking boots and on to the bikes for the final 39 miles of the challenge.

Family support

The endeavour headed along the Rob Roy Way to Killin and the final leg was a 17-mile, undulating route to Kenmore where the tired but jubilant hockey players crossed the finish line in 11 hours and five minutes to gain their gold medals.

More than 740 people completed the full 55 mile course with all money raised being distributed among Habitat for Humanity, the Prince's Trust, the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust, and Place2Be.

Eskvale's seven — Lindsey Ashburner, Janet Bee, Susan Cleaver, Shirley Gallacher, Annie Gladstone, Rosemary Kerr and Catherine Stevenson — raised their total thanks to sponsorship and hosting a bingo tea and beetle drive.

The group thanked everyone, including family and friends, who supported them.

Thanks also go to the following businesses for their support – J R Gladstone and Sons (Farm); I C R Butt, Loanhead; W&P Eccles; A J Bain Sportsground Specialists; Scotmid; Costco; HBOS Foundation; Tesco; Indulgence Beauty Salon, Bonnyrigg; MacTaggart Scott, Loanhead; Bernard Hunters; and Johnston Newspapers.