Hotlines Staff Tackle the Glen Nevis River Race

No Fuss Events are well know for breaking the mould when it comes to outdoor events. The Captain Morgan's Spiced Glen Nevis River Race was no different.

Hotlines Europe had a contingent at the event a trio comprising of office manager Ed Ibbetson, marketing assistant Pete Scullion and sales/tech support advisor Paul Downie. This was the first time at the event for Ed and Paul, Ed being slightly apprehensive about getting in the river. Having done the race the year before, Pete thought he'd help Ed long by organising with No Fuss to have Ed first in the river. This almost paid dividends, but he ended up chasing Ed down the river!

The No Fuss Events describe the event as "a crazy lilo race on the river nevis, involving some jumps, rapids and brute strength. Not for the faint hearted but guaranteed to be lots of fun."

Despite the water in the River Nevis being very low during Friday, as sure as the sun will rise in the East, the heavens opened on Friday night and the rain persisted long until Saturday afternoon. River levels, therefore, matched that of last year's event which saw the river at record levels.

Owing to the amount of rain, the course was cut short and the competitors entered the rapids in The Dead Dog Pool just below the Legbreaker Falls. The shorter course barely reduced the risk to the 170 odd foolhardy folk who had signed up for the wildest 20 minutes of their lives.

Straight in the river, man (or lady) and inflatable were swept hard right down a narrow channel cut by the water through the rock immediately after which the river spreads out and shallows. The challenge is then to avoid the rocks and stay where the water is deep and fast to keep the momentum going. Struggling to find traction on the rocks at the river bank, followed by a quick jog to the Lower Nevis Falls where a 20 foot leap in the churning white water awaits. There simply is nothing quite like feeling the rush of gravity pulling hard on your body as you step off the precipice.

Below the Lower Falls, negotiating two rapids is the only real test before the river flattens off and competitors have to muster whatever strength they have left to get them to the end of the course.

Having hauled themselves out of the water successfully enough with arms burning, first task was to get to the caterers who were handing out free soup, then recount tales of how we got down the river in one piece.

Paul had a few issues at the Lower Falls, having forgotten his school lifesaver training, stayed straight as an arrow when he hit the water and shot right through the white water and was suitably kicked about by the water. A solid first attempt, a time of 22:35.3 which was good for 70th overall and 62nd in senior men.

Pete also had issues, but this time at the start of the course. Far too eager to get on the hunt for Ed, he jumped over his airbed and landed face first in the river under the watchful gaze of Captain Morgan and almost the full compliment of competitors. A time of 19:51.2 was good enough for 27th overall and 23rd in category.

It was Ed however who took the top honours out of the Hotlines crew. From what we can gather, an issue free run was had by the man least inclined to jump in the wet stuff. Dragging himself out of the water in a very respectable 19:00.9 slotted Ed into 17th place overall and 14th in category.

Watch the video from the event, featuring Pete's faceplant in the water: