AROUND 1,100 people took part in a charity relay event around the shores of Loch Ness at the weekend.
A sellout 275 teams took part in the First Monster Challenge on Saturday, which saw them cycle and run around the 75-mile course.
Taking part were model Nell McAndrew and Scottish rugby legend Gavin Hastings.
The pair, with their team members Graham Whyte, 51, and Dave Cummins, 42, both of Inverness, finished the course in ninth place.
Speaking after the event, Ms McAndrew said: “This event is almost as tough as running the London marathon, but it’s great fun, very well organised and has a tremendous atmosphere.
“I don’t think we were ever really in with a chance of winning, but we have done wonderfully well to finish in ninth place with a time of six hours and 28 minutes.”
Mr Hastings said: “It’s great to see the event sell out. There is a great camaraderie and team spirit among the 1,100 or so competitors.
“The Monster certainly seems to have become established as a key fixture in the sporting diary.”
The winning foursome were The Great Glen Grunters made up of Kenny Riddle, 43, Paul Rudden, 38, and Eleanor Reid, 33, all from Inverness, and Roxy Bannerman, 27, from Tain, who finished in 5hr 38min, just three minutes short of the course record.
Mr Riddle and Mr Rudden have tasted success before as members of the winning team in 2007 and 2008.
Also taking part were 28 super-fit athletes who completed the entire course by themselves in the Iron Monster event, the equivalent of running a marathon and then cycling two more.
The winner was Alec Keith, 45, a solicitor from Inverness. He completed the course in 7hr 20min, smashing the record by 44 minutes.
The event raises money for Save the Children and last year raised £150,000 for the charity.
FirstGroup chief executive Sir Moir Lockhead said: “I am thrilled that the event has grown so quickly and has proven to be so popular with the participants.
“Our Monster events in 2007 and 2008 were tremendous, but 2009 has surpassed our expectations. Teams have travelled the length and breadth of the UK to take part and we even had a team from Barcelona.”
For the full list of results visit www.firstmonster.com