HIGHLAND WIND FARM GETS UP AND RUNNING WITH UNIQUE EVENT
News Release
Statkraft
Event Graphic and Picture attached (Picture Caption at bottom of release)
- Unique 10k course unveiled
- Race and fun-run to inaugurate newest wind farm
- Entry fee proceeds to be donated to Scottish charities
A race on the first and only 10-kilometre course at a Highland wind farm will this year mark the inauguration of one of Scotland’s newest green energy sites.
‘The Turbine 10’ will be run on the undulating service tracks around Baillie Wind Farm, near Thurso in Caithness.
The charity event, organised by the wind farm’s operator Statkraft and the North Highland Harriers running club, will take participants close to the site’s 110-metre high turbines and also provide 360-degree views of Caithness and the Orkney Islands.
Scheduled for Sunday 15 September, the 10k race, and an accompanying four-kilometre fun run/walk around Baillie’s perimeter track, will raise money for three Highland charities.
It is the latest project in a drive to further develop community engagement and benefits from Baillie Wind Farm, which already incorporates a visitors’ car park, encourages walking and cycling on its tracks and will provide interpretation and assist access to a nearby bronze age cairns site.
Sergio Castedo, Director of Statkraft UK and Baillie Wind Farm, said: “This is a dramatic location, which we are keen for the local community and visitors to enjoy in a variety of ways.”
Fellow Baillie Wind Farm Director and local farmer Tom Pottinger added: “The idea for this inaugural 10K race and 4K fun run came from my daughter-in-law, Victoria. She suggested we team up with the North Highland Harriers to organise an event at which any runner or walker can participate and enjoy the wonderful views, whilst uniquely experiencing a wind farm at close quarters.”
The Thurso-based North Highland Harriers, who are working with Statkraft to deliver The Turbine 10, are already organisers of the successful annual Mey 10k, at the Castle of Mey in Caithness, which attracts several hundred competitors and fun-runners.
Sandy Christie, of the North Highland Harriers, said: “This will be an interesting challenge which we’re sure many runners will want to come and take on. The views are amazing and we’re very pleased to be adding our expertise to developing this new event. It will be an enjoyable occasion and it’s great news that charities will also be benefiting.”
Entries for The Turbine 10 and 4k are open at www.entrycentral.com/TheTurbine10 and, as well as prizes for various category winners, including overall, local and kilted winners of both sexes, each finisher will receive a medal, goody bag and T-shirt. Full event information is also available at www.bailliewindfarm.co.uk/TheTurbine10.
Event proceeds, including the 10k and 4k entry fees of £10 and £2, will go to the Moray Firth Radio ‘Cash for Kids’ appeal; the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) and the North Highland Cancer Information and Support Centre, based in Thurso.
Baillie Wind Farm’s 21 turbines will produce enough clean energy annually to power some 35,000 homes. The project includes a West Caithness Community Fund yielding an expected £100,000 annually for local initiatives, plus a further £25,000 per annum for a new business development fund to be managed by the Caithness Chamber of Commerce.
END
Pic caption: The Turbine 10 will take participants close to the site’s 110-metre high turbines and also provide 360-degree views of Caithness and the Orkney Islands.
Issued for Statkraft by Lucid PR. For further information, contact:
Bob Kass 01463 724591, 07759 057825 bob@lucidmessages.com
John Ross 01463 724593, 07730 099617 johnross@lucidmessages.com
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