Summer of sport to accompany Perth 800 celebrations
A spectacular summer of sport to mark the Perth 800 celebrations
gets underway this coming weekend (Saturday 29 - Sunday 30 May)
when three flagship events are held around Perth and Kinross.
One of the biggest events in the UK’s orienteering
calendar, the Scottish Orienteering Championships, will take place
in Rannoch Forest. The event will build on the recent
successful bi-annual, Scottish 6 Day International Orienteering
festival held in Perthshire, which attracted around 3,500
competitors.
Perthshire has some of the best orienteering areas in Britain,
and this year’s championships have the aim of developing
orienteering participation levels amongst beginners and school
children. More details are available at http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/
Meanwhile, on the North Inch in Perth. a weekend extravaganza of
volleyball will be taking place.
The Scottish Open Volleyball Tournament - the biggest outdoor
volleyball event in the UK - will involve players from recreational
level through to top class teams from the UK and abroad.
Thirty outdoor courts will cater for the recreational leagues,
while indoor at the nearby Bell’s Sports Centre the Division
of Honour competitions will take place. For more information please
visit info@sovt.co.uk
To round off a busy weekend, in Highland Perthshire the Long
Distance Walkers’ Association is staging the Heart of
Scotland 100 event. This will see walkers taking on a 100-mile
challenge through the area’s hills, moorland, river valleys
and towns. The challenge takes place on both 29 and 30 May, and
starts in Dunkeld.
Amazing array of events
Provost John Hulbert said: "These major sporting events will
attract many hundreds of competitors and their supporters to Perth
and Kinross, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to all
visitors. I hope they very much enjoy their stay.
"One of the themes of the Perth 800 celebrations is sport, and
this summer will see an amazing array of sporting events that
everyone can get involved in, either by participating or
spectating.
"In coming weeks and months we play host to the Scottish Hill
Rally, Scotland’s first ever Geocaching Mega Event, the Ride
to Perth cycling event from Kenmore to Perth, the Park World Tour
World Cup for urban orienteering, Blair Castle International Horse
Trials, the Perth 6 Nations Ultrafest which will showcase
international distance running teams, Perth 800 Raceday at Perth
Racecourse, the Colin McRae Rally, RACMSA Rally of Scotland, the
Johnny Walker Golf Championships at Gleneagles and the Tay Descent
canoeing event.
"When planning Perth 800 we wanted to make sure people could get
involved and inspired so that a sporting legacy was left behind
once the year was over. Involving people in healthy activities and
keeping them interested in sport is hopefully one legacy that these
celebrations will leave behind.
"These sporting events will also attract thousands of visitors
to Perth and Kinross, giving our local economy a huge boost and
showcasing our beautiful area to people from around the UK and the
world. For a local economy like ours that is based on tourism
activities, this kind of exposure is invaluable. We hope that
people who visit our Perth 800 events will return to Perth and
Kinross time and time again."
For more details of Perth 800 summer sporting events, and the
rest of the Perth 800 programme, please visit the Perth 800 website or pick
up a Perth 800 Events Diary from libraries and council
offices in Perth and Kinross. Or contact the Perth 800 Team by
calling 01738 477958 or emailing info@perth800.com
