Ayrshire army veterans to take part in grueling endurance challenge

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scottish army veterans have lined up a canine support team to take part in the Army Benevolent Fund’s Cateran Yomp.The 'Bravehound' team, connected through the charity of the same name, will join more than 1,000 soldiers, veterans and civilians from across the world by walking 22, 36, or 54 miles in 24 hours.Participants will head off on the Cateran Trail in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains at 6am on Saturday, June 8, returning to Blairgowrie in the early hours of Sunday, June 9.

Supported by headline sponsor Babcock, this year’s event, which falls just two days after the 80th anniversary of D-Day, also coincides with the charity’s 80th anniversary.Alasdair Bunyan, 56, from Galston, the charity’s head of training and behaviour and a veteran himself, has signed up for the Cateran Yomp alongside two veterans who have Bravehound assistance dogs.Although their dogs are not signed up for the Yomp, they will meet the team and join them for refreshments at the checkpoints.Involved in the training of dogs since the early 80s after serving in the British Army supporting military dog handlers, Alasdair left the Army in the late 1980s.Alasdair said: "For myself and the two veterans, it’s about giving something back to the charity that’s supporting us.

On a personal level, it’s also about having a challenge to focus on. When you’re in the military, you’re used to planning and teamwork and you sometimes miss that when you’re out. "The Cateran Yomp is all about planning and training.

It’s pretty regimental, and it’s good to have that drive back in your life. I’m also really competitive so I’m looking forward to that aspect! "Since I left the military, I’ve never been without a dog.