TGO Challenge 2020 Cancelled

With just 45 days until the start of the 2020 TGO Challenge in Scotland, the event has been cancelled due to travel restrictions and social distancing directives for both the US and Scotland.

The Original Message from TGO this year.

Hello to Everyone

Sadly, in light of the developing situation surrounding the Coronavirus, both we and Kelsey Media have concluded that we have no option but to cancel the 2020 TGO Challenge in view of travel, personal contact and emergency provision restrictions.

We are very disappointed as we know how much hard work has gone into producing routes and that this is a highlight of many people’s year but the need to stay safe and limit the progression of the virus must take precedence. We considered postponing the Event until later in the year, but this would clash with the stalking season which would make the Event unsafe for Challengers.

Everyone who had a place on this year’s Challenge will have their entry deferred to the 2021 Event.

We appreciate you will now need to cancel your travel and accommodation arrangements. This is going to be a very hard time for the hundreds of small businesses that support the Event and give Challengers such a warm welcome every year. We fear many may not survive and be able to offer accommodation to Challengers in future years. Please bear this in mind and, if you have the funds available, perhaps consider not requesting a refund and/or provisionally booking for TGOC21.

We are aware many people have suggested they will “walk anyway” in the event of cancellation of TGO Challenge 2020. However, we must strongly advise everyone against doing this in view of:

1. Scottish Mountain Rescue Association’s request to stick to “safe and known adventures”

2. Government advice to “avoid unnecessary travel” during the next few months

3. The Event and related safety support has been officially cancelled

Please remember, you do at least have a route ready for TGOC21!

We wish you all good health and hope the coronavirus does not impact on you, your family or your livelihood too severely over the coming months. We very much look forward to seeing you in 2021.

If you have any further queries, please email TGO Challenge at newtonmorehostel@gmail.com

Best wishes,

Sue & Ali

Sue Oxley & Ali Ogden, TGOC Coordinator

Newtonmore Hostel, Main Street, Newtonmore, Inverness-shire PH20 1DA
01540 673360/673583
newtonmorehostel@gmail.com (please note we no longer use tgoc@newtonmorehostel.co.uk)
www.tgochallenge.co.uk