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ELECTION, ENGINEERING AND ABOLITION
* Election Question Time Lesley Riddoch Paxmans-up to chair a Question Time-style debate with a veritable throng of Scottish Parliament luminaries: MSPs Tommy Sheridan, Colin Fox (SSP), Margo MacDonald. Sarah Boyack (Labour), Murdo Fraser (Conservative) and Mark Ballard MP (Green). McEwan Hall, Edinburgh, Mon 19 Mar.
Sit EngineerAid: Innovation Challenge Have you ever watched Scrapheap Challenge and known that you could do better? EngineerAid is looking for teams and enthusiastic individual engineers. All sponsorship money raised goes to charity. Contact challenge@EngineerAid.com for more info. Sat 24 Mar. Edinburgh Training Centre.
* Bicentenary of Abolition 2007 marks 200 years since the Abolition of Slavery Act was passed in Britain. While this is obviously a cause for celebration, a number of organisations and institutions in Edinburgh and Glasgow are marking the occasion by taking a long hard look at Scotland's involvement in the Atlantic slave trade. A month-long series of lectures, exhibitions, marches and discussions start on Sunday 25 Mar — for further information see www.onescotland.com
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No, not Sherlock Holmes’ hat, but an action-adventure romp in the mud. Rebecca Moore gets set for the Deerstalker
I' you go down to the woods this month. be sttre ol~ a big surprise. L'nless. ol‘ course. you are one of the 5()()-plus Ioons who have already signed tip for the Deerstalker. an assault course through the countryside.
forests and hills around the Borders village of
lnnerleithen.
‘l'd describe it as “l'un rttn meets l‘ell race meets Ilellrunner meets tough guy”.' organisers Detail. who introduced the Deerstalker's city equivalent. the Rat Race L'rban Adventure. to Iidinburgh three years ago.
‘lt‘s fun. it‘s last. it‘s action—packed and it's as tough as you tnake it. It‘s a rip-roaring tear across the hills. the bracken. and woods.‘ Despite this hardcore description. he stresses that the Deerstalker event is not only aimed at lycra—clad litness l‘anatics. ‘We're hoping to create a really nice atmosphere: not just people putting on their trainers. going for a run and going home al’terwards.‘
The race begins at 'l‘raquair House in the Borders at 4pm on Sat 3] Mar. Runners can opt to take the 5km route. or the more challenging (and not for the faint-
hearted) I()km cottrse. Alter completing the lirst 5km ol.
the course. those opting for more must put on a head torch and navigate the remaining 5km in the dark. Luckily you don‘t have to rely on your own orienteering skills. as the course is mapped ottt from start to linish. To liven things up l’urther. participants are being encouraged to wear outlandish outfits. with the organisers themselves sporting tweed and Sherlock Ilolmes chic deerstalker caps. Mee says. ‘I think there‘s going to be some pretty illegal lycra. lots ol' SOs-style headbands. and people in full deerstalker regalia.‘
says Jim Mee. ol'
Whatever else you decide to wear. sensible footwear is advised.
Providing an incentive for participants to cross the linishing line. Traquair House will be serving up their own-brewed Deerstalker Ale to all those who manage to complete the course. There are also cash prizes for the winners and souvenir tankards for everyone who takes part. And it' that’s still not enough. you can be hosed down by the fair maids ol' Traquair if you get really muddy. ‘lt's an optional extra.‘ says Jim. grinning. ‘but I‘m sure it will be very popular.‘
Those who don‘t like the sound of all of that exercise. or are worried that the only way they‘d complete the course would be in an ambulance. can relax and enjoy the fair in the grounds of Traquair House. with l'ood stalls selling local produce. archery and l'alconry displays and a beer tent. There will also be a camping village onsite so that people can travel from far and wide and make a weekend of it.
Anyone who wants to take part needs to enter soon. The event has been so heavily subscribed that it has already been extended to take 600 participants instead ol~ the original 5()(). Il‘ demand continues at this level. further places may be added. Alter all. how ol‘ten can you nip out for some rough and tumble in the forest. get hosed down. and watch some mud wrestling afterwards without risking arrest'.’ Unsuspecting ramblers beware. The Deerstalker is muddin putting Scotland on the tnap as Europe‘s adventure capital.
The Deerstalker, Traquair House, Sat 31 Mar, 10am-midnight, www.themightydeersta|ker.com
15-29 Mar 2007 THE LIST 25