On the 16th October, long-distance swimmer and passionate environmentalist Ross Edgley will team up with legendary Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and unstoppable athletics icon Dame Kelly Holmes to compete in a Relay Triathlon with a twist. Taking place on the shores of Edinburgh, capital of Scotland; the country that Talisker whisky calls home, the athletes will participate in a relay triathlon, to raise awareness for the vital importance of our wild seas, and Talisker’s ongoing support of Parley for the Oceans’ marine conservation projects.
In a never-attempted before challenge, the three wild spirits will race consecutively along Edinburgh’s coastline, towards Cramond Island, which sits 1.5 km off the shores of the Scottish capital. The island is only visitable for a limited time per day, after which the causeway to access it is enveloped by the tide and Cramond’s rugged beauty becomes secluded from the city once more.
The research, that Talisker has helped fund through their long-term partnership with Parley, is being carried out at Edinburgh-based Heriot-Watt University, who along with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the Blue Marine Foundation are undertaking independent scientific research in the Orkney Islands. Just off the north coast of Scotland, these islands offer a remote, biodiversity-rich and abundant area of underwater kelp forests. Sea forests are prime underwater habitats which cover 25% of the world’s coastline and play a critical role in planetary health, but are vanishing four times faster than rainforests. Parley for the Oceans and their partners will help to showcase how essential these underwater forests are and encourage greater levels of protection.
Wild spirit and extreme athlete, swimmer Ross Edgley said, “I am incredibly excited to be partnering with Talisker once more to undertake an epic race in the name of ocean conservation. The triathlon will be an awesome challenge and I am delighted to have two legendary sportspeople on my team to race in and alongside Scotland’s beautiful waters to Cramond Island, in the hope of beating the tide. The research being undertaken by Parley’s partners Heriot-Watt University and Plymouth Marine Laboratory could not be more important and it is an honour to compete in the stunning city that Heriot-Watt calls home. Bring it on!’
Consumers can support Talisker and Parley for the Oceans’ mission to help protect Scottish waters and marine ecosystems around the world by purchasing a bottle of Talisker whisky from participating Tesco stores nationwide. For every bottle sold from 10th October to 6th November, Talisker will pledge £1 to Parley for the
Oceans up to a maximum of £40,000, directly funding this important work to help preserve wild seas for generations to come.
