RAF Team Nail the Impossible

The Drambuie Pursuit 2011

14 April 2011, Edinburgh: Four serving members of the Royal Air Force have won a £2,500 donation for the RAF’s Benevolent Fund (RAFBF) after securing the number one qualifying position for the high octane Scottish endurance race, The Drambuie Pursuit. 

Team ultRAFast, which includes Squadron Leader Alan Rutledge; Flight Lieutenants Tom Kinsley and Simon Ramsden; and Flying Officer Chris Carrington-Smith, won over a quarter of the votes for their online entry video  and pledge to support the RAFBF.

Taking place 13-15 May, the epic Drambuie Pursuit covers 100 miles of the Scottish Highland’s rugged terrain and includes activities such as rock climbing, white water rafting, downhill mountain biking, kayaking and buggy racing. 

UltRAFast will now compete head to head against nine other international teams including an American celebrity team lead by professional athlete, NFL Pro-American Football star Jeremy Shockey.  Carolina Panther player Shockey was the winner of the first NFL Pro-American Football Rookie Award in 2002 and is a two time Pro-Football Champion.

The race is inspired by events that took place more than 260 years ago. In 1746 after a failed attempt to claim the British throne, Bonnie Prince Charlie was pursued across the highlands by the Government forces but escaped with the help of his loyal clansmen. In gratitude for their help he passed on the top secret recipe for his personal elixir which became Drambuie.

UltRAFast team member, Flight Lieutenant Tom Kinsley said: “All of us share a mutual passion for the great outdoors and adrenalin fuelled adventures. Thanks to Drambuie, we will be able do what we love best, in one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland.  The fact that we are doing it for such a worthy cause makes it all the more special.

“As serving members of the Royal Air Force we all are affected by operations in Afghanistan, either personally or through friends and work colleagues. The Benevolent Fund provides an essential support for all members of the RAF, past and present. The help and advice it offers whether financial, personal or dealing with injuries and bereavement cannot be overstated.”

Will Birkin, Senior Brand Manger Drambuie said: “UltRAFast make worthy winners of the charity prize money and Drambuie is delighted the funds are going to such a worthwhile cause.  The premise behind the Drambuie Pursuit is that working together, friends and colleagues can “Nail the Impossible” and achieve results above all expectations.  UltRAFast live by that very same code every day in their working lives. We wish them, and all of the teams, best of luck in the Pursuit challenge in May.”

The RAF’s leading welfare charity, the RAFBF provides practical, financial and emotional support to serving and former members of the RAF as well as families. The RAFBF deals with a wide range of issues from childcare and relationship difficulties, to injury and disability and from financial hardship and debt to illness and bereavement.

The spirit of Drambuie lives on and over the years this unique whisky liqueur has been passed down through generations carrying with it a sense of adventure, culminating in this exciting event.  Today people around the world are enjoying Drambuie served long with & ginger beer; know as The Drambuie Ginger Nail, a refreshing twist on the classic Drambuie cocktail The Rusty Nail.

For more information on Drambuie Pursuit please visit: www.drambuie.co.uk/pursuit

Drambuie encourages responsible drinking
www.drinkaware.co.uk   www.scotch-whisky.org.uk

Notes:

Team UltRAFast include:

Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) Alan Rutledge based at RAF Wittering
Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Tom Kinsley based at RAF Valley
Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Simon Ramsden based at RAF Boscombe Down (Soon to be at RAF Lossiemouth flying the Tornado)
Flying Officer (Fg Off) Chris Carrington-Smith, based at RAF Benson
 
About DRAMBUIE®

The elixir at the heart of DRAMBUIE was created more than 260 years ago exclusively for Prince Charles Edward Stuart of Scotland.  It is a unique combination of aged Scotch whiskies, heather honey and a blend of herbs and spices – a recipe kept secret since 1745. In the late 19th century the drink became know as “an dram buidheach” – from the Gaelic the drink that satisfies, and was subsequently registered as Drambuie is 1893. The first commercial production of Drambuie took place in Edinburgh 1909, it became the first liqueur to be served in The House of Lords in 1916 and became popular internationally as it was taken abroad by the Scottish Regiments in the two World Wars.

In the USA post prohibition, it became synonymous with the classic cocktail The Rusty Nail ™. Today it’s enjoyed neat, over ice and as a long refreshing drink mixed with soda, ginger beer or ginger ale.  For more information visit www.drambuie.com