RSABI’s Great Scone Palace Challenge

In just a few weeks, teams from across Scotland’s agricultural community will unite to take part in agricultural charity, RSABI’s, much-anticipated Great Scone Palace Challenge, in association with Scottish legal firm Gillespie Macandrew.

Taking place on Saturday 13th September at the iconic Scone Palace in Perthshire, teams of five will come together to compete in a series of fun and high-energy events as they battle it out for the prestigious title of Great Scone Palace Challenge Champions 2025, with prizes awarded by stars of Emmerdale.

Each team has committed to raising vital funds for RSABI, which will help the charity to provide crucial financial, practical and emotional support services for people in Scottish agriculture.

Pauline Macmillan, Head of Fundraising at RSABI, said:

“We are hugely grateful to every team who has signed up for the Great Scone Palace Challenge and for the fantastic fundraising efforts we have seen already. The Challenge promises to be a truly memorable day bringing together people from across the farming community, all while raising funds to help RSABI continue to provide vital support to the industry. We encourage everyone to get behind the teams by donating and showing them your support as they prepare to rise to the challenge.”

As hosts, Scone Palace has named RSABI as its charity of the year, supporting the event with logistics and costs. Scottish legal firm Gillespie Macandrew, headline sponsor of the Challenge, has also been instrumental in supporting the event, continuing its long-term fundraising partnership with RSABI.

Lois Newton, Partner of Land and Rural Business at Gillespie Macandrew and RSABI trustee, added:

“We are delighted to continue to support RSABI and in particular this brand-new event. It will be fantastic to see the teams take on the challenges in the stunning setting of Scone Palace and raise funds as well as awareness for the important work that RSABI do. We look forward to connecting with familiar faces as well as new contacts at what promises to be a very special day for the sector.”

The Great Scone Palace Challenge will conclude with a black-tie Celebration Ball in the Long Gallery of Scone Palace, hosted by Lord Stormont.

Tickets are also still available for The Challenge Welcome Party the day before the main event, taking place at Perth Racecourse on Friday 12th September. Eventgoers will see celebrity and well-kent farming faces race against each other during ‘Only Fools No Horses’, the celebrity footrace of the year.

Farming favourites taking part include comedian Jim Smith, TikTok star Will Murray, and BBC This Farming Life stars Ben Imrie and Andrew Morris, alongside SAYFC faces and some Emmerdale cast members. The fun-filled 2k race will be followed by an evening of great food, and entertainment from the cast and crew of Emmerdale.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the Welcome Party, visit  https://www.rsabi.org.uk/event/great-scone-palace-challenge/.

The teams set to compete are:

• Agricar Ltd (JUST ADD BLUE)
• Bidwells
• The Scottish Farmer
• RSABI Health Hut (Health Hut Hustlers)
• Women in Agriculture Scotland
• Bell Ingram (Saved by the Bell Ingram)
• Dalscone (Keeping up with the Cowdashians)
• Galbraith
• SPARC – Police Scotland/Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (Paw Patrol)
• NFU Mutual Perth (Mutal ‘Motor’vators)
• Blackhall & Powis
• SP Energy Networks Land & Planning – two teams
• Johnston Carmichael
• SAYFC

RSABI offers free practical, financial, and emotional support including counselling services, delivered quickly after receiving the initial enquiry. Its free, confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 or through a confidential webchat service, available on RSABI’s website www.rsabi.org.uk.