Join us in Portugal for the 2019 Algarve Challenge

The awesome and simply stunning Algarve coast is the destination as Marco Polo Events launches the return of the World Series from 21st – 24th November.

Teams of four from a range of our biggest clients will be competing in five epic stages designed specifically for the mixture of terrain that the Algarve boasts. Swimming, cycling and kayaking will all feature, as well as the signature UK Challenge-style puzzles to test not only your brawn but your brain too.

To view more information including the Algarve Challenge outline, stage overview and for information on how to sign up, please visit: www.algarvechallenge.com

• The UK Challenge will be fundraising for the Invictus Games Foundation as part of a two-year partnership
• Wounded, injured or sick Servicemen and women, including former Invictus Games competitors, to take part alongside corporate clients
• The next UK Challenge event is due to take place 9^th – 12^th July 2020 in The Lake District

The UK Challenge, an iconic event that takes place across three days involving over 700 company executives, has partnered with the Invictus Games Foundation.

The next UK Challenge event is due to take place 9^th – 12^th July 2020 in The Lake District, shortly after the Invictus Games The Hague 2020. 

Teams entered into the UK Challenge are able to join in the fundraising efforts for the Foundation by integrating participation into their workplace CSR programs or by creating dedicated charity initiatives. Over the years, the UK Challenge has raised over £5 million for charity causes.

The partnership with the Invictus Games Foundation will allow participating teams and organisations to see the work of the Foundation as it oversees the development of each Invictus Games and provides, usually sporting, opportunities for recovery to its international community of wounded, injured, or sick (WIS) Servicemen and women.

The UK Challenge is delivered and owned by Marco Polo Events (MPE), a company dedicated to providing outdoor team-building opportunities.

MPE CEO, David Moran, commented, “I am delighted that we are partnering with such an amazing and inspiring charity. Our UK Challenge event shares many values with the Invictus Games Foundation and I know that our teams will look forward to raising funds to support those to whom we owe so much. For our part, we are excited to also welcome teams from across the WIS community at the UK Challenge 2020 in the Lake District.” 

Adding to those comments, Peter George, Chairman of MPE said, “The UK Challenge attracts the best and most motivated people to be found in the workplace. This company investment in its people brings huge benefits to the workforce, and we look forward to adding participants from across the armed services as they bring their military experience to the competition.” 

Dominic Reid, Chief Executive of the Invictus Games Foundation said: “We’re delighted that the UK Challenge has signed on as a Foundation Partner and we are very much looking forward to being a part of this fantastic event in 2020. Knowing just how competitive our community of WIS can get, I know we will enjoy seeing them undertake the challenges across the weekend!”

If you’re missing the euphoria, adrenaline and sense of achievement of the UK Challenge and still getting over your post-challenge blues, or, just want an excuse to meet up with your teammates again, then we have the perfect tonic for you…the next level in adventure racing, The Brain Race.

Using the massively successful and much-loved UK Challenge concept, The Brain Race will be the UK’s first ever pairs competition that will test brain as much as brawn across two days of epic challenges, including spectacular day time and exhilarating night time stages.

The first ever Brain Race will be held in the gorgeous Glanusk Estate, in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, home to the final day of the 2018 UK Challenge and an area known as much for its spectacular scenery as its testing terrain.

All UK Challenge competitors get an exclusive competitor discount using code ‘UKC-35‘ when signing up and come and join us over the weekend of 12 & 13th October 2019 for the next level in adventure racing.

Not only was last year’s Senior Executive held in an old Brecon Beacons cattle auction yard, stage full of colour, it was also one of our competitors’ favourite stages in UK Challenge history! 

Each team participating in 2019 has one additional Senior Executive place so get him or her to come along to Snowdonia this year for what promises to be another truly amazing stage! 

To ensure we have enough rooms for everyone, the deadline for registering your team’s Senior Exec is next Thursday 23rd May so once you’ve got them on board, make sure to add them on your team’s portal before then!

We’re absolutely over the moon and extremely proud to announce Mitsubishi as our official Vehicle Partner for the 2019 UK Challenge. You’ll see their L200 and Shogun Sport models ferrying our core staff and marshal teams at various stages and of course, at the Bangor University campus throughout this year’s challenge.

Thank you to them and all of this year’s partners for coming together to mark our 30th Anniversary.

After a one year hiatus at last year’s challenge, we’re making up for lost time with not 1 BUT 2 swim sections. They will not be sea-based but may be in a lake or other similar body of water. 

Your swimmer should be capable of swimming 400m continuously in open water and both bodies of water historically  have water temperatures in July in the 14 – 18 degree range and so wetsuits are not necessary and indeed are entirely optional.

All swimmers will be responsible for their own hats, goggles and speedos.

You are welcome to swim without a wetsuit or to bring your own but if you would like to hire a wetsuit from us, we can arrange this. There will be an admin fee of £20.00 per wetsuit to cover the cost of the delivery of the wet suit to each location and the hire for both locations.

For ease, if you would like this, we have created an order option in the portal which can be accessed here so if your swimmer wants a wetsuit, please ensure that you have selected a size from the dropdown box by Friday 31^st May.