Loch Ness events will go the extra mile following acquisition by London Marathon Events

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London Marathon Events (LME), the world-leading mass participation event organiser has acquired the companies which run the increasingly popular Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running, Inverness Half Marathon & 5k and the Etape Loch Ness cycling event – Loch Ness Marathon Limited and Caledonian Concepts (Scotland) Limited. Both events companies were started by Caroline and Malcolm Sutherland in 2006.
More than 19,880 participants took part in the three events in 2024 raising an estimated £1 million for charities across the Highlands, Scotland and the UK.
Corporate and M&A, employment and commercial real estate specialists from law firm Harper Macleod advised Caroline and Malcolm Sutherland on the sale of the companies. The Sutherlands have been longstanding clients of Harper Macleod in a relationship dating back more than eight years. Craig McKerracher (Partner, Corporate, Commercial & Regulatory) led the team with support from Senior Associate Fiona Strang and Solicitor Kirstie Reilly. Employment law advice was provided by Partner Ewan Stafford and Associate Laura Auld and Commercial Real Estate advice was provided by Partner Andrew Kerr and Senior Solicitor Euan Bowie.
LME works to inspire activity in all ages, abilities and demographics and passes its surplus each year through corporate Gift Aid to its parent charity, the London Marathon Foundation, which awards grants to projects and organisations which inspire activity.
Inverness-based Caroline and Malcolm Sutherland will remain with the business along with the existing team.
Mr Sutherland said: “We are extremely proud of what we have created in the Loch Ness Marathon, Etape Loch Ness and Inverness Half Marathon over the past 18 years.
“This acquisition is evidence of how incredible the events have become, and this is thanks to the hard work and passion of our fantastic team and volunteers, our sponsors, charity partners and stakeholders including the Highland Council, and the Highland community who welcome and cheer on participants from around the world every year.
“It was great to have the team at Harper Macleod advise us on the acquisition as well as being able to access their expertise from various departments across the company.”
Craig McKerracher said: “Having participated in the Etape Loch Ness, I know from experience that it is a world-class event that is growing in popularity within the cycling community. Similarly, the Loch Ness Marathon and Inverness Half Marathon are becoming signature events on the running calendar.
“The opportunity to take part in well-organised mass participation sporting events in this part of the world doesn’t happen very often and Caroline and Malcolm, along with their team and partners such as Highland Council, have grown these events to the point where they have a major positive impact on local travel and tourism with people coming from across the world to take part. They will only go from strength to strength under the custodianship of the organisers of the London Marathon, the most popular marathon on the planet and one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.”