Genghis the spaniel top dog among Munro baggers
● Retired gun dog first to climb all Scottish hills more than 3,000ft high
A springer spaniel has become the first dog to be officially recognised for climbing all 282 Scottish Munros – hills over 3,000ft high.
Retired gun dog Genghis and his owner Mac Wright, from Milnathort in Kinross-shire, started “bagging” the mountains together in 2016.
They conquered their final summit, the 3261ft-high Sgor na h-ulaidh in Glen Coe, last month in time for Genghis’s 11th birthday.
An official Certificate of Compleation has now arrived for the pair from the Scottish Mountaineering Club’s clerk of the list, who holds the official record of “compleators”.
The document is made out to “Mac Wright and Genghis the Springer”. The clerk, Alison Coull, confirmed that she is unaware of any dog receiving such recognition.
Mr Wright, 52, said: “I like to set challenges for myself but it’s been fantastic to have Genghis with me on every Munro.
“Only a very few dogs have completed all the Munros and I don’t think any others have been recognised along with their owner on their certificate.
Genghis and I did every single one together so it’s only right that we should be recognised as compleators together.” Ms Coull agreed that it was a first, to her knowledge, adding: “I was very happy to write out the certificate to Mac and Genghis – three years is very quick for an individual to do all the Munros, let alone a dog.”
Mr Wright, who spent 25 years in the Army, adopted Genghis in 2016.
The pair have travelled all over Scotland in a camper van climbing mountains. They averaged around two peaks a week and raised more than £1,300 on an online Justgiving page for Mountain Rescue Scotland, which said the money could help its Search and Rescue Dog Teams save stricken climbers.
A separate Justgiving page has raised more than £1,200 for Springer Rescue Scotland, which rescues and rehomes springers and other spaniels.
Mr Wright and Genghis’ efforts have also been hailed for encouraging others to spend more time out on Scotland’s hills.
Mountaineering Scotland’s Neil Reid said: “Congratulations to man and dog – it’s a heartwarming story. Hillwalking is all about getting out there and enjoying yourself. If you can do it with a companion, whether two-legged or four-legged, it makes it all the better.”
Visitscotland said: “Well done to Genghis on this amazing achievement. It’s superb to hear that Scotland’s beautiful Munros continue to attract not only walkers and climbers but also our four-legged friends.”