The Muckathlon, a 30km off-road duathlon suitable for cyclists, mountain bikers and runners looking for their next fun and achievable, self supported, chip-timed, multi-sport challenge, will be the main event on Saturday 01 September of Fife’s Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival weekend at the end of the month. On Sunday 02 September kids aged between 6 and 13 years old will also be able to have a go at their own off road duathlon when The Mini-Muckathlon is staged within the festival site.

 

The Eliminator Festival, this year supported by EventScotland – part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, is being staged at Parkhill Farm, Newburgh, Fife, from Friday 31 August to Sunday 02 September 2018.  The everyday barley fields and rolling hills of Parkhill Farm will once again be transformed into the magnificent venue for one of Scotland’s most fun-packed, family-friendly festivals, with an all-action activity programme for every age, both on and off the bike. This includes a music festival with camping and glamping and a gourmet, locally sourced food and drink festival, all crammed into one unbelievable weekend of entertainment.

 

The second edition of The Muckathlon is perfect for novice off-road cyclists and runners, competing as solos or pairs, looking to try a new sporting discipline, within a fun and family focused festival programme. The course is also formidable enough to challenge seasoned athletes looking to test themselves on an exciting off road duathlon.

 

Muckmedden Events, Eventfull Sporting Events and Parkhill Farm, who have teamed up to stage The Muckathlon, promise a mostly off-road ‘run-bike-run’ duathlon course that uses off-road tracks around Parkhill Farm and the northernmost section of The Fife Coastal Path. All transitions and the finish will be in the event village so supporters and spectators will always be in the thick of the competitive action throughout, whilst still being able to enjoying the many other attractions the festival has to offer.

 

Aaron Gray, from Muckmedden Events, organisers of The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival Festival, said: “The inaugural Muckathlon was very well received at last year’s festival and the feedback we had from competitors was fantastic. We’ve tweaked this year’s run section slightly to make the most of the amazing views of the Tay we have on offer at Parkhill Farm. Entrants can expect another great off-road course that’s tough enough to offer experienced multi-sport athletes a challenge, but is achievable by less experienced participants looking to push their boundaries and test their all round fitness with something new.

 

“Obviously being part of a weekend long festival means there’s so much more to The Muckathlon than just the race, from Downhill Mountain Biking to Live Music so I hope people will stick around for the whole weekend and enjoy everything else that’s on offer.

 

“We are hugely grateful for the amazing support we have had for The Muckathlon and Eliminator Festival from many different private businesses, community groups and public bodies including EventScotland, Fife Council and The Fife Coastal and Countryside Trust.”

 

The two Muckathlon 5km trail run sections traverse around the boundary of Parkhill Farm and down past the old fishing bothies on the banks of the River Tay with stunning views over Mugdrum Island to the Carse of Gowrie. The 20km bike course will be sandwiched between the run sections, more than 50% of which will be off-road on the reasonably isolated northernmost section of the Fife Coastal Path, adding to this fantastic adventure. It skirts around Norman’s Law before returning to the event village via a quiet stretch of undulating public road alongside the River Tay, past the ruin of Ballinbreich Castle. The course features a good mixture of open field tracks that overlook the Tay, secluded woodland paths, with the odd stretch of singletrack thrown in. There are some fun descents and some tough climbs throughout.

 

In celebration of Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, the Muckathlon event will also include a separate race on a shorter course for kids aged between 6 and 13 years old. Leaving in age order with the eldest at the front of the pack, the Kids Mini-Muckathlon will begin with a “Le Mans style” 100-metre sprint to the bike pick up point. The race continues with a 2-3km cross country cycle featuring double track and single track trails around Parkhill Farm and The Eliminator’s famous “Crazy Crops” barley slalom, before returning to the finish line in the heart of the event village where the young athletes will no doubt be welcomed with thunderous applause

 

Organisers, Muckmedden Events, are promising the greatest edition of the Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival yet; and to celebrate they have produced a promotional video, filmed at the venue earlier in the year – https://youtu.be/VxdGDAx2lWA.

 

For more information about The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival and to purchase festival passes and race entries go to https://www.muckmedden.co.uk/our-events/the-eliminator/

 

Ends

 

Media contact:

Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected] |

M: +44 (0)7913 951717

 

Notes to Editors:

The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival has a family-friendly policy with several mountain bike races and activities, on-site camping, non-bike related attractions and individual race categories suitable from age 3 and up. It is being staged at Parkhill Farm, Newburgh, Fife, from Friday 31 August to Sunday 02 September 2018.  Activities are free (apart from races) and all attendees must purchase either a Festival Pass or Race Entry. Cash entry will be available on the gate subject to availability.

 

The Muckathlon (a “run-bike-run” off-Road Duathlon open to Solos and Pairs) https://www.muckmedden.co.uk/2018/02/20/return-of-the-muck-athlon/

Saturday 01 September – 9.30am approx.

Open to age 18+

£20.00 (Solo) or £32.00 (Pair) Price also includes weekend entry to festival

 

Distance – 5km run (approx.) 20km Bike (approx.) 5km run (approx.)

 

The Mini-Muckathlon (a mini off-Road Duathlon)

Sunday 02 September – 11am approx.

Ages 6 – 13

£15.50 Price also includes weekend entry to festival

 

EventScotland

EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.

 

EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see www.visitscotland.org or for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see www.visitscotland.com.

 

About Year of Young People 2018

In 2018, Scotland puts its young people in the spotlight, celebrating their talents, contributions and creating new opportunities for them to shine. The Year of Young People 2018 is a year-long programme of events and activities that will give young people in Scotland the opportunity to show the world what they are made of. Both Cream o’ the Croft and The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festivals are part of the YOYP18 Partner Programme and organisers are keen to create new opportunities for young people living in the local communities whilst showcasing their many talents on a national stage. For more information on Year of Young People 2018 and the event programme go to: www.visitscotland.com/yoyp2018

 

• A global first, YoYP 2018 is a part of the Scottish Government’s themed-year programme which focuses on celebrating Scotland’s greatest assets.
• A year-long programme of events and festivals are taking place across the whole of the country for all ages to enjoy, led by EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate. More information at www.visitscotland.com/yoyp2018
• Local authorities, schools, youth groups and organisations are running their own YoYP 2018 activity. Search #YOYP2018 on Twitter for the latest news.
• Young people co-designed the Year. A group of young leaders, Communic18, lead on all key decision making. More than 500 Ambassadors based across every local authority are championing activity.
• The Year is delivered in partnership between the Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland – part of the VisitScotland Events Directorate, Young Scot, Scottish Youth Parliament, Children in Scotland, YouthLink Scotland and Creative Scotland.
• More information can be found at yoyp2018.scot, searching @YOYP2018 #YOYP2018 on Twitter or by emailing [email protected]

 

The Eliminator MTB Festival Sponsors and supporters

 

TITLE

• Black Isle Brewery

 

Gold

• Fibrax
• Comrie Croft Bikes
• Ultimate Sports Engineering
• Progression Bikes
• MSC Tires

Silver

• Frog Bikes
• Sixth Element Wheels
• Craigdon Mountain Sports
• Highland Coffees
• Agricar

Bronze

• Lindores Abbey Distillery
• Bawbags
• Horizon Watches
• The Cycle Jersey
• BQI Insurance
• Wigwam Socks
• SOLE
• Shred XS

 

Supported by:

• EventScotland
• Year of Young People 2018
• Fife Council