Perthshire based Muckmedden Events secures £7500 from Rural Perth & Kinross Community-Led Local Development Local Action Group to stage Clans @ The Croft, the UK’s first Team Mountain Bike Enduro, at Comrie Croft, one of Scotland’s leading mountain biking destinations, on 27 October 2024.

Perthshire based Muckmedden Events is delighted to announce that they have been awarded a £7500 grant from Rural Perth & Kinross Community-Led Local Development Local Action Group, a huge boost to the staging of the inaugural Clans @ The Croft, the UK’s first Team Mountain Bike Enduro event, at Comrie Croft, near Crieff, on Sunday 27 October 2024.

This grant has been funded through the Scottish Government’s Rural Community-Led Local Development Fund 2024/25, part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme, and will be match-funded by Muckmedden Events through event sponsorship, entry fees, and volunteer hours.

David Smythe, Chair of Rural Perth & Kinross Community-Led Local Development Local Action Group, said: “We are delighted to support the Clans @ The Croft project. This exciting project combines the first Team Mountain Bike Enduro in the UK whilst empowering local rural communities to thrive. The award of £7,500 towards this project is one of several benefitting from a portion of £12 million of CLLD and Scottish Government funds available for the development of rural communities and rural enterprise until March 2025 in Scotland.  Rural Perth & Kinross have been allocated £457,250.06 to boost community involvement and empowerment.  It is a fantastic opportunity for us all and we are pleased we have been able to support it.”

After a three-year hiatus, clans @ The Croft will re-introduce Muckmedden Events as a major player on the UK mountain bike scene.  Aaron Gray from Muckemedden Events said: “We are ecstatic to receive the Community-Led Local Development funding for Clans @ The Croft.  The grant will allow us to deliver a higher quality event experience for our enduro riders, a vital springboard for year one enabling us to develop this team enduro for future years.

“This event is the first of its kind in the UK and will attract hundreds of new visitors to Comrie Croft and Strathearn.  This will, not only contribute significantly to the local economy in the shoulder months, but it will boost the mental health and general wellbeing of the local community through activity, nature and volunteering opportunities.”

The inaugural Clans @ The Croft, being staged at Comrie Croft, near Crieff, the award-winning mountain biking trail network that extends for over 21km through the beautiful Strathearn hills and woods, renowned for its focus on sustainability, excellent facilities, and eco-credentials, is expected to attract 360 racers.

Clans at The Croft is the first Enduro in the UK where riding buddies can join forces as a Clan, a team of three, or forget the whole team thing and race solo. Every rider will be timed on five blind stages packed with jumps, berms, roots, rock slabs, and race-only off-piste sections.  Ebikers will also get the bonus of riding the greatest Power Stage in history.  Clans combine race times with teammates to compete against other Clans (and still get a solo result for their efforts).

The packed rostrum features a raft of high-profile professional mountain bike racing Clans, alongside dozens of amateur Clans, all looking to defend the honour of their Clan Chief.  For those who are less keen to race but want to be at the heart of the action, the event offers an array of volunteering opportunities, from trail building to marshalling, open to all ages and abilities.

Reaching out to those riders keen on signing up for Clans @ The Croft, Aaron Gray said: “We have Comrie Croft’s entire trails network to play with for this one, so we’re getting creative.  We’ll be using every inch of the network to make sure every timed stage is a banger!  We’ll be linking Croft classics with off-piste sections and using climbs in reverse to get the maximum fun and length out of the hill.  You will never have ridden the trails at The Croft like this and you’ll be amazed at the quality of stages we’ve managed to squeeze out of this place.  And, of course, you can expect that unmistakable Muckmedden vibe. Sign up now to defend the honour of your Clan.”

Mountain biking has been proven to offer many health benefits, including improvements to mental health, physical fitness and nurturing a passion for the outdoors.  Muckmedden Events are working with Tayside Trail Association and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland to improve the standard of trails for the local community, which will also prove to be a draw for mountain bike riders of all abilities.

ENDS

• Clans @ The Croft FAQ and information: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/uwvhrpfafus3uld2uyigt/Race-Info-FAQ.pdf?rlkey=rd099xa2v3wt2gjjvtj0s48le&dl=0
• Clans @ The Croft homepage: https://muckmedden.co.uk/events/clans-at-the-croft/

• Clans @ The Croft has been supported by Rural Perth & Kinross Community-Led Local Development (RPK CLLD) Local Action Group (LAG) with funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural Community-Led Local Development Fund 2024/25, part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP).
• The award of £7500 towards this community project is one of several benefitting from a portion of £12 million of CLLD and Scottish Government funds available for the development of rural communities and rural enterprise until March 2025 in Scotland.  Rural Perth & Kinross have been allocated £457,250.06 to boost community involvement and empowerment.  It is a fantastic opportunity for us all and we are pleased we have been able to support it.

• Clans @ The Croft is being held at Comrie Croft, Braincroft, Crieff, Perthshire PH7 4JZ on Sunday 27th October.
• Clans @ The Croft is the first Mountain Bike Enduro in the UK where riders can join forces with two other riders to race as a team of three (a Clan) to compete against other Clans. Solo entries are also available.
• The event is inspired by the Enduro World Series Trophy of Nations.
• The event is open to riders aged 12 years+.
• Entry fees: £50 (U18) or £65 (age 18+).
• Online entry closes 23rd October 2024.
• Spectating is free.
• Parking is free but an on the day donation to the upkeep of the trails at Comrie Croft would be appreciated.