The Eliminator heads to Parkhill Farm, Cupar Road, Newburgh, Fife, KY14 6HR, 23 – 25 June 2017; and this year, it’s a new family-friendly festival of mountain biking
THE everyday barley fields and rolling hills of Parkhill Farm, Newburgh, Fife, will once again host The Eliminator – one of Scotland’s most fun-packed mountain bike events, from 23 to 25 June 2017.
Organisers, Muckmedden Events, are promising the greatest edition of the event yet, a family-friendly weekend festival of fun on and off the bike – aptly named The Eliminator MTB Weekender Festival.
At the heart of this amazing weekend is the now legendary and whacky Head2Head downhill race on Saturday that pitches XC whippets against Enduro specialists, Downhillers and Weekend Warriors, on a course suitable for any bike.
This year the new ‘festival edition’ boasts a brand-new cross-country mountain bike Eliminator Tournament on the Friday night, an off-road Duathlon and a host of non-biking attractions ranging from live music to a farmers market and mega water slide.
The bike races for all ages include:
XC Eliminator – Friday evening – The brand-new cross country mountain bike eliminator tournament and what is believed to be Scotland’s first cross-country mountain bike eliminator tournament
Head2Head – Saturday – A spectacular Eliminator Head2Head mountain bike – an uplifted downhill race that pitches cross-country whippets against enduro specialists, downhillers and weekend warriors on a course suitable for any bike
Muckathlon (age 18+) – Saturday – A ‘run-bike-run’ (30km approx) off-road Duathlon – for an off-road novice it is a totally achievable challenge provided you’re fairly fit both on and off the bike
Mini Muckathlon – Saturday – A fun-focused version of the Muckathlon for aged six – 13 year-olds
Wee Muckers – Saturday – A variety of biking fun lined up to suit all ages from three upwards
Round 3 of The Scottish Bike Trial Championship
Full event and entry information in ‘Notes to editors’, below, or go to http://www.muckmedden.co.uk/our-events/the-eliminator.
Aaron Gray, from Muckmedden Events, organisers of The Eliminator MTB Weekender 2017, said: “It’s that time again, when Farmer Roger sends the cows off on their holidays and just two weeks prior to the event removes all the fences so we can transform Parkhill Farm into a stunning race and festival venue!
“The Eliminator has always been a firm favourite with mountain bikers and spectators thanks to some really exciting racing, yet it has always had the potential to attract a wider audience.
“Parkhill Farm is such a beautiful venue and sits right on the Fife Coastal Path, so with our very popular family-friendly festival Cream o’ the Croft not returning until 2018, it makes perfect sense to take some of the most popular cues from the ‘festival’ side of that event and bring them to The Eliminator.
“Thanks to some amazing support from Fife Council, we can invest in better infrastructure and add a host of fantastic activities to unleash the true potential of this fantastic event and superb venue!”
Previously described by the internationally-recognised Enduro Mountainbike Magazine as “delightfully unique and riotous fun”, The Eliminator Weekender will be a fun-packed three days for racers and non-racers alike, with many new attractions for every age, such as a mega water slide, Adventure Circus workshops, climbing wall, family friendly camping, ‘Funky Mountain’ uphill scramble, Round Three of The Scottish Bike Trial Championship, live music, local food stalls, smoothie bikes, silent disco and bouncy castle.
There will also be a licenced craft drinks bar; not to mention some of the most electrifying Mountain Bike racing the Kingdom of Fife has ever seen.
Aaron Gray continued; “One of the things that makes The Eliminator so special compared to some of our other events is the fact that Parkhill Farm is just like any other farm and normally has perimeter fences and livestock roaming the fields.
“There are no permanent bike trails or buildings, so we have a completely blank canvas to work on. Add into the mix a landowner who loves mountain biking, an event organiser with a vivid imagination and a great big hill and it’s the perfect combination for a fun and family friendly event!”
At the end of each day when the racing has finished, it’s time for the bikes to be packed away and the party to start, with open-mic sessions, several live bands and a silent disco keeping things jumping in the main tent. What’s not to like?!
Said Roger Howison, Parkhill Farm manager: “Parkhill Farm are thrilled to be hosting The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival 2017.
“We have been busy lately planting a cider apple tree orchard in amongst the barley race field… which should add a bit of farmer’s spice to the Crazy Crops Slalom!
“Thanks to investment from Fife Council we have been in a position to install a new access track to the campsite, clear up some old World War Two quarry buildings to use as course sections for Round Three of The Scottish MTB Trials Championship which comes to The Eliminator this year and we’re preparing to add some new features to the Head2Head track. Our uplift trailers and tractors are already primed and ready for action!”
ENDS
Media contact:
Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: paddy@littlehousemedia.uk.com|
M: +44 (0)7913 951717
Free first-use images – copyright / credit Ian Potter:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/az6zfcfxc2srcsx/AAC8OX85IP3JTy9-j1Kol8iEa?dl=0
Free first-use images – copyright / credit Trevor Worsey: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/j20ept8dagbm8kr/AACtlod_eivS6ZRtj9RU_1Sxa?dl=0
Notes to editors:
The Eliminator MTB Weekender 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 three and up. It is being staged at Parkhill Farm, Cupar Road, Newburgh, Fife, KY14 6HR from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 June 2017.
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.
Main bike event round up:
XC Eliminator
The festival kicks off on Friday evening with a brand new Cross Country Eliminator Tournament which will pitch Cross Country riders (per race) in a series of ‘heats; on a short circuit around the event village. The first two riders across the finish line in each heat proceed to the next round in the tournament, the bottom two proceed to the trackside bar to join the hecklers. It promises to be a big hit with a festival crowd in full Friday night party mode and with live music in the main tent and campfires after dark it should be a great way to start the weekend.
Head2Head
Saturday’s main event, the spectacular Eliminator Head2Head MTB Race, will pitch Mountain Bikers from across the board including Cross-Country Whippets and Downhill Demons in a series of head to head races. In true farmyard style, racers are uplifted to the summit of ‘Bear Hill’ by tractor and proceed to race head-to-head across open hillside, through forest, into the heart of the event village and onto a dual-slalom sprint through a ripened barley field to the finish line. It’s a breathtaking experience to watch from the trackside bar, let alone take part in!
The first rider to cross the finish line in each heat proceeds to the next round of the tournament, the second place rider is relegated to a second tier where they have the chance to race again. If they lose a second race, they are eliminated from the main tournament and have a chance to compete in other mini tournaments later in the day.
Muckathlon
Also taking place on the Saturday is a brand-new event called The Muckathlon which aims to attract mountain bikers, cyclists and trail runners looking for a less technical but more physical challenge. The fun-focused ‘run-bike-run’ Duathlon is open to solos, pairs and teams of three, with teams working as a relay on a course that consists of mostly off-road paths on the Fife Coastal Path.
The race starts in the Event Village with a 5km run along the banks of the River Tay with competitors returning to the Event Village to collect their bikes for the second leg which consists of an off-road cycle along the Fife Coastal Path to Normans Law. The return leg of the cycle is via a quiet stretch of public road to the event village, before finishing the race with another final 5km run.
The Mini Muckathlon is a shorter more kid-friendly duathlon aimed at six to 13 year-olds, also being staged on Saturday.
Wee Muckers
For the youngsters, Muckmedden have a variety of biking fun lined up to suit all ages from balance biking toddlers and upwards, with open sessions and fun-focused bike races where parents can chaperone their kids around the courses if they wish.
For full information and to enter go to:
Eliminator MTB Festival logos go to: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dtrvefbhp6lmldp/AACj9kq_a5VwBuzAyYKF6kZsa?dl=0
http://www.muckmedden.co.uk/our-events/the-eliminator
Ticket prices:
Festival Pass
Under six – FREE
Age six – 17 – £5.00
18+ – £10.00
Family – £25.00
Camping
Under six – FREE
Age six – 17 – £5.00
18+ – £10.00
Family – £25.00
Mini Muckathlon (age six – 13 *entrants must also purchase Festival Pass)
Male/Female – £5.00
Muckathlon (age 18+ includes Festival Pass)
SOLO – £20
PAIR – £32
TRIO – £42
Head2Head MTB Race (age 14+ includes Festival Pass)
Male/female – £59.00
XC Eliminator (age 14+ includes Festival Passes for Racer +1)
Male/female – £28.00
Sponsors, partners and supporters:
Fife Council – http://fife.gov.uk/
Parkhill Farm, Newburgh
Event organiser:
Muckmedden Events – http://www.muckmedden.co.uk/
Sponsors of The Eliminator MTB Festival:
Progression Bikes https://www.progressionbikesscotland.com/
Alechemy Brewing http://www.alechemy.beer/
Kali Protectives https://kaliprotectives.com/
Highland Coffees http://www.highlandcoffees.co.uk/
Craigdon Mountain Sports http://www.craigdonmountainsportsperth.com/
Haglofs http://www.haglofs.com/gb/en
Wigwam Socks https://www.wigwam.com/
SOLE http://www.yoursole.com/uk
The Cycle Jersey http://www.thecyclejersey.com/
Beer Flood Events https://www.facebook.com/Beer-Flood-Events
Electric Cycle Company http://www.electriccyclecompany.com/
BQI Insurance http://www.bqigroup.com/bqi-insurance/
Agricar http://www.agricar.co.uk/
Horizon Watches http://www.horizonwatches.co.uk/
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Contact: Paddy Cuthbert
Email: paddy@littlehousemedia.uk.com
Website: http://www.muckmedden.co.uk/our-events/the-eliminator
