IN celebration of Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, Muckmedden Events, the fun-loving mountain bike event organisers from Perth & Kinross, have scheduled a number of exciting opportunities to get local young people from Fife, aged between eight and 26, involved at The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival (Newburgh, Fife – 31 August- 02 September).
The organising team is looking to recruit budding engineers, musicians, singers and entrepreneurs to showcase their talents at the family-friendly festival that includes live music, gourmet food and drink and a host of activities and entertainment for all ages on and off the bike.
With the new Monster Balance Bike Challenge, a great success at Muckmedden’s Cream o’ the Croft Mountain Bike Festival in June 2018, teams from Fife are being invited to design, build and race crazy balance bikes made from recycled bike parts. In a collaboration between Muckmedden Events, Bike Station Perth, Angus Cycle Hub, Recyke-A-Bike and Coupar Angus Cycling Hub, the challenge gives young members of Fife community groups the chance to design and build a Monster Balance Bike under the expert guidance of their local bike recycling centre. They will then compete against other teams of all ages at The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival. To level the playing field, the challenge is not just about getting a fast race time. Youth teams will also be scored on their ingenuity and imagination before they’ve even turned a wheel. The crazier the design, the better!
To boost the appeal of the event village, organisers are also looking for young entrepreneurs who have made, designed or invented a new and exciting product or service (not food or drink) and who are eager to test the market with a free retail pitch, selling alongside more established independent professional traders. Young entrepreneurs can apply for limited free pitches, in the event village in which to market and sell their new product or service .
Muckmedden Events are also inviting young singers, musicians, bands and other performers from Fife and Kinross to showcase their talents in front of a festival crowd of all ages with special slots on the live performance stage across the weekend. Auditions are invited from performers of any genre and material that will fit in well at a family friendly festival – from pop hits, spoken word, comedy and beatbox to opera, classical, Celtic, folk, jazz and everything in between.
Aaron Gray, from festival organisers, Muckmedden Events, said: “The Year of Young People fits perfectly with our family-friendly festivals. We held Cream o’ the Croft festival in Perthshire earlier this year which attracted almost 2000 attendees, including many children and young adults. We were able to get the local young people involved in various parts of the festival, from running our social media channels to performing on stage and showcasing products in the event village and look forward to getting young Fifers involved at The Eliminator.
“The Monster Balance Bike Challenge was also a highlight at Cream o’ the Croft and something we’re looking forward to replicating at The Eliminator. The young people of Perth and Kinross produced some truly mad looking race machines and I can’t wait to see what the Fifers come up with!”
The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival, supported this year through EventScotland’s National Events Programme, combines family-friendly camping and glamping, with delicious locally sourced food and drink, mountain bike racing for all ages and abilities, live music and super-fun festival activities and entertainment on and off the bike.
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s director of Events, said: “We are delighted to be supporting The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival through our National Events Programme. It is fantastic to see Muckmedden Events fully embracing the Year of Young People 2018 by offering young people such a broad range of activities and opportunities to get involved in. Their brilliant creative talents and ideas will no doubt shine during the Monster Balance Bike Challenge, in the traders’ village and on stage, and make for a valuable contribution to presenting Scotland as the perfect stage for events.”
Roger and Rachel Howison, from Parkhill Farm, the venue for The Eliminator Bike Festival, said: “We’re really delighted that as part of the Year of Young People 2018 we are able to offer young people from the Fife community the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the festival, showcasing their skills and talents to all of our visitors. We’re giving our fields at Parkhill Farm over to the kids, passing them the mics, the spanners and the trade stalls and we can’t wait to see what hard work, talent and a little youthful energy can create!”
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/
See notes to editors for further detailed information on the opportunities open to local young people between eight and 26 at The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival; and for application details.
ENDS
Media contact:
Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: paddy@littlehousemedia.co.uk | M: +44 (0)7913 951717
Please contact Paddy Cuthbert if you would like to arrange to attend The Eliminator for an event feature.
Images attached. Please credit Ian Potter.
Notes to editors:
The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival will be staged at Parkhill Farm, Cupar Road, Newburgh, Fife, KY14 6HR from Friday 31 August to Sunday 02 September 2018.
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.
- 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 yoyp2018@gov.scot
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 The Monster Balance Bike Challenge – 2018
https://www.muckmedden.co.uk/event/monsterbb
Muckmedden Events, Bike Station (Perth), Angus Cycle Hub, Recyke-A-Bike and Coupar Angus Cycling Hub are recruiting young and upcoming designers, engineers and racers to form a Race Team capable of designing, building and racing a “Monster Balance Bike” to compete at this year’s Eliminator Mountain Bike festival!
Teams of three people maximum (1x mechanic and 2x racers) should have a mix of engineering skill, resourcefulness and race craft. But most importantly of all………a sense of humour!
What is a ‘Monster Balance Bike’? – A Monster Balance Bike is a two-wheeled bike without pedals, which has been built using only second-hand bike parts. Bikes must be designed and built by each team and then raced at Cream o’ the Croft and The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival.
Competition format
This is a ‘build and race’ competition, so it’s not just about getting a fast race time. Teams will also earn extra points for ingenuity and design before they’ve even turned a wheel. Bikes will be displayed in the paddock at each festival and teams will be scored on the following criteria:
- Accessorising (Max ten points) – Using additional accessories such as handlebar tassels, horns, wing mirrors, fairings etc. Some accessories may be removed for racing, but you’ll still get the points.
- Weirdness (Max ten points) – Combining different wheel sizes, using crazy shaped handlebars, big wheels on teeny-weeny bike frames……. the wilder your bike, the more points you’ll rack up for the team!
- Overall Quality of Team (Max ten points) – You look like a Moto GP Race Team using only second-hand bike parts? You deserve points for that!
- Ingenuity (Max ten points) – You made your frame from scratch using old scaffolding poles? Here, have some extra points!
After scrutineering on the day of the race, each team will compete in a series of fun-focused ‘Eliminator’ style relay races on a simple, oval track. Points will be allocated according to your team’s final position in each race. The overall points tally of each Team after each race determines which who progresses in the tournament.
- 1st position – 40 points
- 2nd position – 30 points
- 3rd position – 25 points
- 4th position – 20 points
Build rules
All parts used in the build must be second-hand.
The total sum of parts on each bike – including the frame – must be worth no more than £50 (as valued by the Judges).
Bikes must have a minimum of a rear brake (capable of locking up the wheel.)
Bikes must have a seat.
Bikes must not have pedals and must be powered by the rider’s feet on the ground.
Bikes must have two wheels with a combined maximum diameter (i.e. the size of both wheels added together) of no more than 46” in total. Front and rear wheels can be different-sizes.
Please note: Bikes will be scrutineered by the Judges on race day. In the instance of any suspected ‘twisting’ of the rules (i.e. someone has removed the pedals from a £7k Carbon Downhill bike and says it cost £40) teams may be asked to swap bikes with another team. We doubt we’ll have to do this, but just to warn you this could happen, so please stick to the rules to keep it fun for everyone!
Race rules
- Riders must stay seated for the duration of the race (or face a points deduction).
- No intentional barging or holding back an opponent.
- Don’t take it too seriously.
If you are a local community group looking to get involved please contact Rachel at info@muckmedden.co.uk – as soon as possible!
Calling all young entrepreneurs!
Have you made, designed, or invented something? Do you have an idea or a special way to make a product? Want to try and sell it?
Muckmedden Events is inviting Young People aged between eight and 26 to compete for a Young Entrepreneur’s Stall at The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival from Friday 31 August to Sunday 02 September 2018 at Parkhill Farm, Abbey Road, Newburgh, Fife KY14 6HH.
Entrants should send us their names, their business name, tell us about their product**, explain how they made their product, and design a poster and sign to advertise their business at the event. The competition is open to all young people from ages eight-26. Ten lucky winners will be given a FREE pitch (a table in a marquee) in our event village to sell their products, alongside the other professional traders.
The only rule is that you must make/source your product and sell it yourselves!
This a is great opportunity for young Scottish folk to explore their entrepreneurial talents.
* Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult during the festival.
** No food or drink, please.
Send the above information to Rachel at info@muckmedden.co.uk – as soon as possible!
Attention all young singers, musicians and bands!
Muckmedden Events Ltd. is inviting Young People aged between eight and 26 to audition for the chance to perform their music live on the stage at the Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival taking place from Friday 31 August to Sunday 02 September, 2018 at Parkhill Farm, Abbey Road, Newburgh, Fife KY14 6HH.
We are looking for any musical style that will fit in well at a family friendly mountain bike festival, which is expecting to attract around 1,500 people over the weekend. Soloists, duos or trios – preferably acoustic – are encouraged to audition for the opportunity to musically entertain the festival’s visitors, both male and female, who will range in age from babies to the elderly, with the average age of attendee being around 31 years-old.
We encourage any style of performance from spoken word, poetry, comedy and beatbox to opera, classical, west end musical, Celtic, folk, jazz, indie and everything in between – you do it – we’ll listen, and if we think it’ll fit into our festival schedule, you’ll be offered a gig!
Check out the Muckmedden website to see what the festival is all about…it’s a lot more than mountain biking.
There will be a small stage (approx. 3m x 2m) with a sound system located inside our star shade marquees. Depending on the weather you will perform to either a small crowd inside the marquee or to a larger audience outside in the event village.
Various performance slots will be available over the course of the weekend starting on the Friday from 3pm and finishing at around 5pm on the Sunday afternoon. We’ll sort out the line-up and timings after the auditions.
Send an email with a link to your YouTube/Vimeo (or other online platform) audition clip to Rachel at info@muckmedden.co.uk, accompanied by a bio about the band including your names, ages, and where you are from – as soon as possible!
* Please note that children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult during the festival.
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