Trail runners prepare to celebrate the spring with Beşparmak race

TRAIL runners islandwide are forecast to celebrate the spring at the first race of the season, leading them through the Beşparmak mountains above the picturesque village of Bellapais.

Joint organiser and Two Castles Mountain Ultra veteran Murat Pehlivanoğulları, 32, said: “We are expecting around 60 runners for two races of 10 and 21 kilometres which will start and finish at the Ambelia Holiday Village.”

He added that volunteer stewards would be very welcome to contact him.

Entrance will cost five euros or 22TL (for the 10km route) or 10 euros or 45TL (21km) and medals will be awarded to the top three male and female racers at an awards ceremony before a relaxing post-race lunch of traditional Turkish Cypriot dishes for coompetitors and their families.

Magnificent views of the north coast are promised at the April 1 event, which is set to start at 10am with two different routes, the shorter taking in the mostly jeep track route of the Mountain Goat Two Castles Ultra event. The more challenging, longer route above Bellapais includes both dirt roads and stunning single tracks through field and forest.

Online entries will open on Thursday, February 1 and more information may be obtained from Mr Pehlivanoğulları on 0533 870 0101. Cyprus Trail Runners co-organiser Bryan Peazon took a break this year from setting up the Two Castles Ultra series, which gained international status during its six annual events.

He hopes to revive the race next year, but in the meantime a 50km Ultra and 21km and 7km races are lined up for 6am on Sunday, February 18 at the Akamas Spring Blossom Festival.

Mr Peazon said: “We will also hold group runs in the Kyrenia range and a trail running camp during 2018 which will be posted on our social media page Run Wild Kyrenia.”