Couple saddle up for wedded bliss at mountain bike festival

Lovebirds Sarah Wylie and Julie Wilson have put the wheels in motion to tie the knot at a mountain bike event this weekend.

The pair will be saddled with years of wedded bliss when they marry at the new Eliminator Mountain Bike Weekender Festival in Newburgh on Saturday morning.

It will be the first “Muckwedding” for organisers Muckmedden Events.

Sarah and Julie will say their vows at nearby Lindores Abbey before the brides and 90 friends and family descend on the festival for their reception in their own marquee and VIP area.

They will then join several hundred other festival-goers for the remainder of the weekend of fun, both on and off the bike.

Julie said the idea to get married at the festival came about by accident.

“Sarah got in touch with Aaron Grey from Muckmedden Events about hiring a marquee for the wedding,” she said.

“He jokingly suggested getting married at the Eliminator. Sarah didn’t think I’d go for it but it turns out we both love the idea.”

She added: “I have put a stop to Sarah entering any of the bike races on the day.

“She is far too accident prone and I don’t want us to spend our wedding day in A&E.”

At the heart of the festival is the now legendary eliminator, a wacky head-to-head mountain bike downhill race. There will be a cross country mountain eliminator tournament, an off-road duathlon and a number of children’s races.

There will also be a host of non-biking attractions ranging from live music to a farmers’ market and a “mega-water slide”.