Mountain bike festival to race into Fife farm

Eliminator Weekender offers fun for all ages and abilities, as well as competitions

A Fife farm is to be transformed into a cycle trail and arena for a bike and outdoor festival.

Parkhill Farm, near Newburgh, will again host the Eliminator MTB Weekender which is expected to draw a crowd of more than 1,500 people.

Its barley fields and rolling hills will become the venue for the three-day event from August 31 to September 2, which will combine cycling with music, food and drink and other activities.

The highlight will be the Eliminator Head2Head downhill race, pitching cross-country cyclists against mountain bike enduro specialists, downhillers and weekend warriors.

Competitors will also do battle in the Barley Dual Slalom, a first-past-the-post dual racing elimination tournament through a field of fully-grown barley.

Kicking off the festival, supported by EventScotland, will be the CrossCountry Eliminator mountain bike tournament, while the Muckathlon 30km off-road duathlon will take in part of the Fife Coastal Path.

Children can compete in the Mini-Muckathlon and a series of pedal and balance bike races.

Aaron Gray, of organiser Muckmedden Events, said: “One of the things that makes the Eliminator so special compared to our other events is that Parkhill Farm is an ordinary working farm, with perimeter fences and livestock roaming the fields.

“There are no permanent bike trails or buildings on site, so we have a blank canvas to work on and can mix things up each year to keep it fresh, which is really exciting as an event organiser.

“Thanks to continued support from Fife Council and EventScotland this year, we have added even more exciting activities to this year’s line-up and have even extended the event into the Sunday to fit it all in. It should be an unbelievable weekend, particularly if this amazing weather keeps up.”

The Coaltown Daisies will headline the music bill on the Saturday night and entertainment will include a silent disco, obstacle course, water slide, farmers’ market and circus workshops.

To celebrate Scotland’s Year of Young People, the festival is getting local youngsters involved and is looking to recruit budding designers, engineers, musicians and others.

The inaugural monster balance bike challenge will see teams invited to design, build and race crazy balance bikes made from recycled materials.

Paul Bush, VisitScotland director of events, said: “EventScotland is delighted to be supporting the Eliminator mountain bike festival through our national events programme.

“The family-friendly festival promises to be a hugely exciting event, with a wide-ranging programme that will appeal to cycling fans of all ages and abilities.”

There are no permanent bike trails or buildings on site, so we have a blank canvas to work on and can mix things up each year to keep it fresh. AARON GRAY OF MUCKMEDDEN EVENTS

The Eliminator MTB Weekender at Parkhill Farm offers a range of fun events and activities.