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Back for Another Dirty Weekend

Rob Howard / 17.07.2008

Fresh from the success of the inaugural Dirty Weekend multi-sport festival in the Scottish Borders 2 weeks ago, Detail Events have formally announced a second event for 2008. This will take place on 4th and 5th October in the Southern Lake District and will encompass an ACE Race, a Polaris Challenge and a Dirty Dozen 12k Trail Run, bringing these classic adventure formats alongside one another to create a bustling and action-packed weekend of multi-sport.

For the adventure racers, the proven ACE Race 2-day format and the Elite classes trialed at the new-look event in Scotland will remain. This will comprise an Elite course for teams of 4 Mixed, and Paired categories for Mixed, Male, Female AND Solo; with lengthened night-time activities and competitive “spurs” running alongside the ACE Race “Standard” course, featuring the same categories. Once again Detail Events will offer a one day event for those keen to upgrade from the traditional ACE Race 1 day events or Rat Races into something bigger, harder and faster, but who maybe feel 2 days is just out-with their grasp. Prizes will extend across all events, classes and categories.

Race Director Gary Tompsett says: “We turned the screw with the traditional ACE Race format for the Borders event, running the event in tough terrain with demanding courses. With challenging strategy decisions to be made it certainly grabbed everyone’s attention, and with the Lake District we have an even more colourful palette to work from. Confident that we have a very adventurous platform for 2 Day racing, we are introducing the ‘Teams of 4’ category, and retaining the Solo category in both the Elite and Standard Classes. In this way, there is something for everyone – for the Solo to find their feet and really push themselves, and for teams to use the Dirty Weekend as a launch pad to tougher team events, potentially International ones.

Lake District local and well-known adventure racer Paul Noble (Total Adventure, Grizedale Mountain Bikes, Windermere Canoe and kayak) has been brought on board to plan the course alongside Tompsett. Noble hopes to liberate the very best of his “backyard” whilst striving to keep the event a racer’s race at the front end and a solid day out in the hills for those looking for a fantastic way to spend the weekend. Paul adds, “The Lake District is one of the UK’s premier outdoor playgrounds. Racers should prepare themselves for a demanding and exciting course that will combine well visited terrain with some hidden gems.”