Keswick Mountain Festival Expands Programme Of Sports Events For 2015
News Release / 18.10.2014
Keswick Mountain Festival (KMF) has announced details of an expanded programme of outdoor sports events for 2015, with places on sale next week. Trail running, cycling, triathlon and open water swimming will all be part of a busy schedule on Saturday 16 May and Sunday 17 May.
The 2015 festival, sponsored by Hi-Tec, will see the introduction of three new trail runs – 5km and 25km routes, and a 50km ultra marathon. Places for all of the sporting events will be on sale from 9:00am on Monday 20 October at www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk, and everyone who books before 31 December will receive a free Festival Day Ticket for the Saturday, including the evening’s live music.
The ninth Keswick Mountain Festival will run from 14 to 17 May 2015, and organisers are once again expecting outdoor sports to be very popular. Many of the previous years’ successful sports events will be back on 16 and 17 May, all starting and finishing at the centre of the festival on Crow Park. The long and short triathlons and open water swim will return, along with the 10km trail run, and the cycling sportive.
Three new trail running events at KMF will offer distinct challenges for both beginners and long distance fans. A new 5km run has been added to the programme for runners who prefer shorter distances or are new to the trails, but would like a taste of the stunning Lake District scenery. The 25km event follows a scenic and challenging route and extends the 2014 21km run, ideal for those who have tackled the half marathon distance and are ready to go a little further.
Even more ambitious athletes will be able to run the new Keswick Mountain Festival 50km Ultra Trail Marathon. This replaces the marathon and the course will incorporate the best of the Borrowdale, Buttermere and Newlands trails and views. The route has been designed to appeal to runners who are planning their first ultra, or want to use the event as a springboard to other races over the summer.
Lucy Scrase, Keswick Mountain Festival director, comments: “The sports events at Keswick Mountain Festival always help to create an amazing atmosphere over the weekend. The combination of the setting and the variety of challenges provides interest and excitement to competitors and spectators alike. Sights such as the open water swimmers on Derwentwater are really spectacular and our other athletes get the opportunity to cycle and run in some really beautiful surroundings. We’re particularly excited about the addition of the 5k and 50k distances to the trail running programme – they are very different events that together help highlight the wide appeal of the festival.”
Four time Ironman Triathlon World Champion Chrissie Wellington attended the 2014 festival and tackled the 21km trail run. She had this to say about the event: "The Keswick Mountain Festival provided a superb mix of sport, interesting and inspiring talks, great music and fabulous food - in a fantastic venue, with one of the most beautiful backdrops in Britain. To do the trail half marathon was the icing on the cake for me, as I got to immerse myself in Cumbrian countryside - including all its very challenging ups and downs! The camaraderie among the competitors was fantastic and the overall race organisation was superb. I would love to return next year.”
Along with headline sponsor Hi-Tec, the 2015 Keswick Mountain Festival is also being sponsored by Garmin and Ordnance Survey. More details about the wider programme will be released in the near future.
To find out more about KMF, visit www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk, email info@keswickmountainfestival.co.uk or call 01539 760175.
