ACE Race on a Dirty Weekend

Rob Howard / 09.02.2008

The 2-day ACE Races resume in July, with a much greater choice of courses, a promise of some exciting rope activities, a big cash prize ... and all wrapped up as part of‘The Dirty Weekend’, which will include the staging of the Polaris Challenge and a new adventure run from the same venue!

Those who want to stick with the familiar 2-day staged format needn’t worry – they’ll still be able to do that, with score based stages allowing racers to set their own level and an overnight stop in camp at ACE Base. The only difference will be the inclusion of some ropes checkpoints, and a bit more variety on the night stage ...

But ... that is just one ACE Race option for the ‘Dirty Weekend’. If a full 2-days is a bit too much then there will be the option just to race on Saturday; running, riding and kayaking around the course and finishing before midnight.

Or ... there will be an Elite ACE Race where teams will keep going into the early hours of the morning and compete for a £5000 prize fund, which is the biggest, and possibly only cash prize, in UK racing.

And ... there is the promise that everyone will be finished and the prize giving done by 3pm, allowing more time to get home on Sunday evening.

ACE Base will still be the relaxed and sociable hub it’s always been ... but it will be bigger, with a lot more folk about, and with a beer tent and some music too! That’s because ACE Racing is just one part of the ‘Dirty Weekend’ that will include the Polaris Challenge, the UK’s premier MTB navigation event, and a 12km trail run called the ‘Dirty Dozen’.

All combined, these 3 events will comprise the ‘Dirty Weekend’, supported in its first year by Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Enterprise and Visit Scotland and based in the dramatic grounds of Traquair House near Peebles in the Scottish Borders. This venue got rave reviews when used for a Polaris Challenge last year and the house even has its own brewery.

The idea is to create a community feel about the event village with races radiating out into the surrounding forests, hills and making use of the River Tweed, which flows right through the site. There will be a ‘big event’ feel, with food, bars, bands, gear concessions, workshops on MTB and navigation skills and there are plans for a crèche and activities for children too. All this set beside a giant camping village, which will be free to everyone racing.

The ACE Races website will be updated with news on all this soon, and a Dirty Weekend website will be launched by the end of the month. Meantime put ‘Dirty Weekend’ in your diary for July 5/6th ... just be careful who sees it!