The Eliminator MTB Weekender returns to Fife this summer with a great variety of fun for families and mountain bikers.
The festival, which is supported by EventScotland – part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate – will take place from Friday August 31 to Sunday September 2 at Parkhill Farm, Newburgh.
The barley fields and rolling hills of the farm will once again be transformed into the venue for one of Scotland’s most fun-packed, family-friendly festivals.
The Eliminator MTB Weekender promises an action-packed activity programme for all ages, both on and off the bike.
Organisers, Muckmedden Events, are promising the best edition of the event yet – and to celebrate they have produced a promotional video, filmed at the venue earlier in the year:
What’s on at The Eliminator MTB Weekender?
At the heart of weekend is the now legendary and whacky Eliminator Head2Head downhill race on Sunday (with practice and qualifying on Saturday. The race pitches cross country whippets against mountain bike enduro specialists, downhillers and weekend warriors on three challenging but smile-enducing sections that are suitable for any bike.
For those who either do not qualify for the Head2Head or are eliminated from the early rounds, there is the new Barley Dual Slalom, which is a thrilling first-past-the-post dual racing elimination tournament through a field of full-grown Barley.
There is also the Cross Country Eliminator, Scotland’s only cross-country mountain bike eliminator tournament. The racing sees four riders battle it out against each other to avoid elimination. It takes place on the Friday.
Riders go head to head. Credit: Ian Potter – PK Perspective
A great setting for an outdoors festival. Credit: Ian Potter – PK Perspective
The Muckathlon, an achievable and fun-focused 30km off-road Duathlon (5km run, 20km Bike, 5km run) for solos and pairs, returns for a second outing on the Saturday. The route takes in some of the Fife Coastal Path.
There is The Mini-Muckathlon, which is a mini off-Road duathlon for children aged six to 13 on the Sunday.
For all wee Muckers – aged under 6 – who are keen to join in, there will be a series of pedal and balance bike races around a simple course within the event village on Sunday.
Kids’ XC race. Credit: Ian Potter – PK Perspective
Music, food and lots more
As with its sister festival, Cream o’ the Croft, recently staged at Comrie Croft Trail Centre, The Eliminator is not only a festival of mountain bike racing for all ages, it is also a music festival with fun activities, camping and glamping, There will be a gourmet, locally sourced food and drink festival as well.
The attractions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday include a line up of live music, including local Fife duo The Coaltown Daisies headlining on Saturday night and live DJ sets.
Beer and food. Credit: Ian Potter – PK Perspective
There will be a climbing wall, pump track, yoga sessions, silent disco, Funky Mountain obstacle course, a round of the Scottish Bike Trial Championships, a farmers’ market, face-painting, a mega water slide, karaoke, storytelling and craft and circus workshops.
All non-race activities are included in the price of a festival pass or race entry.
Aaron Gray from Muckmedden Events, organisers of The Eliminator MTB Festival, 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.
“It’s almost time for Roger at Parkhill Farm to send the cows off on their holidays again to allow us to transform the hills and fields into Scotland’s most stunning Mountain Bike Festival venue. I can’t wait to show everyone what we have in store for this year’s event.”
The event is also supported by Fife Council.
All the fun of The Eliminator. Credit: Ian Potter – PK Perspective
Opportunities for young people
In celebration of Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, Muckmedden Events has scheduled a number of exciting opportunities to get local young people between eight and 26 from the Fife and Kinross communities involved at The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival.
- An inaugural Monster Balance Bike Challenge will see teams from local community groups invited to design, build and race crazy balance bikes made from recycled materials.
- To boost the appeal of the event village, Muckmedden are looking for young entrepreneurs who have made, designed or invented a new and exciting product or service (not food or drink) and who are eager to test the market with a free retail pitch, selling alongside more established independent professional traders.
- Young singers, musicians, bands, DJs and other performers are also being invited to fill various slots on the live stage, showcasing their talents to more than 1500 people over the event weekend.
For further information and to get involved, please e-mail Rachel at [email protected] as soon as possible. The deadline for applications is August 1, 2018.
For more information about The Eliminator Mountain Bike Festival and to purchase festival passes and race entries see The Eliminator.