Coming up this bank holiday weekend is the Naughty Northumbrian, a six-stage enduro event. Riding and not sure what to expect? Thinking of checking the event out next year? The organisers have put together an event preview with Brendan Fairclough so you can check out what’s coming up.
The narration on this video is a particular highlight. The trails and location look incredible too. Might be one for the list next year.
Here’s what the organisers say about the event:
Naughty Northumbrian 2021
Guildford, Surrey, has a population density of 1,636.8 per Sq KM. It’s a beautiful area full of rolling hills, mature woodland, and the Surrey Hills are, of course, home to riding that Brendan Fairclough and others have made world-famous over the last few years.
Remote Location
In stark contrast to that, the Upper Coquet Valley in Northumberland National Park has a population density of 2 people per Sq KM. Space and wildlife are abundant here. The trails are steep and technical yet the area is better known for its turbulent history. Legendary for its teak-tough but friendly locals, its fame ebbs away when you drive south of Leeds. It is, so to speak, out on a limb, stuck between Hadrian’s Wall to the south and the Scottish Border to the North, and bizarrely, South as well. That’s right – this area is further north than a decent chunk of Scotland.
Having started in 2017 with a modest 400 rider field, filled with sturdy pioneers keen to explore. The Scott Naughty Northumbrian has grown into the cult-classic 850 rider event that it is now. The drop-out rate between practice and race day verges on 50%. It is long. It is hard. And yet, riders of all genders, ages and sizes want to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in: It could be symptomatic of unbridled lunacy, or more the simultaneous paradox of being disconnected from the world, yet feeling more engaged than ever.
Jean, a valley Legend
The event, which is working hard to be responsible under the Trash Free Trails approved scheme, is welcomed and enjoyed by many of the locals, whose dulcet tones and dialects may be fading, but when you hear that rolling R of an Upper Coquet local, it is a pleasure to the ears. The narration for this video comes from Valley legend, 78-year-old Jean Foreman who has seen more changes than most when it comes to life in the Upper Coquet.
Now, with a new, 3-year partnership between Scott and the Naughty Northumbrian. It seemed only fitting to bring the South’s finest free-racer up to the wild’s of Northumberland to sample what these race-only, hand-built and wild trails have to offer.
For more, head to the event website.
Related Content:
What is a Trash Free Trails Approved Event?
Naughty Northumbrian Returns for 2021
DH Crown Court Vs Brendan Fairclough
Singletrack Merch
Singletrack Sponsored Features
Featured Premier Partner
Join our mailing list to receive Singletrack editorial wisdom directly in your inbox.
Each newsletter is headed up by an exclusive editorial from our team and includes stories and news you don’t want to miss.