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Looks liek it's all systems go for the return of Mountain Mayhem in 2019, somewhere in Northamptonshire.
2019 DATES ANNOUNCED – A YEAR IN ADVANCE
Mountain Mayhem®, the longest running 24hr mountain bike endurance event in the world, has today announced their dates for 2019 – exactly one year ahead to the day.
The iconic event, the first ever 24hr MTB race in Europe has been copied by many, but none have quite managed to capture that special Mountain Mayhem® feeling. Many have missed having Mountain Mayhem® on their 2018 calendar after the event decided to take a year off – the first in its 20 year history.
“We decided to take a year out – like Glastonbury. It’s given us chance to think about how we’ll move forward into our next decade. We have taken the opportunity to let riders tell us how they would like Mountain Mayhem® to go forward. The overwhelming message has been ‘It’s not broke, so don’t fix it’. But we also have some riders who would like to see some new challenges without losing the fundamental heartbeat of the event, the 24hr race and the fun-filled family weekend that for many is their highlight of the MTB summer. This is what we will be addressing on 21st , 22nd and 23rd June 2019” said Jill Greenfield, owner of Mountain Mayhem®.
Not only will there be new elements to the race, but also a brand new private estate location, slap bang in the middle of the country with tons of MTB virgin territory just waiting to be explored: “Creating a course through amazing woodland and incorporating climbs we had no idea even existed in Northamptonshire is truly exciting, not to mention a challenge, but definitely one that I relish” said course designer, Alex McNicol. “We can’t believe how lucky we are to have found this estate, especially as it has such great links to so many major roads – M1, M6, A14 etc, which has to be great news for riders.”
The exact location of the estate is still under wraps at the moment, but this video gives a flavour of what might be in store. All we are told right now is that the estate has great historic significance – that and some great singletrack, plenty woodland and climbs of course.
More details will be announced over the coming weeks and months with earlybird tickets going on sale soon.
Looks very nice - FoD?
Always amazes me that they haven't had a National's race down there.
They did have nationals in the FoD. I remember racing in the 7-up national points series probably about 1990. Very hot and Dusty!
Northamptonshire; close to A14; private estate.. maybe Cottesbrooke park after a very quick look on bing maps?
Looks very nice – FoD?
Always amazes me that they haven’t had a National’s race down there.
Never knew the FoD was in Northamptonshire
Kelmarsh Hall where Shambala festival is held perhaps.
Misterton Hall? Hardly virgin though as there's CX races there.
None of the above appear to have any 'amazing woodland'. Deene Park looks like its got some close by but I've no idea if its a private house or the woods is even part of the grounds. I reckon Boughton is a good shout though
Stanford Hall?
slap bang in the middle of the country
Somebody obviously didn't do very well in Geography at school.
Looks very nice – FoD?
Ah someone else too !
I am very local (few miles) from where the course is going to be held. I can confirm that its actually a pretty good venue and if your expecting a flat course then think again! No mountains of course but plenty of rolling hills and expect some of them to be steep.
I am actually pretty excited for it, should be good!
I am not going to go shouting where its being held but can confirm that none of the current guesses are right and I am not expecting any one to guess it as 98% of the population have never heard of the place as nothing is really there currently and nothing has ever "really" been held there...with a slight exception but...
plumzRichard - How would you say it compares to Sandwell / Eastnor / Gatcomb?
I oddly like Sandwell, Eastnor could be great or rubbish depending on how they did the course, and Gatcomb was just awful !
nothing is really there currently and nothing has ever “really” been held there…with a slight exception but…
???
There is currently nothing really there other than some gravel tracks, but the wood is huge and as I have said before lots of undulation so loads of potential. I would say its very dependant how much work they want to put into the course. If they really committed some time to cutting new tracks into the wood (as I think they are) then it could easily be as good if not better than Eastnor or Gatcomb. ( I have never ridden at Sandwell).
I would predict its going to be a good mix of wooded trails and rolling bridleway field tracks.
That's the downside of a lot of these races, they go and cut the grass in a field the day before, meaning you get grass everywhere.
The trail then only becomes fun towards the end of the 24hrs when your knackered.
Would be much better if they could hold some event before hand to bed the trail in.
I know I'm being picky, but with the cost of these events you want it to be more than just riding around a grassy field and a fire track.
Harlestone Firs is my guess!
Not Boughton park then
That was my first thought, think they do tough mudders there
Might have to come out of retirement as it’s not far away:-)
Harlestone Firs looks like a good call. Owned by Allthrop estate.
https://www.moredirt.com/trail/United-Kingdom_East-Midlands/Harlestone-Firs/528
You must be a local calling it Allthrop.
Nope was a typo.!
its not Harlstone fires. You would never get a long enough course around there any way.
It would be great if it were at Harlestone. I could pop home between laps for a shower.
Rockingham castle there hills and wood
What type of soil?
It has to be somewhere with plasticine mud, so that must narrow it down. And preferably a grassy magnetic field of death, for those nostalgic about Sandwell.
It would be great if it were at Harlestone. I could pop home between laps for a shower.
This kind of alludes you'd be riding a an MTB semi competitively. A bit out of character..?
slap bang in the middle of the country
words almost fail me.
*&^*&^$$£%$^%)(*989980 &%&^& utter morons. I hope they *&^*&%£$%i
AAARGHHH
utter cretins
Maybe Kryton, just maybe. If it's in my shire I should really.
slap bang in the middle of the country
Perhaps they mean 'middle of the population'?
Northampton to Lizard Point - 307 miles
Northampton to Gretna Green - 254 miles
You're right, it's actually the northern half of the country, should be slightly further south really to be in the middle.
People complaining that it is an hour extra North/South/East/West of where they live were never actually going to attend anyway...
Northampton to Lizard Point – 307 miles
Northampton to Gretna Green – 254 miles
You’re right, it’s actually the northern half of the country.
Obviously. Otherwise it would be called Southampton.
So what we need is Middle Hampton to host it? Then the whingers will be happy?
FWIW I also looked at Berwick Upon Tweed, which is 285 miles, so it's still closer to the north than the south, that must be about the northernmost point of England?
Most northern town in England and football team play in Scottish League. And that was before Brexit..
Njee and others.
I know you're just jesting but really believe it. This is exactly the attitude that gave us Brexit.
Enjoy.
I am, sort of. Whether you like it or not the event is in England, which is a part of the sovereign country of the United Kingdom. It is pretty much in the middle of England. Obviously you mean it's not in the middle of Great Britain, but Great Britain isn't a country, so they're correct.
It's also gotta be pretty close to being in the middle of the people, because there are only about 104 people in Scotland, even though it's twice the size of Russia.
This has nothing to do with Brexit, and everything to do with moany Scottish people 🙂 You don't like it, move. FWIW it's not how I'd market it, but I get their sentiment, and literally the middle of Great Britain is actually a very long way for a lot of people, and unfortunately the reality is that even when you host an event in Scotland attendance is down.
But we digress, I always enjoyed Mountain Mayhem, if they can find a course which is even vaguely rideable in the wet then they'll be onto a winner!
Lindley Hall Farm, Leicestershire.
52°33′42.942″N 1°27′53.474″W
Apparently.
Lindley Hall Farm, Leicestershire.
52°33′42.942″N 1°27′53.474″W
Apparently.
Are we off for a lap round the MIRA test track next door then?.
As one of those "moany scottish people" 😉 I can see why they hold it that far South but it does make it a hell of a way for the 104 us to travel. Given it's moved further East I imagine it's a long old trip if you are coming from Cornwall as well. Somewhere North of Brum would be nice. It was always a bit more pleasant to get to Sleepless because it didn't involve getting round/through Brum.
But yes, you want to maximise the number of people who will turn up which mostly means holding it somewhere near lots of people and sadly the further North you go the less that's true. I'd already decided last year was my last one (no, really) anyway.
I will just console myself with our nice empty roads and easy access to land 🙂
If it's below the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors on a map it's in the south from my perspective up here in Sir Christopher Chope's alma mater😉
moany Scottish people You don’t like it, move.
I was born in Dorset and currently live in Manchester.
As one of those “moany scottish people” I can see why they hold it that far South but it does make it a hell of a way for the 104 us to travel. Given it’s moved further East I imagine it’s a long old trip if you are coming from Cornwall as well. Somewhere North of Brum would be nice. It was always a bit more pleasant to get to Sleepless because it didn’t involve getting round/through Brum.
Can you host the Strathpuffer somewhere more convenient? I't a PITA to get to and always seems to be cold or snowing, or raining, or all three. Couldn't you hold it somewhere more central with better transport links, like London and in summer to avoid hypothermia?