ROC Get Better

3 DEC2009

Details of improvements being made to the 2010 iROC race are beginning to emerge as the organisers and principle sponsor inov-8 prepare for another extravaganza of racing in the Durham Dales at the end of May. Feedback from competitors after the 2009 event was very positive, with the fell race route being described as 'worthy of a British Championship course' by competitors, and the MTB Enduro circuit being described as 'the toughest Enduro circuit in the UK' by many competitors. Adding to the event¹s growing reputation, the Telegraph newspaper has just rated iROC one of the top five races to do in 2010.

The weekend of racing kicks off with the Night Orienteering race and competitors will be able to start whenever they like after 10pm on the Friday night. The course will be open for four hours, allowing competitors travelling from further afield sufficient time to complete the first race. Catering services will provide free meals to all competitors as they finish each night race and also at the MTB Enduro. Food and refreshments will be available throughout the weekend to competitors and spectators alike.

Saturday daytime will be given over to a series of fun 'Come and Try It' Adventure Races' for kids and spectators, while the competitors get the opportunity to test ride the Night MTB Course and experience labyrinth orienteering. Saturday night marks a change in tempo for the competitors with the races coming thick and fast thereafter. The night Fell Race and MTB Time Trial promise to be visually spectacular experiences for both competitors and spectators in the valley, with the courses being way marked with hundreds of glowsticks and many kilometers of reflective barrier tape.

Sunday's Orienteering Race sees competitors having to navigate through a complex labyrinth maze as they start and finish the race. The combination of the labyrinth maze, rapid fire block starts and gaffling, which all take place in the event village, will ensure an action packed experience.

The MTB courses for both the Night Time Trial and Enduro are being upgraded with a significant new section of uphill single track in the forest. The tough downhill single track section is also having a makeover, becoming faster, smoother and more ridable than before. The Enduro Race is being increased from four hours to six hours, but with a flexible start time, so that competitors can choose the amount of riding they want to do.

iROC will once again be held at Eastgate in the scenic Durham Dales. The site itself is largely hidden from view but is complete with a large quarry, steep hillsides with complex contour features, forest and an excellent event village location with self-contained campsite at the bottom of the valley. With a prize giving ceremony after each race and an event village featuring a great campsite, fire barrels, BBQ¹s, music, a bar, atmospheric lighting and activities for the kids, it¹s a brilliant venue for a memorable weekend.

Entries have just opened and are limited to 400 competitors. Visit the iROC website