Organisers of Dalbeattie’s annual sporting showpiece, the Hardrock Problem, have gained their very own race in opposition to the clock to make sure this 12 months’s occasion can go forward.
Storms Arwen and Barra flattened enormous sections of Dalbeattie Forest final December leaving the route choked with fallen timber.
However because of a mammoth effort involving native foresters and Hardrock volunteers the timber has been cleared.
Now it’s all techniques go and hopes are excessive of a great turnout – regardless of the delay in getting the occasion to the beginning blocks.
Co-organiser Stuart Macintosh instructed the Information: “It was like Vietnam after the storms – enormous swathes of the forest have been devastated.
“Due to the storm harm it has been essential to make a few diversions which have added about 0.3 miles to the primary problem route.
“The junior route is unaffected.”
Staged over the weekend of October 1-2, the run and mountain bike duathlon will see the Junior Hardrock Problem happen on the Friday forward of the senior occasion the next day.
Rivals can enroll as normal by way of the SI Entries portal on-line with the deadline being September 25.
The favored race – the run and the bike trip mixed whole 26.2 miles – is organised fully by enthusiastic volunteers underneath Dalbeattie Neighborhood Initiative.
The juniors compete over shorter distances set in accordance with their age group.
Historically a whole bunch of athletes of all ages participate within the Hardrock with spectators alongside the route including to the environment.
Mr Macintosh is assured all of the groundwork will repay – however admits the pandemic is casting an extended shadow,
He mentioned: “Numbers have been down final 12 months due to Covid.
“And this 12 months a number of occasions elsewhere in Scotland are down too.
“I believe there’s nonetheless a specific amount of concern over Covid however we're anticipating a reasonably good
turnout.
“We don’t know for certain what number of rivals we’ll get however the Hardrock has a sure attract.
“It’s the longest working occasion on the 7Stanes circuit and we have now all the time claimed it's another marathon.”
Mr Macintosh added: “The ten-mile run route is unaffected by the storm harm however there will probably be a few diversions on the 16-mile bike route.
“Andy Hopkins of the forestry has labored with us to get previous the broken areas and we're hopeful that these will probably be cleared for subsequent 12 months.”
The occasion begin, bike change over and end will probably be on the Richorn trailhead automobile park, a part of the 7stanes mountain bike trails.
Run and bike routes will probably be signed and marshalled, supported by radio protection and cellular first assist and rescue models.
To enter, go to https://www.sientries.co.uk