Hellrider moves to Henley
10th Jan 2013
THE DEVIL’S DUATHLON - MOVES TO HENLEY
New venue with free camping + MTB and run only options
Hellrider - the Devil’s Duathlon - has a new home this year at the beautiful Hambleden Estate near Henley-on-Thames. This year the off-road mountain bike/trail race will take place on Saturday 11th May and entries are now live.
Hellrider’s a unique race that offers a challenge for every ability from Ironman level athletes competing solo to teams of weekend warriors and gym buddies looking for something a little bit different. The fiendish format of alternating circular 5k trail run and 7.5k mountain-bike loops means how far you go in the 8 hour time limit is up to you!
Prefer two legs to two wheels (or vice versa)? This year for the first time ever there are also Mountain Bike Only and Run Only Options.
Free on-site camping on Friday and Saturday nights, a licensed bar, catering and live music offer a perfect family-friendly weekend. The circular course with central feed and aid station makes it spectator friendly and also allows endurance athletes to practice getting hydration and nutrition right for longer endurance events.
With approximately 1,000 acres of unspoilt woodland and rolling parkland, Hambleden Estate (part of the Culden Faw Estate) is conveniently situated just 40 miles from London. The village of Hambleden has been used for many feature films such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 101 Dalmatians, Sleepy Hollow and the New Avengers, for major TV productions such as Band of Brothers, A Village Affair and Poirot.
Want to raise money for charity? We’ve teamed up with children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent or fundraise for your own favourite cause.
Event Director and Trailplus owner Paul Magner said: “We’re delighted to be moving to the Hambleden Estate. The West Wycombe course was great but Hambleden allows us to offer free on-site camping the night before and after the race so we can make it a brilliant weekend away for families and groups of friends.”
“The circuit format means your family and mates can watch as you come through the transition area again, and again (and again!). For competitors it’ll be a suffer-fest but your support angels will have a heavenly time with food, music & entertainment.”
“The event’s going from strength to strength. We had 600 participants last year. Originally we set it up as a team-only duathlon but due to popular demand we created a solo class and had 80 endurance athletes compete last year. This year there are also a new run or bike only alternatives. We’re confident our third year will be our best yet.”
Nik Cook from the Peak District who entered as a solo competitor last year said: “I’d definitely rate HellRider as one of the best races I’ve ever taken part in. I raced solo and used the event as training for the Long Course Duathlon Championships in Zofingen Switzerland. I would highly recommend it to any Ironmen in training, as it’s a great test of pacing, fueling and provides multiple opportunities for transition practice. The bike course provided enough of a technical challenge to keep laps interesting but there wasn’t anything that’d put off even relative novices. The run had some tough hills and I really appreciated the cooling river crossings on each lap. It was a real buzz hitting the race hub at the end of every lap. The atmosphere was amazing with the teams using it as their changeover point too and the music gave you a real boost. I’ll definitely be back in 2013, trying to crack 20 laps and moving up one place on the podium to take the solo win.” Read more on Nik Cook’s blog on Hellrider for Planet Fear.
Ayo Williams from London, who entered as 3 man team last year, said: "I thoroughly enjoyed the Hellrider Duathlon last year. It was one of the better organised events that I have done in recent times, with the right balance of length, difficulty as well as attendees. The running course was varied and interesting, with only minor waist-high dunkings towards the end of the section. Hilly, muddy and soggy underfoot; trail shoes and a love of off-road action were a must. The bike section was challenging (for most of us) with two main climbs and some fast flat and downhill sections which were not technically out of reach for all but complete novices. The mixed abilites on show (guaranteed by allowing teams of 5, 3 or 1 - for the crazy folk - to enter), plus the music, tricky but not brutal course all combine to make it a cracking event which I will come back for this year."
Brian Taylor (Ayo Williams' team-mate) said: "A brilliantly organised event and a great course. The format of the event is unique - it allows entrants of varying abilities to compete side-by-side and makes for a competitive, but fun, atmosphere. I'm looking forward to returning this year with my mate, Ayo Williams, as an unofficial twosome again and will be making sure that he's got his shoes on this time when there's only five minutes left on the clock and one of has to man-up, get out on the course and take it for the team - he still owes me for that one!!"
Rachel Taylor, who entered the team event, said: 'A brilliantly run event over eight hours with a tough course and a couple of killer hills that you don't want to see towards the end of the day! But don't let that put you off as you feel all the more satisfied for having conquered them for the umpteenth time. Great goodie bag (always important) and a fantastic atmosphere with music to keep you motivated all day. Best organised event I've done and most exhausted and proud I've ever felt at the end of a course!'
Solo competitor (anonymous): “I did the solo option and loved it. It was a great event. Extremely well organized, beautiful surroundings, excellent support and pure hell!”
Click on gallery to browse & download high res images (for editorial use only).
Contacts:
For PR & Media call Lissa Cook on 01661 751 126 or 07818 411 791 or email lissa@heason.net
Or call Paul Magner at Trail Plus on 01457 855 425 / 07796 306 172 or email paul@trailplus.com
Notes to editors:
- When: 10am, Saturday 11th May 2013
- Where: The Hambledon Estate (http://www.thehambledenestate.com) is just 5 minutes drive from Henley on Thames. (The Showground, Hambleden Estate, 'Opposite' Henley Business School, Marlow Road, Fawley, RG9 3AU).
- What: An off-road, endurance trail run/mountain bike dualthlon for teams of 3 or 5 or solo entrants. Teams or individuals have 8 hours to complete as many loops as possible. (Mountain bike and run only options are available this year.)
- How much: Solo Early Bird £40pp, then £45; Team of 3 Early Bird £120 (=£40 pp), then then £135 (= £45 pp); or Team of 5 Early Bird £175 (=£35 pp), then then £200 (= £40 pp).
- Watch & share our video of last year’s race: http://vimeo.com/31489891
- Download high res images from our online gallery: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjDxYLMs
- Read more about the race on endurance athlete Nik Cook’s blog on Hellrider for Planet Fear: http://www.planetfear.com/articles/HellRider_Adventure_Duathlon_1130.html
- Follow us on twitter @Hell_Rider_ and like us on facebook (www.facebook.com/HellRiderDuathlon)
- Our official Charity Partner is CLIC Sargent http://www.hellrider.co.uk/clic-sargent.php
- For more about Trail Plus, Paul Magner and our other events including Hellrunner and the Adventure Challenge Series visit http://trailplus.com/about-trailplus.php