EVENT INFO
Venue
iROC™ will be held at Eastgate in the Durham Dales at an amazing venue, which is exclusive to the iROC™ Race! This venue is a former cement works that is surrounded by stunning moorland and is on the boundary of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site itself is largely hidden from public view but is complete with a large quarry, steep hillsides with complex contour features, forest and a perfect event village location with self contained campsite at the bottom of the valley. It’s a brilliant venue for an action packed weekend for all, in a beautiful and quiet area of the Durham Dales that will be well away from the Bank Holiday crowds.
This very unique site has great potential for adventure racing. The site itself has spoil heaps, old quarry workings and hundreds of interesting features and contour detail that make it ideal for orienteering. Additionally, there are numerous tracks throughout the site for mountain biking including potential for some very fast descents and technical ascents. The site has its own forest that while dense, can still be used for mountain biking, running and orienteering (this area is particularly challenging for the night races!).
Separating the hillside from the old cement works site is the River Wear, there is an old bridge crossing it and a ford that give access direct to the hillside from the event centre.
All the old cement works buildings have now been removed and there is a perfectly flat concrete pad that will provide weather proof car parking and the location for the event centre. The event campsite will be on a large field next to the event centre; this field used to be a sports field so is well drained and flat!
Commentary
Big change for the 2010 event will be the introduction race commentary throughout the week. This will allow us to build up the excitement as we count down to the start and provide accurate updates about competitor’s positions, to the spectators as each race progresses. Competitors will need to complete a short biography when they registered so that the commentary team knows who they are talking about.
The Event Centre
This is a UK event and the event centre will be designed to withstand all but the very worst weather. The main marquee will have a bar inside, be open sided and only meters from the start and finish line. This will mean that whatever the weather, spectators will be able to watch all the action.
Clustered around the main marquee will be the catering, event retailers and event sponsors. There will also be a separate ‘registration & enquires’ area.
On the Saturday and Sunday night, there will be music in the main marquee and a depending on demand, a late bar.
Catering
On site catering will be provided by Wilfs and available from Friday evening until after the finish of the MTB Enduro on Monday afternoon. They will be serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks and a great selection of cakes.
Camping
Included in your entry is free camping at the event centre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. The campsite is located on a former playing field that is sheltered, level and very well drained. It’s an ideal camping spot. Camping is for competitors and their friends and family only. There will be a short walk (approximately 2-300m) from the car park to the campsite so be prepared to carry your camping kit.
Camper Vans and Caravans
A separate, quite area (on hard standing) will be set aside for camper vans and caravans for competitors and their friends and family only. Electrical and water connections will NOT be available.
Event Goody Bag
Every entry will receive a brilliant iROC™ goody bag that will be stuffed with a variety of great freebies from the event sponsors. Goody Bags will be available when you register on Friday night. Other exclusive iROC merchandise will be for sale at the event.
Local Accommodation
If you wish to stay in one of the many excellent, local B&B’s there is a list on this website here ‘Local Accommodation’.
Car Parking
Included in your entry is free car parking for the duration of the event. The car parking is on level concrete pad that used to be a cement works and extremely unlikely to flood!
Marshalling
We are looking for marshals to help at the iROC™ Race. All marshals will be rewarded on a sliding scale (dependant on role undertaken) and receive a competitors goody bag and a free pair of inov-8 shoes. Marshalls will work shifts but while they are not working they are welcome to race for free. There will be a separate camping area for the event crew. If you are interested in marshalling please email info@iroc-race.com and we’ll send you an application form.
