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  2007
  > REVIEW
  2006
  > REVIEW
  > ELBNO - SM
  > RHAYADER
  > BUILTH WELLS
  > BAD GOISERN
  > SELKIRK
  > RUTHIN
  2005
  > REVIEW
  > ELBNO - SM
  > RHAYADER
  > BUILTH WELLS
  > BAD GOISERN
  > SELKIRK
  > RUTHIN
  2004
  > REVIEW
  > RHAYADER
  > BUILTH WELLS
  > BAD GOISERN
  > SELKIRK
  > RUTHIN
  2003
  > REVIEW
  > RHAYADER
  > BUILTH WELLS
  > RUTHIN
  NEWS...
  16.05.08 NEWS before the Ruthin Round HERE>>
  25.04.08
Latest News from the first round.
HERE>>
  17.04.08 Report from the first round HERE>>
  10.04.08
Latest News before the first event of 2008.
HERE>>
  29.03.08 Website updated - New Season is HERE>>
  31.01.08
Online Entry now OPEN.
MORE>>
  28.12.07 Website updated - Entry facilities coming soon.
  19.09.07
7 down, NONE to go….at least not this year. MORE>>
  Foot-And-Mouth - Please clean your gear: MORE>>
  04.09.07
Ruthin News. MORE>>
  Merida on holiday 2008 – win a mountain bike trip in Austria MORE>>
  12.08.07
6 down, ONLY 1 to go. MORE>>
  20.07.07
Selkirk here we come
MORE>>
  12.07.07
4 down, 2 to go (3 including the Austria round) MORE>>
  06.07.07
Latest Builth Wells Summer Marathon update
MORE>>
  27.06.07
Latest News... MORE>>
  16.06.07
MERIDA OUTSIDER UPDATES WITH COURSE PROFILES.
MORE>>
  07.06.07
Latest News... MORE>>
  17.05.07
…2 down 5 to go. After last year’s rather muddy May event in Rhayader the first dip into English marathon territory was another one to remember.
MORE>>
  08.05.07
It is only a few days now before the 1st ever English round MORE>>
  01.05.07
It feels that the season is truly here MORE>>
  17.04.07 ELBNO and SPRING MARATHON MORE>>
  10.04.07 ELBNO / Spring Marathon – LAST UPDATE MORE>>
  23.03.07 ELBNO . MORE>>
  23.03.07 Chain Reaction Cycles voucher - make sure you enter early! MORE>>
  23.03.07 Aviemore round – the Outsider. MORE>>
  23.03.07 Penrith round – Cumbria Bikefest MORE>>
  23.03.07 Salzkammergut Trophy 2007. MORE>>
  13.03.07 The Outsider event and line-up ... MORE>>
  22.02.07 Latest NEWS. MORE>>
  19.12.06 NEWS 2007 Entry form available to download….... MORE>>
  'CycleActive price draw - winner revealed!.... MORE>>
  23.10.06 NEWS The Outsider - New Event….... MORE>>
  The 2006 mountain bike season is heading towards its deserved winter break which inevitably means that the 2007 season is creeping up on us. .... MORE>>
  26.09.06 We have just got back from our 2007 planning excursion to Scotland . .... MORE>>
  14.09.06 NEWS Update: Merida Ruthin…only a couple of days to go….... MORE>>
  25.08.06 Well done everybody who took part in the first ever Merida TransWales ’06. What a week! I am sure it will take us all a while to recover from this adventure. .... MORE>>
  09.08.06 NEWS Update:Merida TransWales ’06…only a couple of days to go….... MORE>>
  02.08.06 NEWS Four down one to go! We have just returned from the event in Selkirk and we can only agree with the all comments we have had that it has once again been a superb event for everybody.... MORE>>
  26.07.06 NEWS Update:
It’s the last week before the Scottish round of the Merida 100 MTB Marathon in Selkirk opens its doors.... MORE>>
  11.07.06 NEWS Update:…was it hot or what? This year seams to be the year of extremes... MORE>>
  22.06.06 NEWS Update:
The last weekend before this year’s summer marathon in Builth Wells is upon us.... MORE>>
  News update 15.06.06
Less than three weeks to go before we will welcome everybody at the ‘summer’ event of the Merida 100 Series... MORE>>
  01.06.06
2nd Round Rhayader Event... MORE>>
  1st Round of the Merida 100 MTB Marathon Series 2006 in Builth Wells 8-9th April... MORE>>
  20 Reasons why you... should ride a Mreida 100
1 No faffing with maps: just point and play... MORE>>
  Vertebrate Graphics, MTB Guidebooks...MORE>>
  MTB-Marathon Jersey NOW IN STOCK..MORE>>
 


















  2004
       
  Ruthin Event Review

Ruthin brought up the rear of the 2004 series in fine style, once again
showcasing some of the best trails out on the impressive Clywdian hills, and giving everyone a great set of memories to see them through the murky winter months.

The Clwydian’s themselves are a 35km long chain of hills that rise to 554m in the north of Wales between Prestatyn and Llandegla. With the sun god smiling down on all 1,125 riders, the trails riddling the backs of the hills were in good condition compared to the previous year´s muddy going. Drier trails meant that riders were able to get a fuller flavour of the riding amongst the Clwydian’s clefts and folds.

Lining up to do battle alongside the massed throng of enthusiast and weekend warriors were none other than Keith Bontrager – who was making his second successive appearance in preparation for the Three Peaks Cyclo Cross challenge – and British Olympian Oli Beckingsale of the MBUK/Scott team, fresh back from the Mount Parnitha Olympic cross country race in Athens in August. “It could not have been more different to the Olympics or Worlds, but it was just what I needed,” said Oli of his ride. “I was pretty fried after weeks of pressure, so a bit of old school riding was spot on.”

With big climbs, swooopy singletrack and long, fast descents the course around Ruthin was a toughie. The Clywdian´s are one of five designated areas of outstanding natural beauty in Wales and Chris Marshall took full advantage by designing a course which took in as many nooks and crannies of it as he could into both the 50km and the 80km routes. The previous year saw John raving about the course (“It´s the best course out of the three,” he said in 2003) and although Selkirk emphatically stole Ruthin´s thunder this time, the Clwydian course was still challenging and tested everybody who took part, whatever their standards. Oli Beckingsale managed to complete the maximum distance in just 4hrs 13mins 23secs, with the last rider smiling their way over the line to great applause in 9hrs 41mins 21secs.

The event village and camping were both shifted from the previous year´s venue at the leisure centre and uprooted across town to the rugby club, and despite a freak burst of wind trashing one of the Pedro´s Ezee-Ups the event continued on its march of success. “Ruthin was even better than last year with a much better venue,” said Emma Glaisher. “It was nice to have camping closer to the event village.” Hot showers and the club house´s bar also right on hand added some much appreciated creature and alcoholic comforts.

For those not pitting themselves against the pleasures and pains of the marathon courses there was plenty to see and do in the historic town of Ruthin. An Open Heritage weekend was being held over the same weekend as the Merida 100, with many historic buildings open to the public, guided walks taking place, and re-enactment demonstrations of ancient life offering diversions and entertainment for non-riding partners, friends and families. “This was a well-received extra for all the left behinds and we will continue to develop extra features to entertain non-riders at the events for 2005,” co-organiser Mike Wilkens said.

With good weather, some fantastic memories, and plenty of great riding under 4,296 pairs of tyres, Ruthin brought the 2004 Merida 100 MTB-Marathon Series to a successful close. “Ruthin was outstanding,” Grant Kier told the Merida100 team. “If only more competitive events could be as well organised... simply world class.” But for 2005 the team are set to up the ante and put on the best mountain bike marathon events anywhere in Europe.
  2004

competition image


Merida Bikes TransWales '08
The 7 day MTB stage challenge.
Check the full story and the results on www.mtbtransuk.co.uk

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