New Improved Rat Race Back For 2005

The TNF-sponsored Rat Race Urban Adventure Race that was launched in Edinburgh last year is back for 2005 and even better, it's been breeding like, well, rodents really, and there are now three Rat Race events on the calendar.

The Edinburgh event on 16-17 July is joined by new competitions set in the urban sprawl of Manchester - below - and Bristol. The basiscs of the race are the same as last year, with teams running, biking, paddling and abseiling in an urban environment, but the organisers have also added Elite and Rookie dasses to the event.

The idea is to present a real challenge to the top adventure race teams while, at the same time, introducing novices to the sport. The Edinburgh event us also significantly bigger with last year's field of 350 competitors upped to a possible 1,000, which would make the event the biggest participation adventure race on the planet.

The new event at Bristol takes place on 10/11 June and follows the same format and classes as the original. To spice things up, top local racer Peter James of Team Saab Salomon Orange will be helping with course design and, as with the Edinburgh event, the race will follow a two=part format with a three-hour Sunday evening stint followed by the main race on the Sunday which will cover up to 80 km.

The organisers have obtained special permission for some special events in spectacular locations, so it should be good.

Manchester...

The Manchester Rat Race on 6 August is set to be slightly different again with the race forming a mainstay of a complete adventure sports weekend. Dubbed the Manchester Urban X weekend, the race will be part of an overall programme of events which will also include a climbing-based event run with climbing extremists X1 Sports.

The race element of the weekend is dubbed Urban Adventure and will also include the first ever youth race in adventure sports, while Aerial Assault is set to be the first ever 'architectural climbing event' with top climbers scaling city centre buildings and traversing the city's skyline on a specially constructed aerial assault course. Should be spectacular.

More Information

You can watch or take part at any of the three events, though the Aerial Assualt event in Macnchester is limited to experienced climbers for obvious reason. Loads of info and a mailing list sign-up option at the excellent event web site.

Sponsored By The North Face

The North Face are a major new sponsor for the Rat Races with the company investing a' six-figure sum' in the event. TNF's UK marketing supremo, himself a dedicated adventure racer is revved up and ready to go.

"We are hugely excited to be the major sponsor of the Rat Race, particularly with the new events for 2005 which are going to be even bigger and better than last year. These are unique activities to happen in city centres and there is a real buzz about them as word gets out about the Races - they really do have to be seen to be believed.

"Our own The North Face Adventure Racing team took part in last year's event and finished in third place. We will again be taking part but can certainly expect no favours as a sponsor."

TNF will be kitting out marshalls and supplying race vests to competitors as well as putting up a prize purse of £9000-worth of equipment. The other main event sponsor is Volvo.