Strathpuffer
The Strathpuffer is an annual amateur 24-hour winter Mountain bike race in the Scottish Highlands. The race is held in late January near Strathpeffer with around 17 hours of the race taking place in darkness. It was first held in 2006 and attracted more than 1,000 competitors in 2018.
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Region | Scotland |
| Type | Winter mountain bike racing |
| Web site | strathpuffer.co.uk  |
| History | |
| First edition | 2006 |
The Strathpuffer is an annual amateur 24-hour winter Mountain bike race in the Scottish Highlands. The race is held in late January near Strathpeffer with around 17 hours of the race taking place in darkness. It was first held in 2006 and attracted more than 1,000 competitors in 2018.
History
[edit]The circuit is circa 12.5 kilometre route through the Torrachilty Forest, on the outskirts of Contin. Competitors can enter as a solo rider, or as part of a team of two or fours. Alternatively, schools can also enter teams of eight.[1] Around 17 hours of the race are in darkness.[2]
In 2016 there were over 800 participants who faced mud and snow.[3][4] By that point it had established a reputation as being one of the toughest mountain bike events in the world.[5]
In 2017 there were 6,583 laps completed by competitors.[6] In 2018 the race attracted over 1,000 participants.
Guy Martin placed second in the male solo rider category in both 2014 and 2015.[7][8]
Recent Years
[edit]Due to its increase in popularity, it was planned for the Strathpuffer to grow by about 1.5 kilometres over 2018 and 2019, and those plans have since been put into place, making the track go from 11 kilometres to 12.5 kilometres.[9]
In 2018 the BBC 2 show The Adventure Show covered the race and followed two teams around the course. One was a quad of girls from Dingwall Academy being mentored by the Adventure Syndicate and another was a team of two sisters calling themselves "Sister Sludge."[10][11]
Results
[edit]2019 results
[edit]| Category | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male Solo | Marty Ross - 25 laps | Keith Forsyth - 23 laps | Chris Pitblado - 22 laps |
| Female Solo | Sally Evamy - 17 laps | Annie Lloyd Evans - 16 laps | Eva Kupska -15 laps |
| Male Pairs | RT23 - 30 laps | Stage One - Mark Beaumont and Alex Glasgow - 30 laps | MBUK Magazine - 29 laps |
| Female Pairs | Jacqui and Julie - 21 laps | Fandango Ultimate Duo - 21 laps | The Linda Lawton Fan Club - 19 laps |
| Mixed Pairs | Team Breakpad - 24 laps | ABC - 24 laps | Fife Cycles - John Simpson Fan - 24 laps |
| Male Quads | ABC JMC Mountain Fuel - 31 laps | Squiggly Balls - 30 laps | Team Goon/Orange Fox Bikes - 29 laps |
| Female Quads | Gingym - 22 laps | Boo & Crew - 22 laps | 42 Engineer Regiment - 19 laps |
| Mixed Quads | BASE - 27 laps | GMBC ON ICE - 26 laps | 3 MEN AND A GINGER LADY - 25 laps |
| Schools (teams of eight) | Dingwall Academy - 26 laps | Fortrose Junior Team - 23 laps | Fortrose Senior Team - 22 laps |
| Achievement awards are listed below. | |||
| Youth Award | Team 56 Combined Minus 1 | ||
| Youngest Rider | Dougal Masterson - 11 years (in a team with Victor Atkinson) | ||
| Oldest Rider | Ron Smith - 79 years (solo) | ||
| Fastest Lap | MBUK Magazine - 39 mins 26 secs | ||
2020 results
[edit]| Category | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male Solo | Kyle Beattie - 25 laps | Robbie Mitchell - 25 laps | Martin Ross - 24 laps |
| Female Solo | Zara Mair - 18 laps | Natalie Munro - 17 laps | Claire Campbell - 17 laps |
| Male Pair | I - Cycles - 27 laps | Young and Old - 25 laps | Team Hair Loss - 24 laps |
| Female Pair | bennachie bike bothy - 21 laps | Double Trouble - 19 laps | BlaneRiders - 12 laps |
References
[edit]- ^ Tares, Scot (20 January 2018). "Strathpuffer Webpage". Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Tackling the Strathpuffer. The world's only winter 24-hour mountain bike enduro". bikeradar.com. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "This Guy Has Got Stamina". The Highland Times. 18 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018.
- ^ "Uneasy riders: Strathpuffer cyclists face mud and snow". BBC News. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ Green, Eve (30 December 2015). "9 of the best mountain biking events in 2016". Red Bull. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ Barrett, Wil (23 January 2017). "Most Laps Completed Ever At 2017 Strathpuffer". Singletrack. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "The King And The Joker – Guy Martin And Jason Miles". Singletrack. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ Macleod, John (23 January 2015). "Snow, ice, blue skies - and darkness - make for the perfect Puffer at Strath". Ross-shire Journal. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Route Changes Update | Strathpuffer 24". strathpuffer.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Four Teenage Girls Ride The Strathpuffer24 // Lee Craigie". The Adventure Syndicate. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ Smith, Laura. "Extreme mountain biking sisters show their mettle in the gruelling Strathpuffer". Sunday Post. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ Fiona (21 January 2019). "Strathpuffer 2019: The toughest yet". FionaOutdoors. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Results for Strathpuffer 2020 - 18 Jan 2020". sportident.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2025.