Malvern is Back
Malvern Festival 2018
After almost a 20 year break, 2018 will see the return to the iconic venue that is Eastnor Deer Park in Malvern for what is tipped as the largest and most diverse MTB festival of the year. Delivered to you by the tried and trusted team that has delivered British Cycling’s National Downhill Series – The BDS for over ten years.
The 15th, 16th and 17th of June 2018 are the dates for your diary not to be missed with the venue opening on the Thursday afternoon prior to the event.
The address: Eastnor Deer Park, Ledbury, Herefordshire. HR8 1RL.
A packed weekend of challenging and exciting events is scheduled that will see riders of all ages and abilities, race and have fun in a chilled out family atmosphere.
Take your pick of what you fancy entering whether you are a seasoned racer or a newbie first timer to the start gate. All events will be split into age categories with entries going live on Sunday the 1st of October 2017 at 09:00 as well as the purchase of entry tickets. This is what we are proposing.
Downhill* – Top to bottom from the Obelisk will see riders descend on the fast and flowing course that will, of course, take in the famous ‘Bomb Hole’ sponsored by DMR Bikes. Entries are limited to 300 riders with an entry fee of £25.00
Cross Country* – Open to all as well as the UK’s top-flight racers, test yourself around this legendary course and spectacular venue taking in the views. Entry fee £25.00.
Quad Eliminator* – The pre-runner to 4x. Four riders on the BMX style gate, elbows out and go! A simple knockout format will see the top two riders progress to the next rounds. Entries are limited to 200 riders with the top 128 going through to the finals. The entry fee is £25.00.
Legends Race – Invitational Downhill Race, showcasing the legends of the sport.
Funduro* – Taking in three short stages, this will be the perfect introduction for those wishing to enter their first enduro event. We will be utilising the popular ‘Mashup’ Format that allows you to be timed on each stage as many times as you can manage within the three hour period. The fastest logged time from each stage counts. With no fixed start times, this allows you to ride and race with your friends. Entries are limited to 300 riders with an entry fee of £25.00
Dual Slalom* – Is the finest example of head to head racing. Riders complete timed runs in each lane, the rider with the fastest combined time will progress to the next round. Entries are limited to 100 riders with the top 64 going through to the finals. Entry fee is £25.00
Wideopen Mag Bunny Hop* – Let’s see how high you can go? Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event.
Wideopen Mag Limbo – Let’s see how low you can go? Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event.
Pub Quiz – Think you know it all? Then put your money where your mouth is. Enter a team of 4 into the Saturday night pub quiz and win a packed hamper full of MTB related products from our industry friends. Entry fee is £5 per team with competitors entering on the day at the event. All funds will go to the Air Ambulance Charity.
Race Support – Expect to see race support from all the top service providers keeping your bike on the hill and racing. That includes a bike wash, bike dry and lube station.
Retro Show and Shine – Will your old skool pride and joy be awarded the highly prized ‘Best in Show’? Start polishing her now, we will have a category for both Downhill and XC. Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event.
Young Gun Racing – Aged 6-12? A number of events are scheduled to replicate the ‘Grown Ups’ racing formats. Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event.
Balance Bike – A number of events are scheduled to replicate the ‘Grown Ups’ racing formats. Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event.
TRP Lake Ride – Need to negotiate some red tape first. Rest assured, those entering should bring their armbands and a snorkel! Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event. Apologies there will be no ‘Lake Jumping’ as the lake is not deep enough to safely facilitate that event.
Long Jump Contest* – Have you legs like a Kangaroo? Riders will attack a small ramp from a 30 meter run up, the one that jumps the furthest wins! Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event.
Manual Contest* – Love the back wheel? Then this is the event for you. As simple as it gets, if you can manual the furthest, you are the winner! Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event.
Front Stoppie Contest* – Love a bit of front wheel do we and think your names Bernard Kerr the undisputed king of the front stoppie? Then let’s see your skills! Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event.
Track Stand Contest – Have you got the skills to track stand longer than the rest? We will mark out pens for all entrants and those that can stand still the longest without touching the floor will win some tasty kit. Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event.
Lezyne Blow Up Inner Tube Contest – Have you got guns like Popeye? The deal is you go head to head with another competitor to blow up an inner tube using a track pump. The time gets logged and the fastest competitor that session wins some top swag! Entry fee is £FREE with competitors entering on the day at the event.
King and Queen of the Malverns Festival – The riders that accumulate the most points from the eleven events marked ‘*’ above will be crowned the King and Queen of the Malverns Festival and receive £1,000 each in prize money and a large trophy.
National Demo Long Weekender – We are already signing up the best brands in the business for the ultimate demo long weekender over three days that will allow you to test ride your dream bike and that next purchase. Entries are limited to 200 riders per day and the entry fee is £10.00 per day.
Retail Village – Come and see the latest kit on display and try before you buy and grab a bargain. Just note, ‘Watch your head, low prices’!
Jez Avery Stunt Show – Now it wouldn’t be the Malverns without Jez Avery! Jez will be up to his old tricks as well as new ones showboating for you, entertaining both young and old with his stunt show. Thre will be two performances on both Saturday and Sunday. Jez will also be stepping in on the mic for select events!
The Bike Channel – We will create a commercial 1-hour show for broadcast on the Bike Channel which will be repeated a minimum of a dozen times. The show will be shot in HD with ground and aerial photography showing the venue, events and general public. Additional on-board cameras will be placed with athletes to get first-person footage of the events. The show will be presenter-led, featuring behind-the-scenes access, athlete interviews, course previews and event commentary (where possible).
Pinned TV – Is your weekly dose of Bikes & Banter presented by Jim Buchanan and Stu Hughes with Doc Ward being the brains behind the outfit. Pinned TV will be presenting a live show on both the Friday and Saturday night.
It’s not all about the racing! The Malverns is all about partying and enjoying yourselves!
This is what we are proposing;
-A number of large marquees.
-Live Cover Bands playing 90s themed music; Oasis, Blur etc.. followed by Live DJs playing 90’s Dance and House Music.
-Free wi-fi for everyone.
-Kids Coaching Sessions.
-Pump Track.
-Slip and Slide.
-MTB Trials Display.
-Bouncy Castles, Ball Pit, Face Painting and Kids Entertainment.
-Family/Quiet Camping Zones.
-Serviced Toilets and Showers.
-Secure Bike Lock Up Storage.
-24 Hour Security.
-24 Hour Medical Service.
-Dog-friendly site.
Weekend Passes include entry into the event, camping and parking:
All spectators (12 and under, no charge) and riders will have to pay the entry fee which will be available online from Sunday the 1st of October 2017 at 09:00.
Early Bird Discount: For those booking between October 1st and December 31st 2017: For those arriving on Thursday, Friday or Saturday the online, in advance entry fee is £20.00 per person aged 13 years of age or older.
Booking between January 1st and June 13th 2018: If arriving on Thursday, Friday or Saturday the online, in advance entry fee is £25.00 per person aged 13 years of age or older.
Arriving onsite without a pre-paid ticket on Thursday, Friday or Saturday then the on the door price will be £30.00 per person aged 13 years of age or older.
Attending for one day only includes your parking pass:
Attending for one day only and paying in advance online for either Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The entry fee is £10.00 per person for anyone aged 13 years of age or older.
For those paying on the door the entry fee is £15.00 per person aged 13 years of age or older.
Please note all one day only attendees vehicles will be parked in the ‘One Day’ parking area which will be located near the main entrance. You will then exit by the main entrance. as you will not be allowed to exit through the main event exit.
Entertainment – A full weekend schedule will include fun for all the family and will be included in the entry price. With large marquees on site, we will ensure good times whatever the weather. Each evening we will have live bands playing 90’s style music followed by live DJ’s. They are primed to turn up the tempo and get the speakers pumping so bring your best moves and polish your disco slippers!
Onsite Catering and Bar – A fully licenced bar and onsite caterers providing fresh produce and refreshments to suit everybody.
Wi-Fi – Onsite free wi-fi available for all so you can melt the internet as you cover the action from the event.
TV Coverage – Plans are in place to produce an hour-long show that will be televised on a popular channel for cycling.
For the little ones – Fun Races, Cycling Ability Courses, Face Painting, Bouncy Castles, Ball Pits, Pump Track and the Circus School (All FREE).
Security – Onsite 24 hour security to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all those attending.
Bike Security – Secure dry storage for your pride and joy throughout the race weekend.
Camping and Showers – Available from the Thursday afternoon right through till Sunday evening when the site must be cleared. There will also be a dedicated family camping area and bins, plenty of bins..
Schedule:
Thursday –
15:00 – 23:00 Venue open for camping. Please note that the tracks are open for foot inspection only. No riding is allowed or permitted on those tracks.
23:00 Last Entry Onto Site.
Friday –
08:00 Venue opens.
10:00 to 17:00 National Demo Long Weekender.
15:30 to 16:00 Lezyne Blow-Up Inner Tube Contest.
16:00 to 18:00 Dual Slalom Practice.
17:00 to 18:00 Balance Bike Dual Slalom.
18:00 to 19:00 Dual Slalom Timed Runs.
19:00 to 21:00 Live Bands.
19:30 to 21:00 Dual Slalom, top 64 Race.
21:00 Wideopen Mag Bike Limbo Contest.
21:00 to 23:00 Live DJ.
23:00 Last Entry Onto Site.
23:30 Event Arena Cleared.
Saturday –
07:00 Venue Opens.
09:00 to 10:00 Balance Bike Cross Country.
09:00 to 17:00 Cross Country.
09:30 to 10:00 Long Jump Contest.
10:00 to 13:00 Funduro Racing.
10:00 to 16:00 National Demo Long Weekender.
10:00 to 10:30 Lezyne Blow-Up Inner Tube Contest.
10:30 Jez Avery Stunt Show.
11:00 to 11:30 Manual Contest.
13:00 to 14:00 Quad Eliminator Practice.
13:00 to 14:00 Balance Bike Quad Eliminator Racing.
14:00 to 17:30 Quad Eliminator Timed Runs.
15:00 to 15:30 Lezyne Blow-Up Inner Tube Contest.
15:30 Jez Avery Stunt Show.
16:00 to 18:00 Quad Eliminator Racing.
17:30 to 18:00 Lezyne Blow-Up Inner Tube Contest.
18:00 to 19:00 TRP Lake Ride.
19:00 to 19:30 Wideopen Mag Bunny Hop Contest.
19:00 to 21:00 Live Bands.
21:00 to 23:00 Live DJ.
23:00 Last Entry Onto Site.
23:30 Event Arena Cleared.
Sunday –
07:00 Venue Opens.
09:00 to 10:00 Balance Bike – Downhill.
09:30 to 10:00 Trackstand Contest.
10:00 to 15:00 National Demo Long Weekender.
10:00 to 10:30 Blow Up Inner Tube Contest.
10:00 to 13:00 Downhill Practice.
10:30 Jez Avery Stunt Show.
09:00 to 17:00 Cross Country.
11:00 to 12:00 Retro Show and Shine.
12:30 to 13:00 Blow Up Inner Tube Contest.
13:00 to 13:30 Jez Avery Stunt Show.
13:30 to 16:30 Downhill incorporating ‘Legends Downhill’.
19:00 Leave Site.
To keep up to date on the event, click on the Malverns Facebook Page.