Young Guns Wanted For City Rat Race

YOUNG GUNS WANTED FOR CITY RAT RACE

Edinburgh Rat Race takes the adventure to youth sportCity of Edinburgh - 18 and 19 July 2009
Detail
Events, organisers of the Edinburgh Rat Race, are calling on all young
multi-sport enthusiasts between the ages of 14 and 18 to sign up now
for a new youth team event as part of Scotland's coolest urban
adventure challenge.  
On
18 and 19 July 2009 Edinburgh will be transformed into a multi-sports
playground with youth teams battling it out alongside elite adventure
racers for the very first time. The young guns will take part in a
range of physical and mentally challenging activities including
navigation, endurance, mental agility, running, climbing, mountain
biking, kayaking and abseiling.  This
will be combined with some of the event's trade mark surreal sporting
tests, obstacles and mystery challenges at different checkpoints across
the city.  
They
might find themselves tackling activities such as abseiling from the
roof of Murrayfield Stadium, kayaking the Union Canal, mountain biking
in the Pentlands, scaling the epic 100ft climbing wall at Edinburgh's
International Climbing Centre, Ratho and even space hopper racing!

Online entries are now open at http://www.ratraceadventure.com or phone 0845 009 4365 for more information.
Jim Mee, MD of Detail Events, said:  We are really excited about our new youth event in Edinburgh in July.  We urge Scotland's young people to sign up now for this unique new sporting adventure in Auld Reekie.  Our
youth teams will not only make their mark alongside seasoned adventure
racing athletes and armchair adventurers but they will also have a
unique, challenging, fun and rewarding sporting experience throughout
the Rat Race weekend!'
Edinburgh's
stunning architecture, labyrinthine streets and rugged terrain,
including urban structures, office blocks, tunnels, parklands, hills,
water and sand in the city centre and beyond are ideal for this event.  However
organisers, Detail Events, are quick to point out that it takes more
than great infrastructure to make a successful event. 
Race
Director Jim Mee, MD of Detail Events, added: 'The proactive approach
and support of City of Edinburgh Council and EventScotland have been
instrumental in developing the Rat Race Urban Adventure Series. These
bodies spotted the potential in the event for Edinburgh back in 2004
and have led the way for other cities to follow. Developing a unique
event like the Rat Race in these conditions is a joy with such forward
thinking and innovative partners. Funding bodies and city councils
across the UK and abroad can learn a lot from their example.'

Saturday's 'Mean Streets' is billed as 'the team running event with bite'.  It
is designed predominantly as a running (or walking) event and is open
to competitors of all abilities. Participants will have 3 hours to hunt
for up to 25 checkpoints hidden all over the city centre.   Sunday
is a bike-based adventure that takes teams further out towards the city
limits and encompasses more overt adventure pursuit, such as kayaking,
abseiling and navigation.
Paul
Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, said: 'The Rat Race
is a prime example and product of Scotland's renowned events industry
which seeks to create and identify events which will showcase
Scotland's natural landscape, spectacular cities and unrivalled
infrastructure and facilities.  The
Edinburgh Rat Race has set the benchmark for urban adventure races
around the world and continues to set new standards in the sport.  This
year's youth event will open urban adventure racing up to a whole new
generation and is a fantastic addition to what is already a world class
event.  We look forward to welcoming the rats!'
Councillor
Steve Cardownie, the City of Edinburgh Council's Festivals and Events
Champion, said: 'I am pleased that Edinburgh is once again playing host
to this extremely challenging race. It will give us a chance to show
what our city has to offer. The race will showcase some really iconic
spots, demonstrating that Edinburgh boasts a natural and man-made
environment fit for adventure.'
The
Edinburgh Rat Race is the original urban adventure race and the
flagship of an 8-date UK race summer series that will also take in
Brighton, Birmingham, Bristol, Sheffield, Gateshead/Newcastle, London
and Belfast. The Rat Race concept originated in Edinburgh in 2004 and
is now a global brand, with events in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland
and South Africa.

In
previous Edinburgh Rat Races the activities have included kayaking
under the Forth Rail and Road bridges, a thrilling traverse of the
Loanhead viaduct, challenging climbs at the Ratho adventure centre,
getting to grips with the specially constructed Rat Race 'Urban assault
course' at the Cowgate Gap site, an abseil from the top of Nelson's
monument on Calton Hill, a roof-top bike obstacle course at Ocean
Terminal and bone-shaking cycle rides down the flight of steps at the
'wynds' in the old town. 
Jim
Mee added: 'Our planners are already working on the course and it will
be significantly different to last year so anyone who took part in last
year's race shouldn't think that they know what to expect!  For
our new youth event there will be a few format tweaks and course
changes in order to give our young rats the ultimate city adventure and
rat race experience.'
This
year's races will start and finish in a specially constructed adventure
village in the heart of the city at West Princes Street Gardens, in the
shadow of Edinburgh Castle.

The
event village features well-earned food and drink for competitors and
spectators alike, alongside live music plus adventure exhibits and
activities for the public to try their hand at.
There will also be a 150ft (50m) crane for members of the public to experience the thrill of abseiling.  The
crane will be situated in the event village and will give people the
chance to tower over the Edinburgh skyline with a photographer on hand
to record their efforts for posterity.  The activity costs £25 and anyone interested can register at www.ratraceadventure.com to take part.

Edinburgh Rat Race:Paddy Cuthbert Podge Publicity ltdE: [email protected]
Rat Race Urban Adventure Series:Simon Crellin, Redpoint PR LtdTel: +44 (0)20 8871 9477E: [email protected]
Teams
of three - male, female or mixed - can enter either or both events and
each of the races usually has around 1000 competitors.  Entry
is £35 per person for Saturday's 'Mean Streets' challenge, £69 per
person for Sunday's 'Nine to Five' or £99 for the Rat Race 'Weekender'
package of both events. There are also corporate and charity packages
available.

RAT RACE DATES 2009:

Birmingham: 30/31 MayBrighton 13/14 June Bristol 27/28 JuneEdinburgh 18/19 JulySheffield 25/ 26 JulyBelfast 8/9 AugustGateshead/ Newcastle 29/30 AugustGalway 5/6 SeptemberLondon 26/27 September
Detail Events was launched in 2004 by Jim Mee, ex Red Bull events specialist.  The
company organises 9 Rat Races in the UK and Ireland (London, Brighton,
Birmingham, Bristol, Belfast, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Sheffield and
Galway). 2008 also saw the launch of the first international Rat Race
event in Melbourne, Australia.  Further international events are planned for South Africa, New Zealand and the USA in 2009 and beyond.
City of Edinburgh Council www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet