A MOUNTAIN biking contest for children and young people is to return to Lochore Meadows for a fifth time.

The ‘Big Tree Campervans Tayside and Fife Regional Youth MTB Series’ – a multi-discipline race series that will run from September to November – will arrive at the Meedies on November 12.

First established in 2013, the event is hosted by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland in partnership with Scottish Cycling, and provides racing for 6-16 year-olds and a pathway for aspiring mountain bikers to get their first taste of competition.

All races are suitable for a basic, hard-tail mountain bike and serve as a local introduction to the sport.

Simon Yearsley, owner of series sponsor Big Tree Campervans, said: “Our family are regular mountain bikers, indeed our son started mountain bike racing as part of the series in 2013 – he is now racing at British level.

“We believe that having positive, fun, inclusive races on great courses at reasonable prices are the best way to encourage more people get involved in this fantastic sport, so we were keen to sponsor a series which encouraged grassroots racing.”

As well as providing young cyclists with the thrilling experience of downhill racing on a mini course, the exhilaration of cross country racing, and the burn of endurance mountain biking, the boys and girls series winners of the under-10 to under-16 age categories will also win a two-day family hire of a Big Tree Campervan to create their own adventure.

Martin Harris, from Scottish Cycling, said: “There is a growing mountain bike scene with many active clubs which we are actively supporting to run the series. The Big Tree series provides a local, fun, and accessible series for club riders and young people interested in getting involved in the sport of mountain biking for the first time.

“Mountain biking is booming in the North East region with new trails at Lochore Meadows, Comrie Croft, Alyth Hill in Perthshire, and Templeton Woods in Dundee. I have no doubt that this series helps to grow mountain biking at a grassroots level.”

The first round started in Forfar, with Dundee, Comrie, Perth and Lochore hosting the remaining race days.

The cost for each round is £6 per racer, to be paid in advance, and for more information and to enter, visit bigtreecampervans.com/mtb-series.

In July, work to construct a 1.6km outdoor cycle circuit on land between Lochore Meadows and Lochgelly High School got underway.

Scheduled to open in early 2018, the £2.4 million project will offer cycling opportunities in a traffic-free environment to people of all ages and abilities.