Potential disaster was only averted through the diligence of the attending marshals, who when walking the taped out track before racing on Saturday morning before practice noticed over 1 km of trail has been dangerously tampered with. The trail in question was in a remote part of Rostrevor forest called Yellow Water. The marshal immediately radioed through to the organizers who postponed practice until all the stages could be checked.
Not only had the saboteurs thrown logs onto the trail, but showing their intent was more devious than the usual disgruntled dog walker, changed the taping to lead riders into the traps they had set. A number of thin but strong cables had been strung at head height, an act tantamount to the worst possible crime. This sort of incredible stupidity enrages even the most mild mannered of mountain bikers, and the ENDURO team hope that those who committed the acts are thoroughly reprimanded. Thankfully the Vitus First Tracks team always run a safe race and diligently checked the stages before any riders were injured, but the level of sabotage is very worrying. The police have of course been informed and are conducting a full investigation.
Organiser Glynn O’Brien was as surprised as anyone to see the dangerous lengths that the saboteurs had gone too! “It’s scary to think what could have happened here. Hats off to the quick reactions of our marshals we caught on before someone got seriously hurt. After the incident on Saturday morning I have been chatting to riders and there are so many stories of similar activity happening in their local forests and parks. Whatever these idiots reasons are for doing such a thing they need to think of the consequences before someone gets hurt.”
If anyone has any information about events in Rostrevor on the night of the 1st July, please contact us in confidence or directly to the Vitus First Tracks team so it can be relayed to the police.
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Words: Photos: Ricky McKee
