It's All Downhill For Kidland Bikers!

The Forestry Commission has issued a last call for mountain bike fans to sign-up to tackle one of the north's most challenging downhill courses in Kidland Forest in the Cheviot Hills, Northumberland, on 3 and 4 April. The route has been devised by trail builders from Northern Downhill and will see participants tackle one of the steepest descents anywhere in the UK to clock a rapid time over a one mile section. Last year the 1,200-hectare (3,000-acre) woodland hosted the event for the first time. Since then the hair-raising trail has been off-limits to the public as it is meant solely for competition purposes. Philip Grimes, a member of Northern Downhill, explained: "This is a unique chance to pitt your skills against the dramatic terrain of Kidland, which is an awesome place for this kind of event. Downhill biking is every bit as thrilling as it sounds offering a huge adrenaline rush." The race is the curtain raiser in this year's Northern Downhill Championship, which also takes in other venues like Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland and Kielder Water & Forest Park. Alex MacLennan, Recreation, Tourism and Communities Manager with the Forestry Commission, added: "The championship is for skilled riders only, who will take under three minutes to negotiate the Kidland route. Steep and fast, the trail is not for novices, but Kidland is the perfect venue for this type of biking." For details of how to enter go to www.northerndownhill.co.uk Photo: Carl Davison, from Northern Downhill, tackling the trail in Kidland Forest, Northumberland.