Mucking It Up

Summerside Muck Raker mountain bike race to be held Sunday

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

The Summerside Muck Raker mountain bike race will be making its return to Summerside Rotary Friendship Park on Sunday.

The bike race is the first of four races in the Citizen Mountain Bike series, which will take place in Brookvale.

The race will close down the park from 8:30 am to 2 pm with eight different categories for racing including men and women’s under 13, under 15, under 17, adult sport, adult expert and 50 plus. There will be door prizes for those competing donated by sponsors including Sporting Intentions. There will also be medals for first, second and third in each of the categories.

Registration prices for the event are $20 before the event and $25 the day of the event. The track is 3 km, with laps varying on the category the racer would take part in.

Before the bigger events are held, there will be an event held called Riders of Tomorrow. This is geared towards kids 12-years-old and younger. It’s a free event that will be a five-minute race, parents are encouraged to ride with their children.

The Citizen Mountain Bike series has three other events based in Brookvale which are the Tour De Pants on July 10, Red Mud Mountain Mayhem on August 21 and closed out with the 8 Hour Grunt on September 10.

Billy MacDonald, event coordinator for Cycling P.E.I., said the organization has a clear mission statement that drives these events.

“Cycling P.E.I. is a non-profit organization and the mission statement is to promote healthier lifestyles and also to encourage children to be active through sport,” he said. “We’re looking on growing it, but we’re just planting seeds right now.”

Macdonald said the event isn’t just exclusive for Islanders to participate.

“There is a few people registered coming over from New Brunswick,” he said. “We’re hoping to have 50 or so participants so that should make for a good outing.”