Red Bull Foxhunt Returns to Rostrevor

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is pleased to welcome the return of Red Bull Foxhunt to Rostrevor Mountain Bike Trails on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October 2017.

Red Bull has reversed the roles of hunter and fox - the hunted becomes the hunter. Two of the ‘foxes’ are worldwide, professional mountain bikers, Gee Atherton and Loic Bruni, with Gee holding several Downhill World Championship Titles and Loic currently holding the 2015 and 2017 UCI Downhill World Title. Three time winner local rider, Colin Ross from Rosco Lines also joins the ‘fox’ line-up. There will also be 50 additional riders racing down the trails this year, bringing the total number of competitors to 450.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Chairperson, Councillor Roisin Mulgrew said, “I am delighted to welcome the return of the Red Bull Foxhunt to the fantastic mountain bike trails in Rostrevor. Newry, Mourne and Down is positioning itself as the Outdoor Capital of Ireland and ‘epic events’ such as Red Bull Foxhunt, are instrumental in helping to showcase the district’s diverse outdoors.”

Councillor Mulgrew continued, “The focus of the Council’s Tourism Strategy, launched this year, is on creating destination experiences that are associated with the mountains and coastline. To assist in refining this ambition, the Council has been working on an Event Sport Tourism Framework. The Framework, following industry collaboration and in recognition of the superb range of outdoor event opportunities and activities, has recommended Newry, Mourne and Down positions the region as the ‘Outdoor Capital of Ireland’. In the coming months, the Council will be working with the industry to provide a platform to raise awareness of the region’s ambition to become ‘Outdoor Capital of Ireland’ and events such as Red Bull Foxhunt are paramount in helping deliver this profile internationally.”

Tourism NI Director of Marketing, Naomi Waite said, “Red Bull Foxhunt will have impact across social media before, during and after the event. Images and video footage of the stunning scenery and hair-raising mountain bike trails from the riders, their peers and mainstream media will be streamed across our key markets, resulting in many more visitors wishing to come to Northern Ireland to explore what we have to offer.”

This year’s Foxhunt has received support from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland.