The deadline for entries to this year’s Manx Telecom End2End Mountain Bike Challenge is this Saturday [August 23]. All riders in either the individual or team categories have to enter before 11.59pm to be part of the 46-mile race from the Point of Ayre to Cregneash on September 7. With nearly 1,400 signed-up at the time of writing, organisers are urging anyone who wants to take part to sign-up now at www.manxe2e.org as entries are restricted to a maximum of 1,700.

In addition to the individual race there are also two team competitions. The Relay is for teams of four. Riders don’t need to work for the same company but the event is great for building team spirit for any businesses which want to take part. The first rider will cycle from the Point of Ayre to Brandywell where they hand over to the second rider who will cycle to St Johns. The third relay checkpoint is at Eairy Cushlin with the last rider in each relay team riding from there to the finish in Cregneash. The winners will be the team with fastest combined time for all four riders.

The Corporate Team competition is for teams of four riders who all work for the same company with each one covering the full race distance. The winners will be the team with fastest combined time for all four riders. Entry fees for both corporate competitions is ?350 per team and includes entry fees, food, transport from Douglas to the start at the Point of Ayre, and transport from the finish in Cregneash back to Douglas.

If you just want to enter as an individual it costs ?45 per rider and includes a commemorative tee-shirt. Entry plus transport (from Douglas to the start and from the finish back to Douglas) costs ?58. Manx Telecom mobile customers will receive a ?5 discount off their entry fee.

All profits from the event go towards the End2End Legacy Project which is already in progress, and when completed will see the creation of a park in Archallagan Plantation which will include a dedicated junior race course, graded mountain bike trails for various abilities, and play areas.