Focal Events Delivers Biggest Panaracer Dirty Reiver to Date
29th April 2025, Cumbria: This Saturday saw the biggest and best edition of the Panaracer Dirty Reiver to date with an international field of 2,000 riders descending on Kielder Forest to ride between 65 and 200 kilometres of some of the best gravel in the country.
The success of the event, delivered by leading British gravel cycling event organiser, Focal Events, also behind the SCOTT Frontier 300, crankbrothers Gravel Rocks and the all-new gravel race Dalby Grit, is further confirmation of the continued growth and strength of the gravel scene in the UK. A scene which continues to see increasing numbers of both participants and events in the calendar.
The stage was set when the Panaracer Dirty Reiver sold out in just a matter of hours back in November, a common trend now with the much sought-after ride in Northumberland.
The bumper field took to the start line on Saturday morning under sunny skies, supported by 18 brand partners and exhibitors at the event’s Gravel Expo, the Dirty Reiver delivered on its reputation and kicked off an exciting season of events for Focal.
“Each year we try to further refine and improve the highly anticipated sell-out event that we know people already love and talk about throughout the year, and this edition was no different,” explained co-director Bryan Singleton. “A few small tweaks to our start timings aimed to help those riders travelling from further afield, whilst a couple of adjustments to our course and layout helped further improve the overall rider flow. Sometimes it’s the small details that aren’t noticeable to most which actually make a good experience even better.”
The Panaracer Dirty Reiver kicks off Focal’s summer of events with the ultra-endurance, coast-to-coast SCOTT Frontier 300 and inaugural Dalby Grit race taking place this June, followed by the second edition of Gravel Rocks presented by crankbrothers this July - an action packed weekend celebration of gravel riding and racing.
Entry for the 2026 edition of Dirty Reiver will open later this year with next year’s event set to go one better once again, celebrating its 10th anniversary.
“We’re already looking forward to next year’s celebrations and the interest from our brand partners and the wider industry to support this event continues to grow,” added Bryan Singleton. “We’ll have a number of extra special celebrations alongside the usual agenda in 2026 - watch this space!”
Riders looking to enter other Focal events this summer can still register at:
SCOTT Frontier 300 - https://www.frontier300.cc/
Dalby Grit - https://www.dalbygrit.cc/
crankbrothers Gravel Rocks - https://gravelrocks.cc/
A selection of imagery can be found here.
Tom Copeland
About Focal Events
Located in the heart of the North of England, Focal Events Ltd brings a wealth of experience to the world of cycling. With a dedicated team of passionate riders who have explored the far reaches of the globe on two wheels, Focal Events understand the essence of a truly exceptional cycling event.
As a company, its mission is clear: to provide “best in class” events and services to its riders. The team prioritises working closely with the local communities they visit, ensuring a positive impact and fostering strong connections.
