Panaracer Dirty Reiver Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Biggest and Best Ride Yet
29th April 2026, Cumbria: Perfect weather conditions and pristine gravel greeted over 2,000 riders for the 10th edition of the Panaracer Dirty Reiver this Saturday - marking a momentous day and the biggest Dirty Reiver to date.
Organiser Focal Events once again combined an impressive roster of sponsors and partners with an enviable set of routes and schedule for the weekend. Riders were treated to new courses for each of the ride distances - 200km, 130km and 65km - as is customary for the Dirty Reiver after every three years. With oversubscribed entries selling out in just a matter of hours last year, even getting to the start line was an achievement for most, before even contending with the challenge of a big day in the saddle.
The day ended with former domestic professional Damien Clayton finishing with the fastest time in the 200, in 6:14:25, with Rachel Manning the fastest woman with a time of 8:07:47.
“We wanted to find ways of elevating the overall rider experience this year to celebrate the 10th edition of Dirty Reiver, without compromising what people enjoy so much about the ride,” explained co-director Neil Atkinson. “From increased on-site brand activations to more on-course support, we worked with our partners to up the hype this April and everyone really delivered to make it an extra special day in Kielder.”
The Panaracer Dirty Reiver officially kicked off Focal Events’ year with the ultra-endurance, coast-to-coast SCOTT Frontier 300 in May and the second edition of Dalby Grit race this June, followed by the third edition of SCOTT Gravel Rocks following in July.
The event features unique activations from many of its event partners, from Panaracer creating a limited edition Dirty Reiver 10th anniversary tyre, to POC’s custom helmet design, CamelBak giving riders the chance to create personalised engraved bottles and more.
The full list of sponsors and partners included Panaracer, CamelBak, Lauf, SRAM, Wahoo, Chamois Butt’r, CLIF, Fenwick’s, Gaerne, Hiplok, Moon Sports, POC, Red Bull, Ride With GPS, Rouleur, Selle San Marco, stohk, Topeak, Unior Bike Tools, Zipp, Action Medical Research, Calvert Kielder, Forestry England and Team Cycles.
Riders looking to get a place in the 2027 Panaracer Dirty Reiver should register their interest at https://dirtyreiver.co.uk/ with entries officially opening this summer.
Riders looking to enter other Focal events can still register at:
SCOTT Frontier 300 - https://www.frontier300.cc/
Dalby Grit - https://www.dalbygrit.cc/
SCOTT Gravel Rocks - https://gravelrocks.cc/
A selection of event imagery can be downloaded 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.
