Media Releases June 4, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MOUNTAIN BIKE CONFERENCE CROSSES POND
by John Ballard, Dumfries Standard Wednesday THE reins of a major international conference set to boost the region’s economy by more than £1million were handed over to Dumfries this week.
Richard Walton, Mayor of North Vancouver, visited the town on Monday to present council convener Patsy Gilroy with a proclamation declaring the World Mountain Bike Conference on Sustainability will be hosted by Scotland next year — the first time it has taken place outside Canada.
To host the event, which aims to work towards creating models for mountain biking environmental, economic and social sustainability, Dumfries and Galloway beat off stiff competition from Italy.
The conference will be held at the Easterbrook Hall on the Crichton Estate from May 12 to 15 next year, with the influx of delegates from across the world and events held around the conference, expected to generate £1.3million for the economy of south west Scotland.
Speaking in Dumfries, Mr Walton said: “My wife and I were inspired to start the conference five years ago when there was increasing conflict in Canada between the biking fraternity, residents and the environmental community.
“Bikers build wonderful trails benefiting them as users while wreaking havoc on narrow, vulnerable walks at the same time.
“It was of paramount importance to bring everyone together to resolve the issues around sustainable practices, environmental and social problems.
“Now the conference has left Canada for the first time, I am really going to enjoy bringing together all the international biking clans to Dumfries.”
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