How it all began

20 years ago Roger Dillon & Andrew Denton came up with an idea. Both keen Mountain Bikers, Andrew had completed a number of ‘KIMM’s - a 2 day navigation mountain marathon for fell runners, billed as an all-round test of mountain skills and fitness. “Why not an MTB version?” they thought!

Friend and MTB race organizer of the NEMBA series Graham Longstaff was approached - and a new format of Mountain Biking was created - MTB orienteering. The first such event of any size, anywhere in the world took place on the North York Moors in 1991 - the rest is history!

Now 20 years later Andrew and Roger are still involved, working with the organizers of the original inspiration for the Challenge - the Original Mountain Marathon (Previously KIMM). The event promises to be better than ever - we are starting with a midsummer Challenge in the summer format to ‘re-boot’ the event, but when successful we will add the more serious ‘overnight-winter’ version in the Autumn.

For an in depth article about the Polaris Challenge we suggest you check out Privateer magazine (issue 3) http://www.rouleur.cc/privateer-3

See below for an MBUK article, from back in the day, featuring Derek Purdy;