Ourea Events at the Kendal Mountain Festival

This weekend, Kendal Mountain Festival brought the outdoor community together to celebrate mountains, community and adventure, with a world-class program of films, speakers and presentations. Ourea Events were delighted to be involved in the programme of events, including organising the sold-out adidas TERREX Kendal Mountain Festival 10k Trail Run to raise funds for the Kendal Mountain Rescue Team.

Read on to find out all about our involvement at the Kendal Mountain Festival this weekend!

Kendal town centre was buzzing for the start of the adidas TERREX Kendal Mountain Festival 10k Trail Run ©Andy Milton

The Adventure Sports Events Conference 

In association with the Kendal Mountain Festival, Ourea Events and Open Tracking hosted the Adventure Sports Events Conference (ASEC), which is the UK’s only conference aimed specifically at those who organise adventure sports events.

This year, ASEC took place on the Friday before the Kendal Mountain Festival weekend and nearly 80 race organisers, race directors and planners from across the UK (and a few from Europe) attended.

ASEC provides an opportunity to hear from highly regarded speakers, and this year, Dave Robinson (Access and Recreation Officer, Loch Lomond National Park) and Matt Neale (Lead Ranger Yorkshire Dales National Park) gave a joint presentation about event access to National Parks and the countryside and mountains in the UK.

Next Up, Damian Hall challenged organisers on their sustainability credentials, and showcased how this was influencing elite athletes' perspectives on events they choose to enter or not.  

The final morning session was about the provision of medical services at events by Dr Charlotte Hattersley.

After a lunch break and networking opportunity, Lucy Speakman (Director Outdoor UK, adidas) shared her insights about brand sponsorship for events.  

The final speaker was Chris Barnes KC, from Exchange Chambers, who impressed everyone present with his no-nonsense summary of the legal implications should someone decide to sue a race organiser.

The day finished with a lively panel discussion with most of the room chipping in with questions and anecdotes.

ASEC was a great opportunity for event organisers to network and share their wisdom

Adidas TERREX Kendal Mountain Festival 10k Trail Run

This year, Ourea Events took over organising the popular adidas TERREX Kendal Mountain Festival 10k Trail Run. We ran this on a not-for-profit basis to raise money for the Kendal Mountain Rescue Team.

The race proved extremely popular, with entries completely sold out, and over 900 people gathered in the town centre for the start. The run started with a brutal initial climb up Beast Banks, followed by a traverse along Scout Scar edge, visiting many landmarks used by the local running community, before descending back into the town towards the cheering crowds that had gathered at the finish. Runners were rewarded at the finish with an adidas TERREX beer from Hawkshead brewery.

There was some excellent racing from the winners, Ross Gollan, who was mere seconds outside of the course record, and Helen Smith. It was a beautiful, crisp morning – perfect conditions for trail running.

Shane Ohly, from Ourea Events, is also a member of Kendal Mountain Rescue Team. He said, “It is a privilege to be a member of Kendal MRT, and I am delighted that I am able to use the expertise of Ourea Events to organise the trail run, whilst also raising valuable funds for the team.” He continued, “It is such a logical connection for our Kendal-based businesses, Ourea Events and the Kendal Mountain Festival, to work together to support the outstanding work of Kendal MRT. It is a win-win for everyone involved, and whilst the final figure is yet to be confirmed, we will have raised at least £7,000 for the team this weekend.” 

The trails on Scout Scar and Cunswick Scar were a route highlight ©Steve Ashworth

Event Team Dinner

Our events are only possible due to the hard work and dedication of a passionate team of volunteers and paid staff who sacrifice their time to make sure our participants have the most incredible experience.

As a way of thanking the team for their efforts, we hosted a formal event team dinner at the Castle Green Hotel this Friday evening.

It was wonderful to welcome so many familiar faces, although it was sometimes hard to recognise everyone in their formal attire and not covered in mud!

Here, Shane Ohly, presented long service awards to those who had worked more than 25 events. It was an excellent evening of catching up with old friends, sharing stories of past events, and dancing into the night to the fantastic cover band.

It was a fabulous evening enjoyed by all

Shane Ohly at Patagonia CLIMB Session

Ourea Events CEO, Shane Ohly, was talking at the Patagonia CLIMB Session on Saturday morning whilst the 10K Trail Race was taking place. Taking to the stage alongside Katie Mackay, the two were interviewed by Rob Greenwood (UKC) and Molly Thompson-Smith (Team GB Climbing) about their two Classic Rock Challenge records completed earlier this year. Katie completed the first sub-24-hour female Classic Rock, and Shane set a blistering new record for the fastest completion of Classic Rock, running, and climbing solo and unsupported.

Shane Ohly was there to talk about his epic Classic Rock round

Janie Oates at WomOMM: Women & the OMM 

Ourea Events’ Sales and Marketing Director, Janie Oates, spoke at the Cotswold Outdoor Stage on Sunday about her recent win at the OMM Elite course. She and her running partner, Victoria Thompson, spoke to host, Becki Vale, about their experience on the challenging course in Langdale this October, and spoke about the importance of female representation at sporting events such as mountain marathons. Janie and Victoria were the first female pair to complete the OMM Elite course in years.

Janie and Victoria had an extremely impressive run at the OMM this year