A competitor at a transition point in this year's Keswick Mountain Festival triathlon. Photo: Dougie Cunningham

A competitor at a transition point in this year's Keswick Mountain Festival triathlon. Photo: Dougie Cunningham

Outdoor brand Dare 2b has signed up to sponsor a major mountain festival for three years.

Keswick Mountain Festival announced the deal, which it said will strengthen the festival which this year brought more than 13,000 people to the area.

The main sponsorship by Dare 2b will mean a visit by the brand’s MAD bike demo team, one of the UK’s leading mountain bike stunt display squads.

Dare 2b will also provide the AirBag, a unique stunt and training feature for bikers who want to expand their repertoire of tricks at the event next May.

Festival organiser Kate Thomas said: “Having such a well known brand as Dare 2b on board as our new headline sponsor is fantastic for the festival and its long term future.

“The festival has gone from strength to strength in recent years and has proved hugely popular with everyone from families to experienced outdoor enthusiasts. Our association with Dare 2b further strengthens the Keswick Mountain Festival and will help ensure that the event continues to grow and deliver even more great activities and entertainments for our visitors.”

This year the Keswick Mountain Festival offered a range of activities and attractions including celebrity guest speakers at the festival village, plus sessions ranging from bushcraft activities, rockclimbing taster sessions, have-a-go kayaking, bike demos and an extensive programme of guided walks.

Helen O’Carroll of Dare 2b said: “The Keswick Mountain Festival with Dare 2b is going to be a spectacular event and we are delighted to be the festival’s new headline sponsor.

“The festival is one of the best outdoor events in Europe with a stunning array of activities for people to participate in, across a huge range of outdoor sports.

“Dare 2b has a strong profile in mountain biking and snowsports and also offers a range of high-end technical sportswear across a number of other areas, from hiking to climbing.

“We felt that with the diversity and quality that is on offer at the festival, it was the perfect fit for our own brand and we are looking forward to a great Keswick Mountain Festival with Dare 2b in 2012.”

The festival’s short and long triathlons have already sold out, with some participants waiting up until one minute past midnight on the day entries opened to bag a place.

Swimmers take to Derwentwater during this year's festival triathlon. Photo: Dougie Cunningham

Swimmers take to Derwentwater during this year's festival triathlon. Photo: Dougie Cunningham

Entrant Ian Blakemore from County Durham said: “I had wanted to take part in the long triathlon last year but before I had a chance to sign up all the places had been taken.

“The race has a reputation as having one of the most beautiful courses in the UK and there was no way I was going to miss out this time around. I waited up until after midnight to grab my place. Even though I completed my entry almost immediately, I noticed that 20 places had already been filled, so the bags under my eyes the following morning were well worth it.”

A1 Multisport is sponsoring the triathlons. Other sponsors include Trekmates, Berghaus, DMM, Edz, Haglöfs, Hi-Tec, KTA & Buff, Salomon, the Lake District National Park Authority, Silva and Singletrack.

The festival will take place from 16 to 20 May in and around the northern Lakeland town.

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