ORGANISERS of a major sporting event in Peebles have 10,000 reasons to be smiling this week.

The British Mountain Bike Enduro Championship, which is the headline event at this year’s TweedLove Bike Festival, will benefit from the backing of EventScotland this year.

The championship – known as the most important race in UK mountain biking – has been awarded £10,000 in the latest round of the national body's Funding Programme.

Event director Neil Dalgleish of TweedLove Festival told the Peeblesshire News: "The Tweed Valley has an incredible offer for mountain biking and cycling in general.

"We’re delighted to host the British Champs race – the most important Enduro race of the year - in what is now seen as the UK’s spiritual home for Enduro riding.

"The appeal of our assets is clear, as we regularly have twice as many riders attending our races than events elsewhere in the UK.

"They always get a very warm Tweed Valley welcome and have a fantastic time on and off their bikes.”

The Peebles race is one of 12 events and festivals across Scotland to be awarded a share of £100,000.

The enduro championship takes place during the main weekend of Tweedlove Festival between June 8 and 10.

And it will feature race stages in Glentress and Tweed Valley Forests, designed to test technique, endurance and stamina.

TweedLove Festival began nine years ago with some cycling friends organising events for friends to take part in.

And it has grown into one of the UK’s biggest cycling festivals, contributing an estimated £750,000 towards the local economy and attracting thousands of visitors to the region, now recognised as a leading cycling destination in Scotland.

Paula Ward, VisitScotland regional leadership director, told us: “I am delighted that the British Enduro Bike Championship has been selected as a funding recipient in Round 37 of EventScotland’s National Funding Programme.

"Hosting the British Enduro Bike Championship during Tweedlove festival, Scotland’s premier festival for mountain biking, helps affirm the region’s reputation as a world renowned destination for mountain biking, as well as providing a major boost for the local economy.

"Scotland is the perfect stage for events and our National programme plays a crucial role, not only in maintaining our vibrant and diverse portfolio, but in developing domestic tourism and generating beneficial impacts to all areas of the country.”

National Programme funding supports the strategic development of events which occur outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow, with the aim of driving domestic tourism, delivering economic impact for local communities and generating media profile for Scotland.

Building upon existing event activities, extending marketing reach and enhancing the on-site food and drink offer are just some of the ways national programme funds are often put to use.