FOLLOWING an absence of almost two years, the UK’s premier enduro series returns next week to the venue where it all started – Innerleithen.

Based at the town's Victoria Park, this month's National Enduro Series race will see around 350 riders compete on special timed stages within Forestry Commission Scotland’s Caberston and Traquair forests.

Series founder Duncan Nisbet is delighted to bringing the race back to Innerleithen. He told us: "Innerleithen MTB Racing had been running successful local races for a number of years, long before the term enduro entered the vocabulary.

"I took forward a proposal to turn their stage race into a National Series and spent time speaking with event organisers and racers locally, nationally and internationally in an effort to ensure we developed a series worthy of the National title."

A partnership between the National Series organisers and Lochaber-based No Fuss Events has led to the races becoming amongst the most anticipated on the circuit.

Now in its fourth year, the National Series has delivered sold out rounds right across the length and breadth of the country, working closely with local communities at each venue.

Frazer Coupland of No Fuss Events said: “We go to great lengths to engage with local communities and businesses in the lead up to any event.

"As an example, we’ve been in dialogue with the Forestry Commission and Innerleithen Community Trust since last year and Scottish Borders Council and local businesses in the early part of this year."

Riders will practice the six special stages through the Saturday (August 12) with racing taking place the following day.

Frazer added: "We’re based in Victoria Park to encourage competitors to spend time and of course money with local businesses, ensuring the economic gain from the event is shared by the town.

"We purposely do not bring in external caterers or retailers in order to help the local economy as far as possible.

"We’re delighted with the response from the business community in Innerleithen and our competitors now have access to a range of special offers due to that two way relationship.”

As well as individual prizes in various categories over the weekend, riders are awarded points contributing to the overall series.

Going into the Innerleithen round it is two local riders who are leading the main categories - Janey Kennedy riding for Go Where Scotland and Lewis Buchanan riding for Trek Factory Racing.

The last few entries for the Innerleithen round are still available with all the details at www.scottishenduroseries.co.uk