Disaster was narrowly averted this weekend as trail sabateurs attempted to disrupt the Vitus First Tracks enduro at Rostrevor.

Photos: Vitus First Track Enduro Facebook

On Saturday morning, marshals reported that fallen trees and wire strung at neck height on technical sections had been placed on one of the stages. The wire especially was hard to spot and could have been potentially fatal in a race situation. It is believed that walkers may be responsible for the debris as they were unhappy with the tracks being used for racing.

Glyn O’Brien, the event organiser slammed those responsible. He told the Belfast Telegraph: “There were five or six places where they had put the wire/string at head height and they had used our tape to re-direct riders into areas where the wire was. It is very thin and you wouldn’t see it until the last minute.

“By the look of it I don’t think it was kids who did this but this time I have a feeling it was maybe walkers who don’t like bikers, who maybe feel mountain biking shouldn’t be on those trails.”