Contrary Life

Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

  • Home
  • About
  • Events by region
    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East
    • London
    • South East
    • South West
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales
Home > Alternative Sport > Celebrate Saturnalia with real ale and the quirky chariot racing championships

Celebrate Saturnalia with real ale and the quirky chariot racing championships

By Caroline King - January 6, 2016Posted in : Alternative Sport, Festival, Food & Drink, TOP-STORY, Walks

World MTB Chariot Racing Championships

Competitors at the chariot racing start line.

When: 9th January 2016

Where: Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales

£: The chariot racing is open to teams of three people (two riders and one charioteer) over 16 years.

What is it?

The people of Llanwrtyd Wells will be turning Roman this month as they celebrate Saturnalia, the major annual festival of the Romans, held during the winter.  The festival, held in honour of the deity Saturn, was known for its unrestrained merry-making, including banqueting, gambling, frolics and fun.

Every year Llanwrtyd Wells holds the World MTB Chariot Racing Championships, along with the Saturnalia Winter Warmer Real Ale Festival.  Special chariots have been built using traditional Roman mild steel, vulcanised rubber and welding techniques for the event.  These chariots are designed to be pulled by two mountain bikes alongside each other.

For the World MTB Chariot Racing Championships, teams must race against each other and the clock to determine the winner.  Teams will have to demonstrate exceptional skill and courage, and will need to coordinate and cooperate fully as a single unit to beat the other challengers.  The course itself is a half mile long circuit based in the grounds of Abernant Lake Hotel, near to Llanwrtyd railway station.  The circuit is partially on tarmac road, complete with speed bumps, and partly on rough track.

Chariots will race against each other in pairs.  The fastest four teams in these one lap heats will take part in a grand final of two laps to determine the overall World Champions.   The winners receive a world cup and medals. There are also medals and cups for the second and third placed teams. In addition there will be prizes for the best Roman costumes.

Those wishing to make the most of the Saturnalia celebrations can also enjoy some real ales by joining in with the Saturnalia Real Ale Ramble.  There will be plenty of winter real ales to enjoy as well as food cooked to original Roman recipes by Apicius.

More info: www.green-events.co.uk

Related Posts

  • Who will win this weekend's wacky Welsh race? Man or horse?
  • Hay ho, hay ho, it's off to Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival we go!
  • The Burning of the Clavie in Burghead

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Tagged With: Powys events, Saturnalia Real Ale Ramble, Wales, World MTB Chariot Racing Championships

Comments

  1. By Don Payne on February 17, 2016

    Found this footage of this year’s race – https://youtu.be/BZH_IN65dTA

Curiosity of the Week

Normanton Church, a waterside wonder
Normanton Church by Karen Cann

Welcome to a new year, and a new Curiosity of the Week! Our first curiosity of 2021 is a sunken church. It’s also one of the UK’s finest hidden gem tourist attractions…

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Top Story

Drama from a toilet cubicle
Overflow, Bush Theatre steaming show

This month, UK audiences can enjoy a streamed performance of Overflow, a heart-wrenching show played out in a club toilet…

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

What are you looking for today?

  • Alternative Sport
  • Art
  • Cabaret and Circus
  • Cinema
  • Classes, Workshops & Talks
  • Club Night
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Exhibitions and Installations
  • Fairs and Markets
  • Festival
  • Food & Drink
  • Heritage and History
  • Interview
  • Literature
  • Museum
  • Music
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Review
  • Science and Technology
  • Theatre
  • Walks and Tours

Sign up to our Newsletter

Copyright © 2021 · Contrary Life