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It's not about winning... it's the taking part!

by Powell Ettinger, 06 Jan 03.

Sponsorship of the Gorrick MBC Spring Series

It's not about winning... it's the taking part!

"For once the old adage is absolutely true!" commented Powell Ettinger, Marketing Director for biking holiday specialist Exodus on their recent tie up with mountain bike event organisers Gorrick MBC.

As the leading UK specialist in overseas biking holidays, Exodus have been approached numerous times before about sponsoring events but never felt comfortable in the 'winning at all cost' arena...

"Gorrick?s aim of 'encouraging mountain biking for the fun of it' as well as a competitive sport appealed to me. Our holidays are just that - holidays. We have always felt that it is the scenery and experiences on the way from A to B are important, not how quickly you do it."

"Hang on, Gorrick is a race organiser! Are you not contradicting yourself here?"

"Yes they are, but their emphasis is not on the winning at all costs, more the fun of participating in a well organised and structured event with like mind riders."

Recently 'Highly Commended' in the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, Exodus has been operating adventurous holidays for well over 25 years and now offers over 300 different itineraries in 80+ countries worldwide. Their biking holidays range from easy self-guided road rides through Europe to tough single track rides in the Pyrenees to fully supported mountain rides in Morocco and jungle rides in Costa Rica.

For the last 10 years Gorrick MBC have been organising mountain bike cross-country events in Berkshire, Hampshire, and Surrey for riders of all abilities. They have access to six distinctive all weather courses set in a mix of forests and heathland incorporating; rolling fire roads, fast forest tracks, climbs and descents, winding single track, stream crossings, drop offs and technical sections unique to each venue.

Exodus will be sponsoring and providing holiday prizes for Gorrick MBC's Spring Series, which kicks off on the 2 February 2003 at Warren Heath, Eversley, Hants. Further information on this event can be found at www.gorrick.com, and the full range of holidays offered by Exodus can be found at www.exodus.co.uk.