Contender Fest coming to site near Bournemouth Airport in September

Contender Fest, a three-day festival which combines fitness challenges and taster classes, with food, entertainment, music and family fun is coming to Parley Lane near Bournemouth Airport this September.

Central to the event will be a custom-built obstacle course, suitable for everyone from age 16 upwards, with up to 40 different parts to the course, including a sledge pull, wooden incline walls, Berlin walls, tunnels, monkey bars, nets, tyre obstacles, a seesaw and log flip.

Running from September 10-12, the festival also includes fun fitness challenges with cash prizes, classes, family fun and entertainment. Tickets are available from £8.

The giant obstacle course will host several events such as the PX2 Team event, where two people work together to conquer the course for the chance of winning £500, and Run 4 Your Life, an individual event where the first one over all the obstacles in the fastest time gets the £500 cash prize.

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Then there is the Swarm 100 when 100 people will be let loose to climb, play and overcome the obstacles across the course for an hour.

The event organiser is Bournemouth businessman Des Burke, owner of Flavours cookery school. He said: "The obstacle course is going to be a real highlight but rest assured there is no mud, no electric shocks, no water traps, and no vast distances to cover between obstacles. It’s pure fitness fun – challenging but not defeating, and something everyone can have a go at."

As well as the Contender Games, the event will include taster sessions and classes across 12 different fitness and wellbeing disciplines from Yoga and meditation to kickboxing and military style bootcamp fitness.

A central stage will host performances from musicians, local groups and theatre schools throughout the day, while DJs will get the after party going on the Friday and Saturday evenings.

Visitors can get kitted out with gym equipment and clothing at fitness-related trade stands, while a host of food traders will be offering up exotic street food, gourmet treats, award-winning local produce as well as three speciality bars.

There will also be a Craft Village showcasing artisan crafts along with live demonstrations and workshops. Children will love the mini-obstacle course, rides, fairground, face painting, entertainers and Wessex vintage Fire trucks.

Tickets are on sale now starting from £8 or £3.50 for children, with under 5s going free, and big discounts for NHS staff. Book before July 4 to take advantage of the Early Bird offers. Go to contenderfest.co.uk/ for more information and to buy tickets.