SLEEPWELL Hotels has announced that it will be sponsoring next month's End to End mountain bike challenge for the eighth consecutive year.

The event will take place on Sunday, September 18, and has already attracted 1,700 competitors from all over the world.

Mark Wilson, the managing director of Sleepwell Hotels, said: "The End to End has grown to be such fantastic sporting spectacle and is a real testimony to the Isle of Man's popularity for cycling and also the incredibly hard work of the organising team.

"We are delighted to continue our sponsorship with another major event that is so beneficial to the Island's profile and hospitality industry."

The End to End course runs from the Point of Ayre to the Calf of Man – a 75km distance. Most competitors will take between four and six hours to compete the endurance event.

As part of the sponsorship Sleepwell Hotels will be organising a gala buffet for the presentation evening which is held at the Villa Marina following the event. It has also donated a £1,000 silver plated 21 inch trophy to be presented each year to the overall event winner.

Lloyds Banking Group has also donated a pair of tickets to the UCI World Cup Track Cycling event - a test event for the Olympics – which will be awarded to one competitor.

Race sign on and registration will take place at The Claremont Hotel on Friday, September 15, from 5pm to 8pm for local riders. From 2pm on Saturday 17, other competitors can sign on.

Click here for more information on the Sleepwell Hotels which include the Chesterhouse Hotel, Claremont Hotel and Rutland Hotel.