A TRIO of events are to crown a big weekend of competition, speed and fun in Ryedale this week.

Cycling, running and driving will all feature in a busy schedule, with much of the action happening in Kirkbymoorside.

On Saturday, stage three of the fourth annual Tour de Yorkshire - being billed as the biggest yet - will wind through the northern part of Ryedale.

The 181km route passes along the A170 through Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside and Thornton-le-Dale, including a sprint through Pickering.

The race will enter Ryedale via Sutton Bank at about 3pm and pass through the towns shortly after. Road closures will be in place for about an hour, and spectators are being urged to leave the car at home and get to their vantage point in good time.

The 2017 Tour de Yorkshire gained a worldwide audience of 7.8 million. The event boosted the local economy by an estimated £60 million.

For full details of road closures, go to northyorks.gov.uk/tour, and for more details on the race itself go to letour.yorkshire.com.

Kirkbymoorside is welcoming the Tour by dressing the route but also by creating its first large Land Art project. Spearheaded by Derek Chapman of the town council, the artwork will be visible from the air and has been created thanks to local artists and Kirkbymoorside cubs.

Cllr Chapman said: “It’s all very exciting, and we are proud to be part of this wonderful event.”

On Sunday, the yearly double event of the Kirkbymoorside 10k race and the fundraising Beadlam Tractor Run will take place.

The Kirkbymoorside 10K, recently announced as sold-out by the organisers, is in its 19th year and has gained a loyal following among runners of all abilities.

The friendly atmosphere of the race is said to be due to the help volunteered by Kirkbymoorside Primary School children and staff, business and townspeople. Events start at 12.55pm with the main 10k starting at 2pm.

The annual Beadlam Charity Tractor Run will also take place on Sunday.

The tractor run’s start venue had to change due to wet conditions at Beadlam Grange. It will now set off from Wombleton Airfield at 9.30am prompt.

The tractor run was started by Bernard Simpson, 88, from Beadlam, in 2003. It was planned as a one-off event to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, but it was such a success a second one was arranged. It’s now in its 16th year.

Over the years, it has raised more than £100,000 for the vital YAA service.

The tractors - all 200 of them - complete a 50-mile round trip, passing through 20 local towns and villages, including being led through Kirkbymoorside by the town’s brass band at 11.45.

For more information in the tractor run go to beadlamtractor.co.uk. For more on the 10k, go to kirkbymoorside10k.com.