The man behind one of Cumbria’s biggest sporting events has been warned he faces a possible jail sentence for breaching health and safety regulations.

Mike James, of Endurance Sports Limited, admitted two charges at North and West Cumbria Magistrates’ Court in Carlisle in relation to Gelt Gladiator.

The case comes days before the third instalment of the mud-filled obstacle event is set to take place on farmland and in Gelt Woods near Brampton.

After entering his guilty pleas, James insisted that the safety of the 2,500 people taking part in this year’s event is “paramount”. He said that the course will be signed off by safety specialists and a robust event and safety plan is in place.

James, 42, of Knowe Road, Stanwix, Carlisle, admitted failing to ensure that participants in the 2015 Gelt Gladiator event were not exposed to health and safety risks.

He also admitted to failing to notify Carlisle City Council, the relevant enforcing authority, of an incident where competitor Steven Martin was injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

District Judge Gerald Chalk said there were several broken limbs during the event.

He committed the case to Carlisle Crown Court where James will be sentenced next month.

“You have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and you will get credit for that,” said Judge Chalk. He also considered that the James had not been in trouble before but told him that custody – one year as a possible starting point – was an option.

In a statement, due to be sent out to Gelt Gladiator participants yesterday, James wanted to make them aware of the situation.

He wrote: “As you may be aware and regrettably, we had number of injuries at the 1st GG held on Sunday, May 16, 2015. Subsequently I have been prosecuted for health and safety breaches, for which I have taken full responsibility in court.

“I learned from the mistakes that were made and made many organisational and safety changes at GG 2016 that resulted in no recorded injuries or incidents.”

Endurance Sport Limited is working with Sygma Safety, a mud obstacle event safety specialist, who sign off the course as safe prior to the weekend’s events taking place.

James added: “We have robust event and safety plans in place that have been viewed and discussed with the Council Event Safety Action Group to ensure the standards that were set in 2016 are continued in 2017.

“I am writing to assure you that your safety is of paramount importance and we are looking forward to another successful event this weekend.”

More than 2,000 people took part in Gelt Gladiator last year when it expanded into a two-day event. In 2015, the year it started, almost 2,500 people signed up.

He is due to be sentenced at Crown Court on July 7.