Date: Sunday 21 August 2016
Event: Ulster XC MTB Championships
Venue: Castlewellan Forest
Host club: Banbridge CC
Banbridge Cycling Club is proud to host the Ulster Mountain Bike Cross-country Championships at Castlewellan Forest Park.
Course Description:
This course was first used for the 2014 Ulster Championships and for the 2015 NPS. The course is a mixture of trail centre tracks, open grass and natural single track. It also has 4 sections of fire road along with the start/finish area on each lap which will enhance overtaking.
There is a good mix of trail centre tracks and natural tracks with fire roads well spread around the course to facilitate overtaking.
NOTE: The course is only open for riding during the weekend of the event when the trail centre tracks will be closed.
Course map: here
Course preview videos from 2015:
Part 1 (YouTube)
Part 2 (YouTube)
Directions: Castlewellan Forest
Located adjacent to the town of Castlewellan, Co Down
Click here to view in google maps
Co-ordinates: N 54.258506, W 5.942659
Race categories:
SENIOR MEN
WOMEN (Including Junior women)
JUNIOR MEN (Those born 1998 or 1999)
M30 MEN
M40 MEN
M50 MEN (INCLUDING M60)
UNDER 16 (Those born 2000 or 2001)
UNDER 14 (Those born 2002 or 2003)
UNDER 12 (Those born 2004 or 2005)
UNDER 10 (Those born 2006 or 2007) (NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACE)
UNDER 8 (Those born 2008, 2009, 2010 etc) (NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACE)
UNDER 6 (a ‘fun’ race for riders who can’t complete an Under 8s course)
Course practice:
Practice on the day will only be allowed during official practice times. Riders caught practicing on the course when other races are in progress will be disqualified. Practice will be available on the Saturday beforehand from 2 pm to 4 pm.
Open practice on the full course – 09:30 – 11:45, 13:20 – 13:45
Schedule of the day
09:30 – Sign on opens
10:30 – Under 6 Fun
10:45 – Under 8
11:00 – Under 10
11:15 – Under 12
11:40 – Presentations for youth races
12:00 – Junior
12:01 – Under 16
12:02 – Women
12:03 – M50
12:04 – Under 14
13:40 – Presentations
14:00 – Senior Men
14:01 – M30
14:01 – M40
16:00 – Presentations
Race Fees: Adults: £15 (€20)
Juniors: £10 (€10)
Under 16s & Under 14s: £5 (€5)
Under 12s & Under 10s & Under 8s: £2 (€2)
Under 6s: £1 (€1)
NOTE: SIGN ON FOR ALL RACES CLOSES ON THE DAY 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE START OF EACH RACE.
Race timing: Laptop timing for Under 8s up to seniors
Prizes:
Under 6s / parent support / fun race – gift for all participants
Under 8s – Top 3 males, top 3 females – medals (non championship)
Under 10s – Top 3 males, top 3 females – medals (non championship)
Under 12s – Top 3 males, top 3 females – medals
Under 14s – Top 3 males, top 3 females – medals
Under 16s – Top 3 males, top 3 females – medals
Juniors – Top 3 males, top 3 females – medals
Seniors – Top 3 males, top 3 females – medals
Ulster Championship medals
Ulster championship medals will be awarded for the following races:
Senior men, Women, Junior men, M30, M40 and M50
Under 16, Under 14, Under 12
Ulster medals will only be awarded to riders who satisfy the following criteria
(a) belong to a club based in Ulster, or
(b) are unattached but currently resident in Ulster, or
(c) were born in Ulster.
Criteria for winning championship medals
Championship medals will be awarded irrespective of the number of entrants in each category.
To race in the championship categories riders must have a Limited competition licence or a Full competition licence. Riders cannot take part in the championship category races using an event licence (previously known as a one-day licence).
An annual youth licence will cover the riders in the youth categories.
Pre-entry: To 19 August 2016
NOTE: Under 6s to register on the day.
To see who has entered so far click here.
Catering: No catering will be provided. The forest café is just a short distance away from race HQ.
Facilities: Castlewellan Forest
Car parking: On grass close to Race HQ. Please note Castlewellan has a one way system and as you leave you will have to pass the pay kiosk but you won’t have to pay. Observe instructions from car park attendants.
Toilets: In main forest park car park
Showers: Only available if you are camping
Bike wash: In main forest park car park (£1 fee)
Café: Yes in main forest park
Gazebos: Are welcome close to the course
Camping: A campsite is available on Forest Service site.
Host club website: Banbridge CC
Race organiser: Maurice Mayne (email)
Contact number: 07958 040081