The competitive calendar is filled with stage races on the road and the Ulster XC MTB Championships this weekend.
Foyle 3 Day – 3-5 August
Full details on the first edition of this event can be found by clicking here
Errigal Youth Tour – 4-6 August
Full details on the biggest youth stage race in Ireland that takes place in Donegal this weekend can be found by clicking here
Ulster XC MTB Champs – 5th August
Shimna Wheeler Cycling Club is proud to host the Ulster Mountain Bike Cross-country Championships at Castlewellan Forest Park on the 5th August.
This year’s championship will be contested on a new course designed to bring out the best in the contestants. The course is a mixture of fire road, trail centre tracks, gruelling climbs and natural flowing single track with plenty of opportunity to over take; while challenging technical sections will truly test Ulsters best.
This years course will take in the fantastic biking sections of Dolly’s Brae and the Moorish Tower providing a real test for all participants.
Course preview video – here
NOTE: The course is only open for riding during the weekend of the event when the trail centre tracks will be closed.
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 2000 or 2001)
M30 MEN
M40 MEN
M50 MEN (INCLUDING M60)
UNDER 16 (Those born 2002 or 2003)
UNDER 14 (Those born 2004 or 2005)
UNDER 12 (Those born 2006 or 2007)
WOMEN Beginners (NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACE)
UNDER 10 (Those born 2008 or 2009) (NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACE)
UNDER 8 (Those born 2010, 2011, 2012 etc) (NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACE)
UNDER 6 (a ‘fun’ race for riders who can’t complete an Under 8s course)
NOTE: This event is open to all riders with restrictions only on the medal presentations (see note below).
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 – 09:00 – 11:45, 13:20 – 13:45
Schedule of the day
09:00 – Sign on opens
10:00 – Under 6 Fun
10:15 – Under 8
10:30 – Under 10
10:50 – Under 12
11:15 – Prize giving for youth races
12:00 – Junior men
12:01 – Under 16 boys
12:02 – Under 14 boys
12:03 – M50 men
12:05 – Women
12:06 – Under 16 girls
12:07 – Under 14 girls
13:30 – Prize giving
14:00 – Senior Men
14:02 – M30
14:04 – M40
16:00 – Presentations
Race Fees: Adults: £15 if you pre-register and pre-pay, £18 (€20) if you pre-register but don’t pre-pay
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
– Belong to a club/team based in Ulster
– Unattached and resident in the Province
– Residency in the Province
– Belong to a club/ team based outside Ireland but,
1.Immediate past address was in Ulster
2.Most previous Irish club / team was based in the Province.
Criteria for winning championship medals
Championship medals will be awarded irrespective of the number of entrants in each category.
Race licences & one-day licences
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.
NOTE: Registrations for non-championship categories can be taken on the day.
To see who has entered click on the link here. (Password to open – “Castlewellan”)
Gridding: Will be based on the results from the current Ulster series league table. Weighting will be applied to riders who have competed in the various Senior categories.
Notes: Ensure bicycles are in good working order and that bar-ends have been fitted.
No electric bikes or motorised bicycles permitted.
No cyclo-cross bicycles permitted.
