03/07 NPS #5 2022

Date: Sunday 3 July 2022
Event: NPS XC Round 5
Venue: Mullaghmeen, Co. Westmeath
Host club: Mullaghmeen Mountain Bike Club

Course location
Address – PPVH+WJ, Tonyowen Lower, Ballymanus, Co. Westmeath
Co-ordinates – 53.747436, -7.271935
What3words – https://w3w.co/doll.apply.nervous
Google Maps – here

Course Description: There is a strong history of cycling in Mullaghmeen and there have been numerous events over the years. The local club, Mullaghmeen Mountain Bike Club, continue to build on this history by ongoing trail development and maintenance and with supporting local and national events.  The course is approx. 4.5km long with an elevation change per lap of 134 metres. The course can be described as an old school mountain bike track with medium length fire road climbs interspersed with technical singletrack climbs and descents. Highlights to be found include trails such as Feeling Good, DH2, and our very own natural half pipe trail. Fire road climbs are smooth and fast for the most part. If you like your race courses to be rooty, rocky, with some off cambers, technical descents, fun singletrack, along with punishing climbs and killer false flats then this is the one for you.

Race Timing: Laptop timing for Under 8s up to Seniors

Race Timetable: 
09:00 – Sign on opens
10:00 – Under 6s fun race
10:15 – Under 8s
10:30 – Under 10s
10:50 – Under 12s
11:15 – Prize giving for U8s, U10s and U12s
12:00 – Under 16s, Senior 4 men, Senior 2 women, Senior 3 women, Under 14s
13:30 – Prize giving for U14s, U16s, S2 women, S3 women and S4 men
14:00 – Senior 1 men, Juniors, Senior 1 women, Senior 2 men, Senior 3 men
15:45 – Prize giving for S1, S2 and S3 men, Juniors and S1 women

NOTE: SIGN ON CLOSES 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE START OF EACH RACE.

Senior beginners (S3 women – S4 men)
The sport will only grow when we attract new people to give cross-country racing a ‘go’.
As per 2019 both the Senior 4 men and Senior 3 women have a reduced entry fee as per a proposal passed at the 2017 Cycling Ireland Off-road Commission AGM.
As per 2019 the Senior 3 women’s race will share the Under 14s course as per a proposal passed at the 2017 Cycling Ireland Off-road Commission AGM.
Both the Senior 4 men and Senior 3 women’s races should last less than 60 minutes.

Under 6 race
The Under 6s race is just for fun. It is an introduction to off-road racing. It is all about the achievement of starting and finishing. If your child can complete the course with ease and is ready for the next challenge please have them try the Under 8s race instead. There is no lower age limit on the Under 8s race.

Practice times
For the main course
09:00 – 11:45
13:15 – 13:45
NO PRACTICE IS ALLOWED ON THE COURSE WHEN ANY RACING IS IN PROGRESS
The venue will be open from 9:00 am on Sunday 3 July 2022.
Practice is available on Saturday 2 July 2022 from 3 pm.  Note: Mullaghmeen Forest is a Coillte facility and a popular sport for the locals.

Location of Registration and opening times:
Sign on will take place at the race village which will be located in a field adjacent to the forest. Signage will be in place to direct riders to the race village and sign on area. Sign on opens at 9:00 am on Sunday 3 July 2022. The race course (Start/finish/all loops) will be sign posted from the race car park and sign on tent and is approximately .75km away
Sign on closes 15 minutes before the start of the call up for each race.

Parking:
There will be no parking for competitors in the main forest car park so we can ensure that access is available for local residents and for other forest users. These woods are very popular for walkers and for people with dogs so please be very cognizant of this and behave accordingly. The woods are for all users so we want to ensure that we can run another event in the future. Please do not park in this car park – you will be directed to the main car park which will be in a field adjacent to the forest.

Camping:
Camping / parking > from Saturday afternoon. The field is located just beside the venue and will be sign posted.
PLEASE NOTE
No campfires are allowed. Please do not bring alcohol into the site, it is private property with neighbours nearby. Keep the noise down, and go to bed early. You will need your sleep before race day. Overnight Saturday only. We will need to vacate the site Sunday afternoon.

The nearest serviced camping and caravan park is located at https://www.loughcrewmegalithiccentre.com/loughcrew-accommodation/campervan/
It is approx. 12 km away from race venue.

Race numbers:
Race numbers will be supplied by the organiser which should be placed secured onto the handlebars in a way which makes it clear for timekeepers to read.
Riders must not cut, fold or mutilate race numbers.
Race numbers must be handed back at the completion of your race.

Gridding:
Gridding will be based on the results from the series to date.

Pre-registration: 
Closes Friday 1 July 2022 (8 pm)
Link to registration – Cycling Ireland members – here
Non Cycling Ireland members – here

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.

First aid location: An ambulance will be parked in the main forest car park

Prizes: Medals for top 3 boys and girls in Under 8s to Seniors.  Under 6s to Under 12s to also get a goodie bag.

Car parking: Follow instructions from marshals.
Toilets: Portable toilets will be on site (race car park) .
Bike wash: No
Catering: Coffee van on site (forest car park)
Gazebos: Are welcome in the car park field but not in forest – apart from organisers.

Race organiser: Alan Clogher (email)
Contact number: 086 1027674