Date: Sunday 29 April 2018
Event: NPS XC Round 1 (Ulster XC Series Round 2)
Venue: Tollymore Forest Park
Host club: Dromara Cycling Club

Dromara Cycling Club is proud to host Round 1 of the Irish Cross-country National Point Series 2018.  This event will also double up as Round 2 of the Ulster XC Series.

Course Description:
The start/finish area will be in one of the scout camping fields with all courses then entering the trees.   The riders would use the tree line near the scout camping field, exit down a ditch, across the tarmac road and down to the lower levels of the forest.  The route takes in an anti-clockwise direction utilizing many of the previous natural trails, heading down the bomb hole, crossing the Ivy Bridge and returning to the start/finish field via the tarmac road climb.  New sections of trail have been created.
As per last year, car-parking will be restricted to the main forest car park rather than the event field.

Race report 2017: here
Results from 2016: here

Directions: Tollymore Forest Park

The venue will be Tollymore Forest Park, Bryansford Road, Newcastle County Down, Northern Ireland BT33 0PW.
Click here to view in google maps
Co-ordinates: N 54.225251, W 5.934250

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’.
For 2018 both the Senior 4 men and Senior 3 women have a reduced entry fee as per a proposal passed at the 2017 Cycling Ulster Off-road Commission AGM.
Also for 2018 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.

Practice times
For the main course
09:00 – 11:45
13:15 – 13:45
Practice time may also be available on the Saturday afternoon.  3 pm to 5 pm.
NO PRACTICE ALLOWED ON COURSES WHICH HAVE RACES GOING ON

Race Fees:

Juniors: £10 (€10)
Under 14s & Under 16s: £5 (€5)
Under 8s, 10s & 12s: £2 (€2)
Under 6s fun race: £1 (€1)

Pre-registration: – OPEN
Until 27 April 2018 (8 pm)

To see who has entered click on the link here.  (Password to open – “Tollymore”)

Catering: There will be a coffee wagon on site (not supplemented).  Sandwiches and snacks available for riders.

Gridding: There will be no gridding for Round 1 of the NPS series..

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.

Additional information:
Tollymore Forest Park: offers toilet and shower facilities on site.

Facilities: Tollymore Forest Park
Car Parking: Ample – up in the main forest car park (not on site).
Toilets: On site at the scout hut.
Showers: Yes
Bike Wash: Yes – taps available – bring your own hose.
Café: None on site.
Gazebos: Contact the host club if you are looking to erect a gazebo in the start/finish field.  Gazebos must be on-site before 9 am.

Host club website: Dromara Cycling Club
Race organiser: Gibson Chambers (email)
Contact number: