Date: Sunday 17 June 2018
Event: NPS XC Round 3 – (Ulster XC Round 4)
Venue: Lady Dixon Park, Belfast
Host club: Xmtb

This is the third round of the 2018 National Point Series (NPS) and also doubles up as the fourth round of the Ulster XC series.

Course Description:
This year’s course at Lady Dixon is a sharper, snappier version of an old favourite in line with the Ulster league’s popular switch to a new format of shorter laps but more of them.   Using the same start field as before the course heads into the trees on wide, sweeping trails and follows alongside the golf course before a short gravel climb leads to the Dunmurry end of the park where we use the fast sweeping bends before dropping into a new section alongside the river Lagan. From here we start the fast charge toward the rose gardens, popping in for a fun singletrack loop before climbing back to the start arena via one last section of trail. The host club have worked hard to come up with a course that retains the popular sections but omits the areas that become unrideable when it rains. XMTB would like to thank Belfast City Council for their continued support in running events in their parks and we hope to see you all on race day.  Full course is approx 15 minutes.

Directions: Lady Dixon Park
Located in south Belfast, off the Upper Malone Road
Click here to view in Google Map
Co-ordinates: N 54.543269, W 5.97888

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.

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
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

A and B lines
Where the course presents “A” and “B” line options, riders should take the line according to their ability. Participants who opt for the “A” line must not deliberately dismount, run or walk through the feature. Those who do so may be subject to time penalty or disqualification.

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 15 June 2018 (8 pm)

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

Gridding: Will be based on the results from the current NPS league and then by the current Ulster series league table – but only for riders who pre-register AND pre-pay.

Catering: Food will be available after the races.

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.

Facilities: Lady Dixon Park
Car parking: Ample in the main start/finish field. Please follow the advice of the car park marshals when arriving at the venue
Toilets: Portable toilets as well as the park’s toilet block a short walk from the start/finish area.
Showers: No
Bike wash: No
Café: Yes, nearby
Gazebos: An area will be set aside for gazebos near the start finish area. Please contact host club should you want space reserved.

Host club website: Xmtb
Race organiser: Ronan Campbell (email)
Contact number: 07803 722898