The Heart of England Conference and Events Centre is a fantastic venue for corporate and private functions, which sits in 160 acres of rolling Warwickshire countryside. Solihull Cycling Club has hosted rounds of the West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League there since 2015. But this year, we are delighted to be able to work with the Centre to present a stand-alone cyclocross event for all ages.

We have worked with the Centre and with British Cycling to ensure that the Covid-19 guidance is followed. A risk assessment has been carried out and a number of measures will be put in place to keep everyone who attends as safe as possible. Here are some of those measures.

There will be a limit on the number of riders in each race.  If a race is over-subscribed, the event organiser will select those entrants living closest to the venue.  No correspondence will be entered into regarding who is or is not selected to ride.

Entrants are asked to notify the event organizer if they develop Covid-19 symptoms before the event. They will then be withdrawn from the event and have their entry fee refunded.

Competitors are asked to time their arrival and departure to minimize the time they spend on site. They are also requested not to bring anyone to the event who does not need to come.  Obvious exceptions to that are parents or guardians and fellow competitors who are member of the same household or ‘social bubble’.

Spectating is to be discouraged.  Please do not bring helpers or specatators. There will be no pits and no bike changes will be allowed during races. Designated areas will be set out for competitors to park, record their arrival and warm-up prior to their race.

Everyone on-site will be expected to observe social distancing guidelines and to limit unnecessary contact with others.  Competitors are required to bring a face covering with them and to use it during rider registration.

Each set of races (those starting within a few minutes of each other) will be treated as a separate ‘race bubble’ for any subsequent Track and Trace activity that may need to take place.

Info for Riders

Each category will be limited to a number of riders determined by our Covid-19 risk assessment. Those living closest to the venue will be given priority for places. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection of riders.

There will be no pits and no bike changes allowed during races. Spectators and non-essential helpers are discouraged from attending. Riders are requested not to stay longer than necessary.

You will be expected to wear a face covering inside the Rider Registration marquee and to follow social distancing guidelines.

You will be asked to show your racing license to one of our volunteers, who will record your attendance. This event is only open to BC members. You will then be given your race number, timing chip and a starting grid number. You will need to know this to take your place on the starting grid, which will be set out as numbered 1 meter by 2 meter squares.

The course consists of gravel tracks, grassland and woodland sections.  The course may only be inspected during specific periods for each set of races. Under no circumstances should the course be ridden at other times. A large alternative warm-up area will be provided. Riders will be asked to assemble for their race in a smaller pre-gridding loop next to the start.  With 15 minutes to go, riders will be asked to move from the warm-up loop to their starting grid box.

All non-race clothing and drinks must be discarded before moving to the starting grid. There will be no time to do this on the grid - as would normally be the case. In order to avoid unnecessary close-contact, the race will be started as soon as everyone is in their starting grid box.

There will be no prize presenations or results published on the day. Prizes will be lower than usual. Normal prize fund rules cannot be followed due to the abnormally high cost of running this event.