The first mountain bike organiser's handbook - designed to guide budding event promoters and officials - is now in print. It covers everything needed to organise a mountain bike race including budgeting, risk assessment and information specific to cross country, four cross and downhill.

Written by Robert Jefferies and with contributions from recognised event organisers and officials the guide is particularly aimed at those new to race organisation, taking them through the process step by step. Two years in the making, the guide has been well received by Forestry Commission England and Scotland who have distributed them to all their local offices to help further understanding of mountain bike racing among all parties. Copies can be requested by contacting Robert Jefferies directly.

As well as the handbook new monitoring sheets for events and timing spreadsheets will also be available from British Cycling, with Robert also be happy to answer any enquires related to the handbook.

To accompany the guide an assistant commissaire course for cross country racing has also been launched. Free to all British Cycling members, the course is written to Level Two National Occupational Standards for Sports Officials. With a specific course to follow combining downhill and four cross in the pipe line it will become a lot easier for people interested in officiating to get started.

The key units covered by the course to be run will include safeguarding, communication, administration, technical and competition. Information about these courses including dates is currently available on the British Cycling website.

If you are interested in becoming a commissaire or are an event organiser who would be interested in setting up a course to help develop local volunteers then please contact Rob who will be more than happy to discuss the arrangements. All the courses are classroom based for the first day's instruction. Each candidate will have practical criteria to meet before they can become fully qualified.