SCX Scottish Cyclocross Series Round 1
Irvine Beachpark, Sunday 2nd October 2011
Posted on: 8th September 2011
Article by: Neil Walker
General Information
Car Parking and race HQ will be at the "Dragon Car Park" on Marine Drive, and not where the map on the BC Website shows (that is just the only identifiable postcode locally!).
The race HQ will be signposted from the Magnum roundabout.
There is ample car parking space at the race HQ, but please be aware that there will be other users of the beachpark, so please park considerately to make sure there is room for everyone.
There will be toilets at the HQ.
Changing facilities and showers are available at the Magnum Leisure Centre (5 minutes ride from the race HQ) for a small cost.
Registration will close 30 minutes before each race.
The volunteers at registration will be prioritising the riders according to how soon their race is, so please bear this in mind.
A catering van will be coming to the race, so hot and cold drinks and snacks will be available.
This event could not happen without the hard work of the members of Walkers Cycling Club, and the support of North Ayrshire Council.
Course
There is a separate course for U12 riders, which will be mostly on grass and gravel path, with passing possible on the bulk of the course. This course is centred round the race HQ area next to the car park.
You must not practice on the course without having signed on, and without your number.
The main course is a mixture of gravel paths, grass, moorland singletrack and of course, sand. We can almost guarantee that there will be no mud! The beachpark is popular with families, dog walkers and horse riders, and whilst the course will be double taped where possible, and crossing points marshalled, please be aware of other users when practicing and racing.
For those who raced in 2009, the course has changed slightly, with the singletrack broken down into two shorter sections to allow for overtaking, and a loop after the sand dunes to bring the finish line to a slower section for timing/lap scoring. The course will be the same as used for the Scottish Championships in January 2011
You must not practice on the course without having signed on, and without your number.
There will be no practice until all racing riders have all left the course.
It is our intention to start on the beach again this year, if the tides allow, with a 300-400m loop on hard sand, before climbing the sand-dune and joining the course proper. If the conditions on the beach, or the dunes do not allow this, we will start on the grass as with the Scottish Championships in January.
The lack of trees/undergrowth and the compact nature of the course makes it great for spectating, with 75% of the course visible from the higher vantage points in the park, so please bring supporters, encourage friends and club mates to come and support you, and other competitors.
Given the seaside nature of the venue, and the time of year (let alone the current weather!), the beachpark can be a cold, exposed place, so please bring plenty of warm clothes for yourself & your helpers/supporters.
Timetable
08:30 Registration Open
U12's course open for practice
09:30 Registration Closes for U12's
10:00 U12's race - 15 minutes duration
10:30 Registration Closes for Youths
Main course open for practice
11:00 Youth Race - 30 minutes + 1 lap
Prize Giving for U12's Race
11:45 Registration closes for Juniors, Women & Veterans
Main course open for practice
12:15 Juniors, Women & Veterans Race - 40 minutes + 1 lap
Prize Giving for Youth Race
13:00 Registration closes for Seniors
Main course open for practice
13:30 Senior Race - 50 minutes + 1 lap
Prize Giving for Juniors, Women & Veterans
14:45 Prize Giving for Senior Race
