Dates for XC race series confirmed (pic: Like Webber)
Dates for the 2008 Southern XC series have been confirmed, with six rounds of racing at some great venues across the South. For the first time in the series history, British Cycling National ranking points will be available, with the event being run as a Category E Ranking Series.
Sponsorship for the series has been confirmed with Pedal On and Felt Bicycles, the influx of money will enable improvements to the series infrastructure and hopefully, more prize money.
Organiser Steve Jones says: “The aim of the 2008 series is to bring the Southern Series up to the standard of the recent national series. We're able to do this with the help of our new sponsors Pedal-on and Felt bikes and also with the support of the BCF.”
“We're starting work on the courses early in the new year to offer a series of fun, challenging races. 2008 is going to be a very exciting year for XC racing in the south.”
Entry forms and on-line entry will be available soon, but for now here's the important stuff:
Round 1: 6th April(tbc) Mapledurham, near Reading, Berks.RATMBC
Round 2: 27th April Deers Leap Country Park,East Grinstead, West Sussex - Team Darenth
Round 3: 18th May Crow Hill,Ringwood, Hants - RATMBC
Round 4: 1st June Erlestoke Near Devizes, Wilts - SPAM
Round 5: 6th July (Sthn Champs) Chawton Park Wood, Alton, Hants - RATMBC
Round 6: 21st Sept Oxney Moss,Bordon, Hants - WDMBC
Some more information about the locations:
Round 1 will return to Mapledurham near Reading, on the great Green Deen Wood course with some nice technical drops and climbs, some will remember from the first Pro-Cup earlier this year. At the time of going to press this date could be subject to change but the rest of the series has all been confirmed.
Round 2 moves to Deers Leap Country Park with its great mix of technical woodland and fast open tracks. With the promise of a large new parking and arena field at the opposite side of the course plus with some more singletrack added this venue will be much improved.
Round 3 returns to Crow Hill, a great fun course that is surprisingly tough with its constant short sharp climbs. The course will be changed to a clover leaf design to make best us of the stunning central hill top arena and forest trails. This race will be a chance to pre-ride what will be the 2008 National Championships cross country course on July 20th.
Round 4 returns to an old favourite of ours Erlestoke in Wiltshire not used by this series since 2004. A great course used for many SAMS races in the 90's plus a great National Points race that some old hands will remember.
Round 5 will incorporate the Southern Championships which is once again at the excellent Chawton Park Wood course in Alton. A great venue with huge potential lots of great trails to build a varied course in this huge wood. Lets hope for better weather this time but just in case we will be planning some alternative all weather tracks to avoid the worst of the mud.
Round 6 is at Oxney Moss at Bordon once again the series finale. With is fast flowing singletrack it's a fun course with some fast climbs it never lets up and is a worthy end to determine the final series positions.
Find out more at www.southernxc.net
