2008 is slowly coming to an end and the next season is looming around the corner. After weeks of frantically trying to put our plans for the 2009 season together we finally managed to put the details for the TransUK 2009 event together.

In case you don't know it yet the 2009 TransUK event will be held in Wales and will take place from the 15-22 August 2009. The start and finish location will either be Builth Wells again or a location near by. We will confirm this in due course.

We have sent entry forms out to our pre-entry list a couple of weeks ago but will make it public on the 19 December. Quite a few entries have been taken already but there is no need to worry - there are still lots of places available.

To enter the TransWales 2009 simply go www.mtbtransuk.co.uk and download your entry form.

News for 2009 - Event facilities:
After a challenging event for everybody involved it was highlighted that the facilities need to be focused on. So for 2009 (and beyond) we will invest heavily in providing more and better facilities so that even in similar challenging weather conditions a certain amount of comfort can be guaranteed.

Online entry:
For the 2009 event we will have an online entry service which will go live at the very beginning of 2009. If you want to pay by credit card but want to make sure that you get in early - we would like to ask you to pay your deposit by cheque as soon as you can and pay the remaining event by credit card via the online entry system later on. We will put some further details on the entry page about that when the systems goes live.

'Within' special stages:
From next year onwards we will run the majority of the special stages as 'within' stages and not necessarily at designated trail centres. That will give the event more flexibility when it comes to the start and finish/camping locations and also takes the pressure away from the riders in case the weather is not on our side. The night special stage will still be run at a trail centre.

More at www.mtbtransuk.co.uk