Week 4 • Wed 22nd March 2023 • SINGLETRACKS XC • Canterbury Secondary Schools XC MTB Championships

Canterbury Secondary Schools XC MTB Age Group Championship Races

Races will start at an earlier time of 2.00pm.

First race starts at 2pm. This is starting earlier this week to enable a more complete Canterbury Championships race with the prize giving.

WEEK 4 Championship course will include the core loop along with Elegator and Rickrolled (or Off the Cuff), Uppercrust and Lower Murphs, The Garden Path, and the Crocodile and Crocpot loop which includes The Rock Climb.

COURSE: View the Championship Course Maps here.

REGISTRATION: From 1.15pm at the race base in the upper dog exercise area. (Please note the earlier time)

GRADES: The Canterbury Championship races are group by age category. You grade is taken from your age at 31st December 2023 (ie. the end of the year) Within the age group races they will be ranked on the start line based on performance in the first 3 weeks of racing. Sport Grade will include all age groups that would like to continue on the Core XC Course that they have been racing in weeks 1-3.

WEEK 4 AGE GRADE LISTS HERE (after week 3)

RACE BRIEFINGS AND START: Riders must be ready for race briefing 15 minutes before the start of a race. The race briefing will be in the start area. This area will be marked by two cones 10m below the start line which is marked by two cones and a start line on the ground. Riders will be briefed and then called to the start line from here based on the current ranking. Do not move out of this order as it is set up to minimise the need for passing. There will be a break of 30 secs between wave one and wave two within a race. The race starter will separate this and the timing will be adjusted to allow for the difference. After the start you will go straight up into the track that takes you on to C2. There is no loop on the grass at the start. On each loop the race will exit the trees over the cattle stop and do the start/finish loop before heading back into the trees and C2.

Please direct any questions to Murray (murray@singletrack.org.nz).

IMPORTANT information regarding Lap Numbers!

LAP NUMBERS:

The course for this race is about 50% longer than the course used in the last race. Therefore the races will be slightly longer, however, it is not expected that every rider does the maximum number of laps!

The key difference this week is that the races are by age group, not grading by speed. As each age grade race involves riders from A grade, who have raced 3 laps, to D grade, who have raced 2, it is not possible or desirable to have every rider doing 3 laps of the complete (longer) course. There is a cut off time after 1 lap (2 lap races), and 2 laps (3 lap races), which they will need to meet if they are trying to race 2 or 3 laps. This will ideally mean that most people that rode 2 laps through the series will be doing 1 or 2 laps in this race. A rider does not have to complete 3 laps if they come in before the cut off time and they are only wanting to race 2 laps. Riders completing the 3 laps will automatically be placed above those that complete only 2, or 1.

U13, U14, and U15 year olds will race 2 laps. The U16, U17 and Open Grade races are 3 laps.

RACE TIMES:

2.00pm – Sport Grade (all ages):

2 laps SINGLETRACKS Core XC Course. (Cut off time to start lap 2: 15 minutes.) *A note for the girls … depending on numbers riding on the day, you are still able to get on the age group podiums from sport grade … race well!

2.25pm – U14 Year Olds:

2 laps SINGLETRACKS Championship Course. Lap 1 is a shorter lap and passes entries to Elegator loop and Uppercrust loop, and continues up C2. Lap 1 does include Crocodile and Crocpot. The other loops are included on lap 2 which is the full course. (Cut off time to start lap 2 – 18 minutes)

3.05pm – U15 Year Olds:

3.45pm – U16 Year Olds:

3 laps SINGLETRACKS Championship Course. Lap 1 is a shorter lap and passes entries to Elegator loop and Uppercrust loop, and continues up C2. Lap 1 does include Crocodile and Crocpot. The other loops are included on laps 2 and 3 which are the full course. (Cut off time to start lap 3 – 37 minutes)

4.35pm – U17 Year Olds and Open Grade:

The inaugural wheelie competition before prize giving 2021!

WHEELIE COMPETITION: Before prize giving (optional!)

PRIZE GIVING: approx. 5:45pm.

There will be a prize giving at the conclusion of racing and the finalising of results. For early races there is a bit of time to wait around for the prize giving. Get out on the course and support your school, and all of the other riders.

SPOT PRIZES:

These will be given away at the prize giving. To be eligible you must be there! These include …

AFTERNOON TEA: Please bring along a packet of biscuits or something similar for some snacks before prize giving. There is no kitchen (only a table!) so something simple and easy. Please take them to registration.

WARMING UP: The tracks may be used for warming up before 2.15pm. The warm up loop is not available during the races this week as it is part of the course. After this the only available warm up area is the grass section of the upper dog exercise area. There is to be no riding in any other areas of the Halswell Quarry Park.

UNIFORM: Remember you are representing your school so you need to wear your school cycling tops and school (or plain) cycle shorts, or your school sports uniform.

TOILETS: There is a public toilet block in Findlay’s Picnic Area and down in the main quarry car park. Please access these via the track to the car park if you are on a bike. Keep them tidy and clean … we want to be allowed to come back for other races!

RUBBISH: This is a public reserve and it is expected that you take any rubbish away with you. Please leave it tidy so that it can be used for future events.

RESULTS: Full results will be posted on Facebook and the Singletracks Website later in the evening or the following day.