Action from last year’s National Championships in Ballyhoura Forest
A new MTB XC series in the Munster area has secured the financial backing of sports nutrition company Kinetica and stages the first of its five rounds in Cork this weekend.
The winners of the eight categories in the series will be crowned Munster champions in their category when the series concludes in Limerick in May.
However, the series is open to riders from all over the country.
The first leg of the new ‘Kinetica Cross Country Mountain Bike Series 2012’ will unfold in Tracton Woods near Carrigaline, Co Cork, this Sunday. The first round is hosted by Mountain Bike Club Cork.
There follows four further rounds to May 20th, with race venues in counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick (see full details below).
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There are events from U8s to elite riders and those who win each category will receive a specially commissioned Munster champion jersey, which is similar in style to the iconic Munster Rugby jersey.
Series coordinator Jon Hynes said while the series would attract elite riders, it was being run with an emphasis on development.
“We have categories from under eights to junior and then at senior level we have a women’s category and then a sporting men’s category,” said Hynes.
“The sporting men races are for people who are maybe only starting out or who are still developing their fitness. Then there’s another race with the elite, experts and seniors all in one.”
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Hynes said some experienced riders were using the Munster series as a means off bringing their form on ahead of the National Points Series which begins in April.
“While there will be some of the best riders in the country in some of the races, it’s really more about developing people and in particular younger riders.”
He added that while the Munster clubs involved in the new series had run ad-hoc events last year, the new series was the first time races had been properly organised into a series with points counting towards a GC and a Munster title and jersey on offer to the overall winners.
As well as the title sponsor Kinetica coming on board, the KTM Ireland bike company has pledged a cross country MTB racing bike as a raffle prize for riders who finish at least three races in the five-part series.
Other sponsors include ‘Dare 2b’ clothing, TrailRiders Ballyhoura and Eurocycles.
‘Kinetica Cross Country Mountain Bike Series 2012’
- Sun Jan 29th: Round 1, Tracton Woods, Cork (hosted by MBCC)
- Sun Feb 5th: Round 2, Corrin Woods, Cork (021 Racing)
- Sun March 11th: Round 3, An Oige Woods, Fossa, Killarney (Killarney CC)
- Sun April 22nd: Round 4: Ballyhoura, Limerick (Team Ballyhoura)
- Sun May 20th: Round 5: Limerick venue TBC (LMBC & MBUL)
Timetable of events for Round 1 on Sunday
- 9am Registration opens and Course open for practice laps.
- 9:30am Kids Coaching hour begins. Note kids must register first!
- 10:30am Kids Coaching hour ends and course is cleared.
- 10:45am Under 8's, 10's & 12's races begin.
- 11:15am Under 14's & 16's races begin.
- 11:45am Prizes for Youth categories at main start line.
- 11:45am Registration for Adult categories close.
- 12:00pm Elite Category start.
- 12:01pm Sports Category start.
- 12:02pm Ladies category start.
- 1:30/45pm Main prize giving at registration tent.
There are no entry fees for all categories under 16's. For all other categories there is an entry fee of €10 per person. Race licences as per Cycling Ireland criteria are required. If you do not have a license you can purchase one on the day at the race.
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