This section of the website lists the Mountain Bike Competitions our club members might be interested in. Currently there is little MTB racing in the North West.

Please visit the appropriate website for full details of each event, using the links below and the BC calendar

The entries on this page will be updated before each season with current dates as they become available.

NOTE: although there is little racing locally, we do have a number of leisure areas for MTB riding, some very local. Information is being added to our general MTB page.

MTB Age and Race Categories

First of all, it is important that you understand what category you will race within when entering a MTB race. There are different rules governing the AGE categorization of MTB races compared to road and cyclocross races.

All categories in MTB racing are age based until you get to the age of 19. To work out which category you belong in, see the table below. As an example, if you are 14 now, but have a birthday later in the year, then you are classed as a 15 year old and would race in the Youth category:

• Juvenile - To qualify for the Juvenile category, a rider must be in their 12th, 13th or 14th year.
• Youth - Riders in their 15th and 16th years
• Junior - Riders in their 17th and 18th years
• Senior / Expert / Elite - When a rider reaches his or her 19th year then the Senior or Sport category is the appropriate aged based category until they are in their 29th year. See below for how riders can attain Expert or Elite status.
• Master - for riders aged 30 to 39.
• Veteran - for riders aged 40 to 49.
• Grand Veteran - for riders aged over 50.

See the BC website for full details of the MTB age and ability categories.

Now here is just a selection of what's on offer for budding MTB racers in the North of England...

Manchester Midweek Madness 2011

This is series of MTB cross country events at Clayton Vale in Manchester, and is held in a similar format each year. These events are non-ranking, and are run by Manchester's local Go-Ride coach Tom Hodgkinson.

No. 1 - 21 July 2011

No. 2 - 4th August 2011

No. 3 - 18th August 2011

No. 4- 1st September 2011

See the BC website for further details.

Organised by Tom Hodgkinson, British Cycling, tomhodgkinson@britishcycling.org.uk

 Link to the 2010 series information here (note the 2011 series may be different)

British Mountain Bike Series

National events taking place all around the country throughout the summer months.

Round 1 - March 24 - Sherwood Pines

Round 2 - April 28 - Wheal Maid Valley, Redruth, Cornwall

Round 3 - June 2 - Hopton Woods, Shropshire

Round 4 - July 7 - Margam Park, South Wales

Round 5 - August 18 - Hadleigh Farm, Essex

Race categories are Elite, Expert, Sport, Open, Vets, Junior, Juvenile and Youth (so there is racing for 11 yrs and above). There are also usually some fun 'Go-Ride' race events for the younger riders before the other races get going.

Nutcracker MTB XC Race Series

6 rounds around the North East of England throughout the summer months: April, May, June, August, September and October.

Race categories are Elite, Experts, Senior Novice/Fun, U16 and Juvenile, again with 'Go-Ride' racing for the U12's.

Brownbacks Hope Race Series

Now this one is LOCAL!

5 rounds held throughout the summer at Lee Quarry in Bacup, Lancashire: May, June, July, August and September.

Race entry is open to 15 yrs and above, so there are no races for the younger riders.