Preview: Round 1 from Rossendale RC – Chomping at the Pits
Rossendale Road Club are looking forward to welcoming you to Marl Pits sports centre, Rawtenstall on SUNDAY 8th September for the first round of cyclo-cross racing in this year’s North West league.
A familiar venue to some, this is the first time back since 2021, and a chance to get the season started with some classic hard ‘cross.
Event Location
Marl Pits Sports Centre, Newchurch Rd, Rawtenstall, Rossendale BB4 7SN
COURSE
The course is a mixture of flat and fast grass, rideable banks, and banks that will require dismounting for almost all riders. There are a couple of hard-surface sections, and some technical descents, but overall it’s a rideable, fairly short lap. The start and finish area is planned on the grass, this time round, with the previously-used netball courts being off the course this time round.
U8/10/12s have a shorter course (see below) with some technical elements, but without the daunting larger banks.
Senior and Youth course
The senior course consists of an open and fast start with the course gradually becoming more technical later in the lap as the field thins down. There will be a hurdle section just prior to the first pit. After the first pit and before the return pit is where the climbing and descending all takes place – with the course being effectively split into a flat half and a hilly half.
With the course being reasonably short, it’s likely that the Youths will cover the exact same lap as the seniors, but this will be decided on the course-walk with commissaires on the morning of the race, and will be affected by field sizes and the ground conditions.
Under 12 / Under10
The course is shown below and, as usual for this age category, there will be no pit in use. The course has two technical sections, which may require dismounting and pushing the bike for very short periods for some less able riders, but no bike ‘lifting’ would be needed. Start may be moved, based on field size.
Under 8
A less technical variation of the U12 / U10 course. There should be no need to dismount, and there’s lots of pedalling! Course shown below. Start may be moved, based on field size.
PITS
The venue is such that we need to use a ‘goofy’ pit. This means that riders would enter the pit area to their left on the course, rather than their usual right side. You need to pay extra attention if you are assisting in the pit, as you may need to cross the riders’ line in order to stand on your rider’s correct side. Please listen to marshals
There will be a jet washing area against the woods and longer grass shown here by the double red line. THere is no water available so please bring your own.
Race Times and rider sign-on
The race times for this season are unchanged, and available here.
Please allow 5 or 10 minutes more than most normal rounds, as the first event is always a little trickier for our sign-on volunteers, handing out number packs.
Sign-on is in the Athletics Track Clubhouse – shown below, and across th small road by the Leisure Centre.
FACILITIES and CAR PARKING
As usual, our venues are all crucial to us so please respect them as much as possible.
Toilets are available in the clubhouse all day, where sign-on is, above
Parking is shared with all users of the Sports Centre so all areas will fill up. Don’t park over two spaces, don’t put up gazebos etc next to your car.
Please do not park in a way that could cause problems for other users of the sports centre. If parking on the road on Newchurch Road, please park legally and carefully. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO ANY CAR PARKING MARSHALS
CATERING
There will be a coffee / cake van from Ninja Coffee and barbecue/hot food at the event
We look forward to seeing you all there!