North Cheshire Clarion ‘cross – Round 3 – Preview and essential info
Last minute entries
Available here until 23:55 on Tuesday 17 September
Event Location
Wythenshawe Park, Wythenshawe Road, Manchester, M23 0AB
Wythenshawe Park is a large public park close to the M56 / M60 and with coffee / snack van, petting farm, playgrounds and pump track to keep the family entertained whilst you are racing. This is a public park so be mindful and respectful of members of the public including dog walkers and young children especially if warming up/cycling off-course.
Directions
Leave M60 at Junction 5, or M56 at Junction 3, onto Princess Parkway; turn off onto B5166 west towards Sale Moor, then at the first traffic lights turn left towards Brooklands on the B5167, Wythenshawe Road. Drive half a mile and turn into the Park main entrance on your left. Use Postcode M23 0AB for Satnav directions. There will be a yellow ‘Cycle Event’ sign indicating your turn so look out. The WhatThreeWords tag is ///reach.films.discouraged
Parking
Please use the designated event parking. This is adjacent to the course and just off the main park entrance road – the pits are less than 150m from the carpark. Please park considerately and follow the parking marshal’s instructions. The WhatThreeWords tag is ///reach.films.discouraged
Course Overview
A new venue for league this year seeing us debut at Wythenshawe Park for the North Cheshire Clarion CX races. The course is relatively short and utilises various features from the now disused pitch & putt course, parkland, gravel and some short wooded sections. The pits are central and there are good viewing areas for spectators across much of the course.
Adult Course
The course starts in the northwest corner (top left in the plan above) and heads along a fast grassy section before crossing the timing mat and taking a sweeping right into the old pitch & putt course (1) – don’t go out of bounds here! You then pass the pits and dismount for a short set of steps (2) before navigating some tight off-cambers (3). On to the fast section now, grass by the sides of the old bowling green, sharp right on to the tarmac past sign on and then onto gravel path (4) – whatever the weather this will be place to go ‘full gas’ and put the Watts down. Sharp right onto a short stretch of single track through the trees before cutting back through the woods on a gravel path, another right hander into the woodland path (5) before heading back onto grassland. Hop the hurdles (6) before passing the pits. Next comes the banks and several off-cambers around the edge of the MTB tracks (7) before heading back towards the start line to complete the lap.
Youth Course (14/16’s)
The youth course is the same as the adults but with a likely cut through off the gravel path (4). The start line for Youth riders will be the same as for Adults.
U8 / 10 / 12’s
The course for the younger riders takes in the best of features on the Adult’s course around the pitch & putt course; and for the U10/12’s the banks near the MTB trails (7). Various cuts are shown in yellow above. Please note all younger riders will get to experience the small off-cambers (3) but will be riding this section in the opposite direction to the Adult/Youth course to avoid the steps. Our under 8 racers should be visible for the entire course, and the U10 / 12’s for the majority, without spectators having to run around too much! Note the start line for the younger riders will be closer to the timing mat / finish line, rather than in the far corner.
Sign On
Sign on will be in the gazebo adjacent to the finish line. The race times for this season are unchanged, and available here. Sign-on closes 15mins before each race.
Start Area
The main start area (Adult and U14/16 races) will be in the northwest corner as shown (Union Jack flag). The U8, 10 /12s will start further along the start straight closer to the finish line.
Pits / Bike Washing
There will be double pits as shown on the course above. Please only wash bikes in this area. There is no water supply so please bring your own.
*Practice times are approximate, please ask before riding the course and listen to all instructions from event team. Do not ride the course if a race is still taking place, it is intimidating to the remaining riders.
Podium & Prizes
Podiums and winner’s photos will be held at the end of each race, with prizes being awarded at the end of the season as per the 2024/25 league rules. Children’s prizes will be presented on the day with a podium so if you do well, don’t rush off!
Race times and course practice
These are as per the series timings here – Practice times are approximate, please ask before riding the course and listen to all instructions from event team. Do not ride the course if a race is still taking place, it is intimidating to the remaining riders.
Coffee / Snack Van
There will be a coffee / snack van in the Courtyard approx 200m south of the event carpark.
Toilets
Toilet facilities are available in the Courtyard (adjacent to the coffee van). Please treat these with respect, no washing muddy kit in the sinks!
Security
Please take care of your personal belongings, don’t leave valuables on display in vehicles and / or bikes unattended.
Special Request
For all of those in the last race of the day, please can you lend a hand by bringing in a few stakes and some tape. Many hands make light work and all that, and all help is much appreciated.