Chain Reaction Cycles/Red Bull

Irish Downhill National Championships 2006

Rostrevor, Co Down

Saturday 22nd/Sunday 23rd July 2006

July 06

The Chain Reaction Cycles/Red Bull Irish National Downhill Championships are due to take place on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd July 2006 in Rostrevor Forest, Co Down run by the Plush Cycling Club.

Slieve Martin pictured to the left of Carlingford Lough.

Rostrevor Forest, was the venue for the third round of the 2005 Irish NPS, is at the eastern side of Slieve Martin, which stands 500 metres above sea level. It also lies alongside Kilbroney Park, a 97 acre public park.

Pictured below are some pictures of the course:

Unlike most races in Ireland, the Irish National Downhill championships will have timed seeding runs on Saturday evening. All riders are asked to be present for these seeding runs in order to make things run smoother on the day of the event where each rider will have two timed raced runs. Riders will still be able to sign on on Sunday

Rumour also has it that top UK riders are due to attend the event, such as the Atherton brothers, Gee and Dan as well as members of the Moorewood Racing Group such as top junior riders Joe Barnes and Ruaridh Cunningham. But biggest attraction on the day will be Ireland's very own first European Champion - Joe Ward!

UCI points

As this race is the national championships, UCI points will be available for top 10 riders. All riders who hold a licence, whether full membership or standard membership will be eligible for UCI points.

Sponsorship of the event is from Red Bull as well as Chain Reaction Cycles, who have pledged a host of goodies for the event.

The format of the Irish National Downhill Championships is as follows:

Saturday

Sign-on 9am- 2.00pm

Practice 10am-2.30pm

Course Inspection - 2.30-3.00pm

Timed Seeding Runs 3.00pm-finish

Sunday

Sign-on 9.00am-11.00am

Practice 9.30am - 11.00am

1st Run 12noon-2pm

2nd Run 2.30-4.30pm

Prizegiving 5.00pm

Please note these timed are liable to change depending on race numbers.

Cost of entry

Seniors/Masters/ Vets/Ladies/Juniors £35 Stg

U14/U16 £25 Stg

+ RACE LICENCE

Race Licence

All riders racing in the National Championships should have a Cycling Ireland licence. This can come in the form of a full Cycling Ireland membership or standard Cycling Ireland membership. Full Cycling Ireland membership is obtained by contacting either Cycling Ireland or a cycling club to obtain a race licence. Standard membership is available when riders purchase a day licence. This day licence costs 30euro and enables riders to race on the day and for future races, only purchase a day licence at the cost of 10euro.

It is important that anyone who has applied for a full licence and has yet to receive their licence should Contact Cycling Ireland as soon as possible. Contact details can be found at www.cyclingireland.ie

Other information

Uplifts

Uplifts will be provided on both Saturday and Sunday. Riders are reminded that they need to have a race number before they ride the course. Failure to sign on beforehand will result in riders not being allowed to race.

Rubbish

As this is a public park and as to not risk the likelihood of being able to use the venue to future events, riders are asked to take their rubbish home with them. There has been rubbish left throughout the park over the past few weeks and this has been noted by the forestry. There will be rubbish bags placed throughout the course. Spectators and riders are asked to use them.

Parking

On previous events parking has been in the public car park at the main car park in Kilbroney Park. However, due to the additional use of the field at the bottom of the course, riders can park in the field, please use consideration when parking as a large crowd is expected.

Weather

Keep an eye of the weather for Rostrevor HERE!

Fiddlers Green Festival

The world famous Fiddlers Green Festival takes place from 23rd - 30th July 2006, an international festival of music and craic! So, the its probably the best weekend of the year to be visiting Rostrevor. For further information on the festival see www.fiddlersgreenfestival.com

Getting to Rostrevor

Multimap link for Rostrevor HERE

Traveling from the Rostrevor by car:

From Dublin take the M1 northbound for Dundalk. Follow signposts for Newry (A1). From Newry take the A2 dual carriageway to Warrenpoint. From Warrenpoint, follow signposts for Rostrevor (B25). Rostrevor is a five minute drive from Warrenpoint. This journey should take approximately 1 1/2 hours.

From Belfast take the M1 southbound. Leave the M1 at junction 7 (signposted Sprucefield). Follow signposts for Newry (A1) and when in Newry take the A2 dual carriageway to Warrenpoint. From Warrenpoint, follow signposts for Rostrevor (B25). Rostrevor is a five minute drive from Warrenpoint. This journey should take approximately 1 hour.

For directions from other places try the AA route planner for details.

Traveling to Ireland by boat :

Here are the options available

- StenaLine travels from Stranraer (Scotland) to Belfast (Co Antrim) daily and the journey can take as little as two hours.

- Stenaline travels from Hollywood (Wales) to Dublin Port daily with a journey time of less than 1 1/2 hours

- P&O Irish Sea travel from Troon (Scotland) to Larne in a 2 hour journey

- P&O Irish Sea travel from Cairnryan (Scotland) to Larne in the shortest time of 1 hour for the fast sailings.

From Larne follow the A8 towards Belfast. At Sandyknowles roundabout take the M2 into Belfast and then follow the directions above.

Traveling to Ireland by Airplane

The closest two airports is Belfast or Dublin, both around an hours drive to Rostrevor.

A map of Northern Ireland, Rostrevor to the South of the Province, a village just outside Warrenpoint. The map shows the boat routes to Belfast Harbour and also Larne, north of Belfast.

Accommodation

Camping

There is fantastic camping area in Kilbroney park however it is limited, particularly as it is expected to be full due to the Fiddlers Green Festival. For more information on camping there contact 028 417 38134

B&B & Guest Houses

B&B Accommodation can be found at

An Tobar - 2 Cherry Hill Rostrevor - Contact Marie Gavaghan on 028 4173 8712

Fir Trees 16 Killowen Old Road Rostrevor Contact Patricia Donnan 028 4173 8602

Glenbeigh B&B 18 Victoria Square Rostrevor Contact Raymond & Paddy Parr 028 417 38281

Glenview 3 Glenview Terrace Rostrevor Contact Kay Kerley & Kevin Dunne 028 3088 9009

Meadowlea 25 Drumsesk Road Rostrevor Contact Colette & Rhode Gordon 028 4173 9810

The Boathouse Inn, Warrenpoint 028 4175 2082

Whistledown & Finns, Warrenpoint, 028 4175 4174

If any further information is needed please feel free to put a post on the forum where we'd be only willing to help with as much information as possible. In the meantime, see you in Rostrevor.