The third round of the 2007 Irish NPS kicks off on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June 2007 in Gortin Glen, just outside Omagh. The third round is to be run by Chain Reaction Cycling Club and promises to be the best round of the NPS yet, with lots of additional features to the event, including seeding runs on the Saturday evening, with a bike wash, full toilet facilities, and to liven up the event a DJ will be on site for the two days.
The track has been resurrected from 1997 and many of the master riders will remember the infamous Hells Alley, with the fireroad climb to the bottom wooded section. With a brand new track, designed and built by the Bikecology crew, and a newly formed 'Hells Alley' which has now been deforested, this promises to be one of the longest courses of the 2007 NPS with times expected to be between 4-5 minutes!
Riders are asked to make sure they stay off the track until the Saturday of the event. A lot of hard work has been put into the organisation of this event and the race could be in jeopary if riders are found on the track by Forestry before the event.
TRACK DESCRIPTION
The course is split into two distinct areas. The upper section is open and very fast with most of the track being bedrock! This area has high speed jumps, berms, doubles and drops with a few surprises too. No brakes required!
The lower section is the opposite to the upper, your now into the dark woods for some very tight technical corners, switchbacks, drops with tough technical landings, this all leads you onto a long straight section with some interesting features. A small flat section takes you out of the woods onto the final berm and its pedal pedal pedal for the final jump into the finishing arena!
Track marked in pink
RACE FORMAT
The format of the 2007 Irish NPS is as follows:
Saturday
Sign On: 9.00-13.00
Practice: 1000-15.00
Seeding: 15.30.-17.30
Uplift begins 10.00am
Sunday
Sign On: 0900-10.30
Practice: 0900-11.30
Course Inspection: 1130-1200
Race: 1200-1700
Prizegiving
Uplift begins 9am
COST OF ENTRY
Elite/Master/Senior/Sport/Junior/Vets/Ladies - 50Euro £35Stg
U14/U16/Junior - 30Euro £20Stg
+ Race Licence
RACE LICENCE
Riders must be able to produce a full licence or a day licence in order to race in the 2007 Irish Downhill NPS..
Full licence
You can choose between a full international licence or an MTB only licence. You get these from Cycling Ireland through a club or as a private member. Once you buy one of these you wont have to pay anything more than the race entry fee.
Underage riders may be entitled to a free race licence which should be acquired in advance from Cycling Ireland. For further information contact Cycling Ireland.
Day Licence
Any rider who does not hold a 2007 race licence needs to obtain a day licence. Day licences cost £10Stg or 15 Euro for all riders except youth riders (U14/U16) - A race licence for U14 and U16 riders will cost £3.50Stg or 5 Euro.
A day licence will not automatically make you a member of Cycling Ireland, and therefore, anyone wishing to compete in the national championships in Rostrevor in July, and who doesn't have a full licence will not be eligible for medal (and also your race place will not be counted).
If you intend to race in the national championships, it is recommended you purchase a full Cycling Ireland licence immediately as each day licence fee cannot be claimed back towards the purchase of a full licence.
MINI-BIKES
Mini-bikes are not permitted at any of the venues for the 2007 Irish DH NPS, therefore please do not put the event at risk by bringing one along. Riders using mini-bikes will be disqualified from the series.
UNWANTED WASTE
Part of the conditions set out by landowners for the use of the venues for the Irish DH NPS is that organisers leave the land in the condition they found it. When riders leave rubbish either at an event or prior to an event, they are putting the use of the venue at risk. Please take this into consideration when discarding unwanted waste.
WEATHER
A full 5 day weather forecast can be obtained from www.bbc.co.uk/weather or www.accuweather.com
Check out specific conditions for Gortin HERE
ACCOMMODATION
Holiday cottages and a fully equiped camp site at the track finish in Gortin Glen, enables campers and campervans to make use of full facilities.
A discounted rate for camping at the camp site has been negotiated for people attending the race.
Tents should expect to pay £8 per night, Motorhomes (plugged in) £14 per night and vans (not plugged in) £10 per night.
Holiday cottages are also available for booking.
Facilities include toilets and shower, TV and Pool room, dishwashing facilities, chemical dispoal unit, barbecue grill and patio and laundry room.
To book the campsite or holiday cottages call 00447813957563.
A nearby Hotel, The Gateway Inn can be reached on 02882244804.
Other accommodation can be found at HERE
DIRECTIONS
Gortin Glen is situated outside Omagh on the B48 between Omagh and Gortin. Follow signs for Gortin campsite
Multimap link HERE.
GPS co-ordinates: N54 41.162' W007 15.527'
PARKING
Parking is only available in front of the cottages in the camping areas. Please drive into the camp site and turn right past the holiday cottages. Drivers are asked to park in a sensible manner and remeber all cars and vans will need to park in this area. Overflow parking is available in the Forest Service parking area, however this is a good walk away. There will be no parking allowed on the road.
