IrishDH.com

The Final round of the ZealOptics Irish National Points Series takes place in the White Horse Forest, Waterford on Sunday the 9th of October. After last years very successful event on a great course this event will be well worth heading to.

As this is the final round of the NPS - most categories leader positions are still up for grabs - Under 14 sees the battle between Darryl Wade, Conor O'Neill and Robert Duggan. Under 16's is also being contested by the top 3 riders, Seanan O'Riordan, Jason Murphy and Cathal Hickey. It's all down to the final race between the Vets with Tom Clogher and David McManus.

In the Master's category it's all down to the last race and whether or not Marty McGuigan can hold on to his leader's position. Juniors sees Dan Wolfe trying to hold on to his leader's position, but not far behind is Stephen McClintock and Paul Cummins.

Elite sees the battle between the top four for first position, with Stephen Beattie, Dale McMullan, Michael Cowan and Tom Power.....

Categories that are foregone conclusions are the ladies with Michele McCartney well out in front and the senior category with Ricky Lawrence looking like he's going to hold on to the leader's position.

To mark the final round of the NPS, ZealOptics have donated some fantastic prizes in a bid to encourage competitiveness for the top position. These prizes include top of the range goggles, sunglasses for the winner is each category, as well as a host of other prizes including T-Shirts, gloves and stickers....

We at IrishDH would like to thank ZealOptics for their generous sponsorship throughout the year. Unless contributed by the race organisers, this is the first year the Irish NPS has had prizes for each event, therefore providing the opportunity for some great prizegiving ceremonies and also some great dirt jams!

The Course:
Off the 10 foot starting gate get a few peddle strokes in and your straight into a double, land then you pump into a bomb hole and berm out of it into a rollable drop on to a rock garden followed by another rock garden jump out and you have a choice of 2 lines into small jump into another bomb hole, jump out and straight into a switch back with beautiful berms, out of the second berm, into a hip jump then get set up for a drop into berm, drop off, hit the berm, jump over a wall into a rock garden, then into small technical rooty switch back, choice of 2 lines to line you up for the table top, land then over a wall-rock garden tight corner into very tricky steep rock section, bit of a technical section, into berm over a roller into rock garden, then there is choice of few lines for a series of bermed corners then into straight steep sprint for "the gap", 12 x 25, into big berm, to tight technical rooty corner, then a sprint for about 15 seconds, over a hump into a very fast rooty bit with nice line choice, through a couple of pumps then FINISH on the beach.....

How to get there:
From Cork: Go through Waterford city towards Rosslare, once you get over the bridge go 3 miles out the road and and it will be sign posted from there from the Bellview Port Road and you will be going right.

From Dublin and the north: Go as far as Waterford city, you'll come to the roundabout at the train station, go 3 miles out the road and and it will be sign posted from there from the Bellview Port Road and you will be going right.

From Wicklow, Wexford: Go through New Ross, head towards Waterford, 3 miles before Waterford it will be sign posted and you will be going left.

Timetable
Saturday is unofficial practice, it's a free world you can practice AT YOUR
OWN RISK.
Sunday Practice 9-12
Sign on 8.30-11
Race 1-4ish (depending on amount of entry)
Prize giving 20 minutes after race.
Uplifts and catering will be provided

Accommodation:
From the biggest...
The Rue Glenn Country Club: 051 832242, Has restaurant and bar etc