Black Park Races

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BY: chris denman

Published: 28th April, 2014

The race dates for West Drayton MBC Black Park cross country races which are the weekend of Saturday May 31st and Sunday June 1st are fast approaching with the Saturday afternoon session comprising a number of cross country races for youth rides from under 16’s to under 8’s along with an adult novice race. This races will be around a shortened version of the 3.5 mile full circuit that is going to be used on for the Sunday races . Each youth rider will be able to take part in 2 races over the afternoon with the races being based on time depending on age rather than distance.
On Sunday June1st the racing will revert to the full 3.5 mile circuit which is a mixture of fast fire road tracks and some sinewy single track with a couple of bomb holes thrown in for good measure and will have a few new tracks to keep the venue regulars on their toes. Sundays racing will feature racing for all ages from Juvenile upwards and will feature a number of championships, including British Cycling Central the youth and juvenile region championships. The combined sports and masters event will incorporate the popular London Single Speed championship, a title currently held by West Drayton MBCs own Roy Sheppard who will be out to try and retain his title and reap the generous cash prize as a result of sponsorship from the Bucks Off Road Sportive.
The feature event of the day will be the Emergency Services championship and in memory of 2013 champion, the late Richard Schofield–Phillips who was tragically killed in a cycling accident earlier this year the men’s winner will receive the Richard Schofield Memorial Trophy. It is hoped that a number of friends and colleagues of Richard will be supporting the event in tribute to Richard who was a stalwart of racing, being the road and MTB Emergency champion in 2013. In the women’s Emergency services race another West Drayton rider Cat Ross who has been on scintillating form in this years Southern series events is a hot favourite to retain her title.
Black Park is a country park situated between Slough and Uxbridge and being close to the M4/M25/M40 is easily accessible and benefits from good draining land as well as purpose built toilets, a café on site and good car parking with other activities available at the venue including the Go Ape tree top adventure, Junior Go Ape and Segways
On line entry is available via xcracer.com and the British cycling on line entry system and sponsorship from Beyond Mountain Bikes, Go Ape and www,bucksoffroadsportive should see the race winners go home with some generous prizes.