Date: Sunday 3 December 2023
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross series Round 5
Venue: Palace Demesne, Armagh
Host club: Square Wheels
This is the 6th year Square Wheels CC have hosted the Ulster Cyclocross series at The Palace Stables. The venue also played host to the National Cyclo-cross Championships in January 2022. The venue provides a thorough test of skill and fitness with separate courses for juniors and seniors. The club would like to thank Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Council for making the venue available and supporting the event.
Location:
Address – The Palace Stables, a 70 acre estate and former home of the Archbishop of Armagh, is situated on the Friary Road in the centre of Armagh City (next to Armagh Rugby club and Armagh City Hotel). It is now the administration HQ of ABC (Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon) Council and is approximately 60 minutes from Belfast and 1.30 minutes from Dublin.
Co-ordinates – N54.3394258, W6.652293
What3words – https://w3w.co/believer.envisage.teachers
Google Maps – here (link to road entrance)
Course Description:
Description: Hilly. Length: approx. 2.5km. Direction: anticlockwise. Pits: double. Senior course: The centre of the course is flat and fast, the top of the course is steep and quite muddy, the bottom of the course technical & wooded with a set of steps. Senior Grid Area – close the top car park – follow signage. Pits and bike wash: A double pit is situated at approx. 1.1 km & 2.3 km in the centre of the park. Spares should be left in the pits during practice and between races. NO SPECTATORS OR PETS IN PITS. NO UNDER 10s. MAX 2 PIT CREW. A bike wash area is adjacent to the pits – all bikes MUST be washed here NOT the pits. No water will be provided in the wash area – pit crew should bring their own. Junior course: A separate junior will be located adjacent to the Glasshouse in the Palace gardens. This will be a mix of wooded slopes and flat grass. The U12 course will be extended to take in more of the wooded slopes.
Race registration:
Opens: Monday 19 November 2023 at 8 pm
Closes: Friday 1 December 2023 at 8 pm
Link to register – here
NOTE: There are no registrations on the day
Race number collection:
Location: From registration gazebo near the youth racing area.
Number boards must be collected before practice and racing.
Closing times for collection of number boards is 15 minutes before the start of the race
Number boards must be returned at the end of the race
Race fees and race categories:
See details of fees and categories (here)
Race schedule including practice times and prize giving:
See race information here
Gridding:
Gridding will be based on UCI points and points from the Ulster Cyclo-cross Series to date.
Prize list:
Details of the prize list and points allocations (here)
Parking:
There is parking for approx. 130 cars within the grounds and there is ample car parking available at Scotch St., opposite the City Hotel & Dobbin St. beside St. Malachy’s Chapel. Registration will be signposted from the entrance of the Palace Stables. Be careful when making your way to registration as the park will be open to other users including young children. Parking info here.
Facilities on site:
Toilets: Toilets are available in the courtyard
Showers: There are no showers or changing rooms
Bike wash: Riders are asked to bring their own water for washing bikes. A bike wash area will be available on site close to the pits
Refreshments:
Last Lap Café will be on site.
Race organisers: Aidan McCool (email)
Telephone: 07879695486
