Date: Sunday 6 December 2026
Event: Ulster Cyclo-cross Championships
Venue: Palace Demesne, Armagh
Host club: Square Wheels
This is the 9th 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:
Closes: Friday 4 December 2026 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, race categories
See details of fees, categories and prizes here
Race schedule including practice times and prize giving
| Time | Event | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Registration opens | |
| 09:00-11:20 | Main course practice | 2h 30m |
| 09:00-09:50 | Youth course practice (U6, U8, U10, U12) | 50m |
| 09:50 | Under 6s race | 2m |
| 10:00 | Under 8s race | 5m |
| 10:15 | Under 10s race | 10m |
| 10:35 | Under 12s race | 15-20m |
| 10:55 | Prize giving for U8, U10, U12 | 5m |
| 11:00-11:20 | Full course practice | 20m |
| 11:20 | Call up for Women, Under 14s and Under 16s | 10m |
| 11:30 | Race start for Women, U14 and U16 | 30m U14 & U16 45m Women |
| 12:25 | Prize giving for Women, U14 and U16 | 10m |
| 12:25-12:45 | Full course practice | 20m |
| 12:45 | Call up for Junior men, M50, M60 | 10m |
| 12:55 | Race start for Junior men, M50, M60 | Junior Men - 40m M50, M60 - 45m |
| 13:50 | Prize giving for Junior men, M50, M60 | 10m |
| 13:50-14:10 | Full course practice | 20m |
| 14:10 | Call up for Senior men and M40 | 10m |
| 14:20 | Race start for Senior men and M40 | 50m |
| 15:20 | Prize giving for Senior men and M40 | 10m |
Tyre width check
For Juniors (16/17), Seniors and Masters there will be a check on tyre width (max 33 mm)
Race licence
Cycling Ireland riders must hold a 2026/2027 licence either a Limited Competition (LC) or Full Competition.
For non-Cycling Ireland licence holders, please ensure you have a 2026/2027 licence from your federation then email a copy of your licence to secretary@offroadcyclingulster.com before pre-entry closes.
NOTE: There are no one-day licences available for championship categories (U14s, U16s, Junior, Senior or Masters)
Ulster medals – eligibility
This is an open event however there are conditions on receiving medals.
Ulster championship medals will only be awarded to riders who satisfy the following criteria
(a) Belonging to a club / team based in the Province;
(b) Unattached and resident in the Province;
(c) Residency in the Province;
(d) Belonging to a club / team based outside Ireland but,
1) Immediate past address was in the Province or
2) Most previous Irish club / team was based in the Province.
Prize list
As this is a championship there will Cycling Ulster medals for the following categories. No cash prizes to be given out. Display medals will be provided for the event with the engraved medals being available at the Cycling Ulster Awards night early 2027.
Top 3 Ulster Junior,
Top 3 Ulster Senior,
Top 3 Ulster M40,
Top 3 Ulster M50,
Top 3 Ulster M60,
Top 3 Ulster Junior women,
Top 3 Ulster Senior women,
Top 3 Ulster Masters women (40+),
Top 3 Ulster Under 14 males,
Top 3 Ulster Under 14 females,
Top 3 Ulster Under 16 males,
Top 3 Ulster Under 16 females.
TEAM PRIZE – There must be a minimum of 3 teams of 3 Ulster riders to qualify for a team prize in each category
Ulster Team prize (Senior men’s race)
Ulster Team prize (M40 men’s race)
Ulster Team prize (Women’s race)
NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACES
There will be non-championship races for the Under 6s, Under 8s, Under 10s and Under 12s.
Gridding
Gridding will be based on UCI points and the Ulster cyclo-cross series 2025
Facilities on site
Toilets: Toilets are available in the courtyard
There are no showers or changing rooms
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.
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 organiser: Aidan McCool (email)
Telephone: 07879695486
