This is the opening round of Beastway's 28th annual series. We're back to our usual all-for-one hour long blast every Wednesday evening in May and June, giving nine rounds in total. Plus we have two XCO regional A race dates on Sunday 9 May and Sunday 6 June. These rounds have a longer course, more starts for separate categories, more BC and Beastway points.

Beastway is Britain's longest running weekly MTB series. We are the best midweek blast whether you want to race seriously or just for fun. Our courses change for each round as we mix in new challenges and old favourites around the trails we developed over the last eight years. Hog Hill has fantastic sunsets and great views across East London into The City. Racing everyone together is a fantastic way to learn your race craft as a young rider among seniors and then to enjoy seeing others come through. - Lots of friendly rivalry and race camaraderie all round. Good cakes, coffee and showers in the purpose-built pavilion too (subject to COVID regulations).

u12 riders always get a shorter course which is suitable for a wide range of ages from 7 and up, but which doesn't patronise the fastest.

Youth and juveniles normally race in with the seniors, starting around 15-20 minutes later.

Women are particularly welcome at all our races and we will ask about your gridding preference. (We shouldn't need to say this...)

With eleven rounds in the series, it's your best NINE scores which count. Our unique and highly prized trophies are always sought after, though none more than those that were made by Turner prize-winning artist Grayson Perry one year.

Our race entry fees are the best value, friendly and competitive races around. Pre-entry has always saved you money, but now it's the only way to enter too. We cannot offer entry on the day under COVID regulations. Enter the series of eleven races and only pay for nine.

COVID regulation racing means we have a spaced grid with distanced access to it. There is NO technical and feed zone, no hand-ups of any kind, so riders should be self-reliant during the race. Accompanying adults of young riders under 16 should not stand trackside nor gather at the starting grid. Sadly we can't allow spectators into the site, where access is for competitors and 1 chaperone of u16s only. (...see below where we are looking for helpers to marshal...) . All races are PRE-ENTRY ONLY.
The pavilion will be open for toilets and rider check-in, plus lockers (£1 coin returned after use). Kiosk food and drink will be available from an external servery. After your race please do not gather in groups and keep your distance.
 - We know this all sounds a bit soul-less but we'll do our best to make an atmosphere with the sound system. We know riders will be pleased to see one another and we're delighted to offer racing, but please respect social distancing and wear a mask all times when not on the bike. Be ready to follow instructions which are made with good intention to keep us all safe and racing.

We are always on the lookout for helpers to join in with running our races. Please let us know if you have a friend or supporter that otherwise might spectate and we can hand them something to do. beastway'at'btinternet.com is the contact to sort this out, which we must do in advance. Thank you for thinking of helping run your races.
If you want to marshal any week instead of racing, we will refund your advance entry fee and give you series points averaged to what you scored at other rounds.

In the u12 races, we expect the parents will want to help.

And when we're done for this series, look out for our other events such as Tour of the Cornfields on 5 Sept. It's 100km off-road around S Cambs, N Herts, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire. We're also organising the Summer Cyclocross series in London and more.
Full details at www.beastwaymtb.com

Info for Riders

We have an u10 and u12 race before the main start. This should be finished by 19.10, which means you should just about have time to get a practice lap before the main start at 19:30. Youth and juveniles of suitable standard will be called to their start at around 19:50. Racing ends around 20:30.

We will leave online pre-entry open until 11pm on Tuesday.

Check our website and social media.https://www.facebook.com/groups/527108233993954

COVID regulation racing means we have a spaced grid with distanced access to it. There is NO technical and feed zone, no hand-ups of any kind, so riders should be self-reliant during the race. Accompanying adults of young riders under 16 should not stand trackside nor gather at the starting grid. Sadly we can't allow spectators into the site, where access is for competitors and 1 chaperone of u16s only. (...we are looking for helpers to marshal...) . All races are PRE-ENTRY ONLY.
The pavilion will be open for toilets and rider check-in, plus lockers (£1 coin returned after use). Kiosk food and drink will be available from an external servery. After your race please do not gather in groups and keep your distance.
 - We know this all sounds a bit soul-less but we'll do our best to make an atmosphere with the sound system. We know riders will be pleased to see one another and we're delighted to offer racing, but please respect social distancing and wear a mask all times when not on the bike. Be ready to follow instructions which are made with good intention to keep us all safe and racing.

British Cycling ranking points are paid on the race as a whole only. 

Series points:
Placing/points: 1/20 2/16 3/13 4/11 5/9 6/7 7/6 8/5 9/4 10/3 11/2 12/1
Sunday XCO points are higher;-
Placing/points: 1/30 2/24 3/20 4/17 5/13 6/10 7/9 8/8 9/6 10/5 11/3 12/2

Results will always be posted on our server at www.beastwayresults.co.uk first.
Best NINE points scores out of ELEVEN to count. 
Full series pre-entry means you only pay for nine races.