Beastway London Summer Cyclocross Series is back for 2019 with eight rounds on consecutive Thursdays in July and August so there's never been a better time for a London staycation. With the help of some wonderful clubs, venues and volunteers Beastway bounces straight from its regular MTB series at Hog Hill to take in some new and old cross venues.

The fifth round is organised by Penge CC and friends at the classic Summer Cross venue of Bethlem Hospital in Monks Orchard Rd, Beckenham BR3 3BX. Nearest overground is Eden Park on the Hayes line. Bromley South is a bit further away but has more services including Thameslink through The City.

Pre-entry to this round opens on 1 June. Full series entrants take precedent and entry for this opened on 1 May.

This year Summer Cross will be run as One Bike events. No pits. No bike changes so travel is simpler and our sport is more accessible to new riders. We have a significant series prize pot once again (aiming to beat last year's £1000...) and series rankings with your best SIX results to count.

2019 Entry Fees
Category/age    Advance    EoL
Senior & Vet M    £15    £20  
Jun M & F     £9    £15  
Senior & Vet F    £15    £20
(£10 number charge if this is the first round you've raced in Beastway Summer Cross 2019)
Youth        £7    £10  
u12        £3    £5  

To cover up-front costs and provide a suitably large prize fund, all Junior, Senior and all Vet category riders are required to pay a one-off Summer Cross joining fee of £10 to cover chipped number, dossard and data entry into the timing system/results/rankings. In later rounds you can select the 'first time rider' option to pre-pay the £10 which helps get you signed-on more quickly.
This charge applies once to each rider - including those intending to race only the final round - as a consistent contribution to series costs and the prize fund.  
Any lost, damaged or forgotten numbers can be replaced for £10, so look after your number and bring it every time you want to race.
All youth and u12 riders will receive one chipped number free of charge. Any subsequent number will be charged at £10, so please remember to bring your numbers to every round you race.

Race categories and rules
All races are run under the regulations of British Cycling. These are Non-Ranking races, with the new ONE BIKE classification where NO PITS area is needed and riders shall only ride one bike* throughout any single race. This simplifies an evening course set-up, travel by bike and makes it easier for new riders to get into the sport.
There will be no gridding. This saves a lot of time in a tight race schedule. Please be reasonable about your race ambitions when it's time to line up in your category for the start.
Age categories will be grouped at each start and may not be in a consistent order to allow for variation in courses so follow instructions.
You do not need to be a member of British Cycling in order to race and there is no extra charge for those without a licence. All are welcome, although if you are new to cyclocross please note there are rules about allowable equipment and personal kit. MTBs are welcome. Ask if you want reassurance on something.
All races are for men and women alike, with separate placings and awards being made by gender and age category.
Age categories are based on the usual groupings, which remain the same as your 2018/2019 winter season. There is to be no 'racing up' in any age category and series points will not be awarded to ineligible riders.

Race 1  UNDER 12  18:10  15mins
 Under 12 Up to 31st August in the year of 12th birthday (it's most likely you will already be 12yrs old)

Race 2  YOUTH u16 & u14 18:30  29mins
 Youth from 1st September in the year of 12th birthday to 31st August in the year of 16th birthday, including;-
 Youth  - U14 from 1st September in the year of 12th birthday to 31st August in the year of 14th birthday

Race 3  JUNIOR SENIOR AND VETERAN 19:15  59mins
 Junior from 1st September in the year of 16th birthday to 31st August in the year of 18th birthday
 Senior from 1st September in the year of 18th birthday
 Veteran from 1st September in the year of 40th birthday, including;-
  Vet 40from 1st September in the year of 40th birthday to 31st August in the year of 50th birthday
  Vet 50 from 1st September in the year of 50th birthday 31st August in the year of 60th birthday
  Vet 60+ from 1st September in the year of 60th birthday to 31st August

The course
Bethlem Hospital has extensive grounds with old amenity grassland, tracks, hedges and forest areas. Penge CC has some plans to present some nice challenges and the lie of the land makes this a popular venue for interesting races. 

Under-12 riders compete on a short course that is suitable to their age. No hurdles. This is usually a section of the full adult course with short-cuts to keep a lap with the same start and finish lines.
Youths and all senior categories have a course which can include hurdles to 40cm regulation height, steps up and technical features such as adverse or steeply sloping banks. Some asphalt sections or dirt tracks may be included but most Summer Cross courses are on amenity grass and the course must be at least 2m wide all the way round to allow for overtaking throughout. We aim to give a lap around 2.5 - 3.5km in length making a lap 6 or 7 minutes' duration to allow riders plenty of space to race at their own speed but some courses can run very fast in dry conditions. You should arrive in time to make an inspection lap and get a warm up.
Please do not warm up on the course when another race is in progress!
Please do not hang around near the line with a chipped number as it pings the timing system.

Series points and prizes
Riders will be ranked according to their points scored at each round.
The points winners in each category will receive a cash prize (£TBC dependent on entries in each age group). Women and men category winners will receive equal amounts of prize money in each age group.
The best SIX points-paying races shall count towards a rider's total points for ranking purposes.
Each race shall have points awarded according to absolute placing in the relevant category. The points will be 1st place: 29 points, 2nd: 23, 3rd: 19, 4th: 17, 5th: 13, 6th: 11, 7th: 7, 8th: 5, 9th: 3, 10th: 2 points.
The running rankings and each race result will be posted on the results server at www.beastwayresults.co.uk
 
In 2018 we awarded a prize pot of £1000 and we hope to at least match this amount for 2019.

Youth riders will receive cash prizes on the day of each race to the value of £4.25 per rider entered and racing that round. (£7 per rider entered, less £1.50 national levy X 0.75 as per reg. 14.1) Parity of prize monies by gender will apply to the first three places in u14 and u16 split 60:30:10. Where fewer than 3 riders enter in any category/gender the unallotted prize money shall be distributed to riders placed fourth and lower in any category with more than three taking part.
Organisers will seek to make the youth podium as soon after the completion of the youth race as possible, but this could be after the last senior has finished racing. Riders not present at the podium ceremony shall be deemed to have donated their prize to the promotion and no later claim for prize money can be recognised.
Under 12 riders may receive awards as soon after their race as possible and this is at the discretion of the organisers each round.


*ONE BIKE rule 10.2 introduced in 2019 https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/rulebook/2018/british-cycling-handbook-2019.pdf see page 185.

Full Series Dates, Venues and supporting clubs

4 July - Jubilee Park Leyton (VeloHub, Stayer Cycles and LVYCC)

11 July - Frylands S Croydon (Sutton CC)
Frylands Scout Camp, Featherbed Ln, Croydon CR0 9AA

18 July  - Cyclopark (Cyclopark with help from Team Darenth)
The Tollgate, Watling St, Gravesend DA11 7NP

25 July - Hog Hill (The Beastway Crew and LVYCC)
Forest Road, London IG6 3HP

1 Aug - Bethlem Hospital  (Penge CC)
Monks Orchard Rd, Beckenham BR3 3BX

8 Aug - Hog Hill (The Beastway Crew and LVYCC)
Forest Road, London IG6 3HP

15 Aug - Hillingdon House Farm (West Drayton MTB)
Park Road, Uxbridge UB8 1ES  - NB: NOT Hillingdon Cycle circuit!

22 Aug - Finale at Herne Hill (Dulwich Paragon)
104 Burbage Rd, Dulwich, London SE24 9HE

Let's enjoy the racing and have summer fun!

Info for Riders

Penge CC are delighted to present a round of the Beastway London Summer Cyclocross Series and to host it at such a classic venue. Bethlem Hospital grounds have open grassland, tracks and forest hedges on a gentle slope.

Venue address: Bethlem Hospital. Monks Orchard Rd, Beckenham BR3 3BX.
Nearest overground station is Eden Park on the Hayes line. South Bromley is a bit further but it has more services, including Thameslink through London. (check train company cycle policy)
Parking inside the gates may be limited so please follow instructions on the day. Services and facilities are at a minimum so do plan your routines accordingly.
Front lights might be an idea for the forest track if it's one of those gloomy overcast days (Please remember that your rear lights are not welcomed by others in races...)

Beastway Timing is running the sign on and race results, which means chips are mounted on your number. The number board mounts on your seatpin and saddle rails using the tabs we provide. No zip-ties please.
This year we also have dossards to pin on your back. BRING YOUR OWN PINS!! (Just like they do in Belgium)

Sign-on and race results is being run by Beastway Timing, using its chips and software. We will have a lot of number boards to get to pre-entered riders, so it's likely that entering on the day will be a slow process.

There will be a separate table for pre-entries at sign-on. Make sure you don't join the long queue for entries on the day.

Results will be published at www.beastwayresults.co.uk and a write up will be on the blog www.beastwaymtb.com