Venues
Tunstall Forest:
Thetfords little brother in terms of East Anglian Forests. It's just down the road from Benjamin Brittens world famous Snape Maltings on the Beautiful Suffolk Heritage Coast. This is the playground of our friends at TROG (Tunstall and Rendlesham Off-road Group). Similar in many ways to Thetford as it used to be before it was “discovered”. It's a bit wilder and a bit rougher round the edges but full of hidden gems and a great place to ride.
TROG are delighted this year to be hosting the opening round of this year's series.
Tunstall & Rendlesham Off-road Group (TROG), now in it's fifth year, was created with local Suffolk mountain bikers as a Forestry Commission initiative to promote our sport and develop and maintain mountain bike trails in the local area. Concentrating largely in Tunstall forest.
Contrasting with previous series, this year's course will be held in the north-east section of forest. Consisting mainly of twisty hardpack singletrack in dense forest and open fireroads on a mix of sand and clay based soils. Tunstall forest, being situated where it is, does not offer much in the way of topography, resulting in a course that has been described by many as "relentless" and a real test of personal fitness.
All at TROG hope to see you there, let the series begin!
Directions:
Fire Road 30 on the Tunstall Road off the B1069 towards Iken.
Car parking will be available but limited to the Fire Road. Thank you in advance for respecting the volunteer marshals who will do their best to manage this situation.
Camping:
No camping.
Hylands Park:
Hylands House, in Chelmsford, Essex, is a stunning Grade II* listed property, spectacularly restored to its former glory situated in 574 acres of historic landscaped parkland. The Park plays host to many events throughout the year from dog shows to The V Festival.
The course at Hylands takes in all of the available woodland on the left side of the park including a fantastic single track section that runs next to the golf course. Riders can expect a 4 mile lap involving wide flowing forest tracks with high speeds, technical single track with off camber exposed roots, and of course a quick sprint across the rolling fields of Hylands. This course provides an excellent challenge for both experienced and novice mountain bikers.
Directions:
Postcode: CM2 8WQ
Enter Hylands Park off the A414 (Greenbury Way) heading west in the Harlow direction. Please park in the main car park and walk over to the event village which will be within sight.
Camping:
No Camping
Thetford Forest:
A well-known venue on the UK MTB racing calendar for over a decade, Thetford Forest has hosted National Series Events as well as the popular Winter Series. The largest stretch of woodland in Britain, Thetford MTB Racing has developed a course which is characterised by tight twisty single track and shoulder-skimming trees, interspersed with super-fast fire road blasts. A multitude of different dips and hollows on the forest floor provide further challenges to both new riders and experienced racers alike. The endless stream of 'whoops' that litter the single-track like a series of speed humps is a particular feature, and traversing them smoothly is the key to a fast lap. Such is the variety of trails here that no two rides are ever the same!
Directions:
Fire Road 10, Mayday Meadow on the B1106 between Brandon and Elveden.
Car parking will be available but limited to the Fire Road. Thank you in advance for respecting the volunteer marshals who will do their best to manage this situation.
Camping:
No camping.
Codham Park:
Codham returns once again to the series with thrilling singletrack descents, heart stopping downhill’s, panoramic climbs through verdant pastures and swooping bomb-hole sections, there truly is something for everyone!
Directions:
Post code: CM7 5JQ
Ickworth House:
A Georgian Italianate palace in an idyllic English landscape, explore acres of space, woodland, wildlife, and a stunning architectural oddity, all with a story to match.
This is a new venue to MSG and begins an exciting partnership with The National Trust. The grounds at Ickworth House provide us with large forests and rolling fields which should create a challenge for everyone competing. The course involves wide forest tracks ideal for overtaking and grabbing a quick drink mixed with tight flowing single track through the many trees.
Ickworth House not only provides us with a fantastic new race course but also a great family day out with many interesting sights to be seen.
Directions:
Post code: IP29 5QE
