The new Off Road Commission has made changes to the way that the Sports MTB category is to be reorganised to reflect the beginners nature of it.  Sports riders will no longer be included in the League, rather each race will operate as a stand alone event for the category.  Below is the press release from the Commission.

Announcement re; 2009 Irish NPS XC MTB Sports category:

As a result of the feedback from a survey launched in 2008 re; Irish XC Racing, the current Offroad Commission recognised strong concern amongst XC Sports category riders regarding significantly faster riders competing in Sports, who were winning by a significantly large time margin, when such riders would have been more realistically suited to competing in a more senior category commensurate with their abilities.

This issue had the effect of discouraging/intimidating a large number of Sports competitors.

As a result, the Offroad Commission will introduce the below initiatives to try ensure riders race in an appropriate category for their capabilities.

The Sports category is intended to be a category which introduces mountainbikers to XC Racing.

Initiatives being introduced:

* The Sports category will not be included in the overall XC NPS league standings/table, ie; Sports competitors will get their placing and medals at each race, but there will not be an overall XC NPS Sports category winner.
* There will be an award/recognition for the most improved XC NPS Sports rider(s) in the spirit of rewarding the effort of improvement (this initiative is also being considered for the senior categories - eg; recognition for a Sports rider who decides to compete in Experts or Masters and makes a significant improvement through the course of the XC NPS)
* To encourage the various clubs around the country to run club-league races (and inter-club leagues) in order to prepare “the complete beginner” for Sports category racing.

· To request the more experienced racers from the various XC clubs around the country to encourage their Sports riders to move to the senior categories where they think the Sports rider would have the capability. The clubs ideally should identify an XC racing rep. who can report to the Offroad Commission re; what they have done to both help beginners to race, and to help more experienced riders to race the senior categories.
Note that according to the XC Racing survey, a significant amount of riders (65) in 2008 moved from Sports to a senior category so this shows that there are plenty of riders willing to move up a category which is to be encouraged.

* To promote, recognise and encourage non-race XC events, such as the Djouce Trail Challenge to give novices the experience of competition without racing-pressure.
* The Sports lap numbers/course/difficulty etc.. are not being recommended to be changed (ie; hosting clubs should not make the Sports category any harder or easier)
Note:

* The 2009 XC NPS female categories will be: Ladies and Elite Ladies and both categories will be included in the overall league table.
* Ladies category lap numbers/course/difficulty etc.. will be the same as Sports category.

Other options suggested but out of scope for 2009 / to be considered at a later stage:

* Add an additional Sports category / split the Sports category to 2 levels of ability

The main problem with this would be the significant additional overhead required for the clubs to maintain another category on race day.

* Construct a points-based system where riders would automatically be promoted to the next category based upon their points accumulated.
The OffRoad Commission will assess this option during 2009 to determine if it is feasible to implement at a later stage

Regards,

Fergal Kilkenny on behalf of the Offroad Commission

Offroad Commission Secretary / XC Co-ordinator
MADMTB Secretary
087-792-7730
offroad.commission@gmail.com
fergal.kilkenny@gmail.com