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1. General
1.1 The Scottish Cross Country Association (SXC) Series of races is run under the current rules of the British Cycling (BC) Mountain Bike Technical Regulations.
1.2 SXC Series events are classed as Regional A race under BC Technical Regulations.
1.3 The Series will normally consist of 6 events, including the Scottish Championships.
1.4 If, for unforeseen circumstances SXC need to alter any rules, notification will be made via the SXC web site and Facebook page.
2. Race Entries
2.1 On-line race entries are available through the BC website. Online entry closes at 2355 on the Wednesday before the event.
2.2 On-the-day entries are only available for the U8, U10 and Taster categories. These will be accepted up to 30 minutes before the start of the race. Cash only is accepted on the day.
3. Race Categories
3.1 Riders should race in their appropriate category as set out on the entry form,
3.2 A valid racing licence from British Cycling is required to enter the Elite/Expert category.
3.3 Riders in categories other than Elite/Expert wishing to ride in this category may do so at the discretion of the organising committee and British Cycling, by application one week before the race with verifiable evidence of their ability. Riders doing so should be aware that BC ranking points can only be awarded to riders competing in the category shown on their current race licence.
3.4 Where a rider is granted permission to ride out of category, they must ride in that category for the remainder of the season. Each event in the Series will include the following categories: Female: Juvenile, Youth, Junior, Sport, Veteran, Elite/Expert, Taster and Young Taster. Male: Juvenile, Youth, Junior, Sport, Veteran, Grand Veteran, Super Veteran, Elite/Expert, Taster and Young Taster.
3.5 If there are less than 5 entrants in a category, the Race Organisers may combine that category with other categories in the race, but Series Points and Event Medals will still be awarded in respect of the Category entered.
3.6 The event Chief Commissaire, in consultation with the organising committee, shall determine the start order for races depending on local circumstances.
4. Scottish Championships
4.1 The Scottish Cycling Scottish Championship will normally be contested as part of a Series race.
4.2 This title is open to: Riders holding a current BC licence in their category and either …
a) Were born in Scotland
b) Have a parent born in Scotland
c) Have been resident in Scotland for at least 3 years
d) Ride for a Scottish registered Team or Club
4.3 There is no Sport championship category and no title will be awarded, although there will be a Sport category race at the round which hosts the Scottish Championships. Only riders entered in the Sport category may accrue SXC series points in that category. Riders electing to contest a championship title will not accrue series points in the Sport category at the event.
4.4 The Championships is run within one of the SXC series races.
4.5 Championship entry is on-line only through the BC website and entry closes two weeks before the event. There is no on the day entry and late entries will not be accepted. Following the closing of Championship entries, entry to the event will reopen and remain open until the normal closing time, but any rider entering the event during that period will not be eligible for a Championship title but will be allowed to race.
5. Race Numbers & Timing Chips
5.1 Race number boards and timing chips will be issued at each event, and must be returned after the race. Riders who fail to return the board and chip will be charged for their replacement.
5.2 Number boards may not be cut, folded, defaced or altered in any way.
6. Sign On
6.1 All entrants must sign the official sign-on sheet and note the conditions for which they are signing.
6.2 Sign on will normally close 30 minutes before the race.
6.3 Under 16 riders must be signed on by their parent/guardian/carer.
6.4 All riders must be signed on for all race and official practice sessions
6.5 Riders are under the jurisdiction of the Commissaire from the time they sign on until the completion of the prize giving.
7. Race Times
7.1 Race information including race times, start order, lap numbers etc will be posted electronically before race day and displayed at the event.
7.2 SXC, in accordance with the event Chief Commissaire, may change any of these depending on local conditions or circumstances outwith their control.
7.3 Riders must report to gridding area 15 minutes before the start of their race.
8. Practice
8.1 Number boards must be displayed and helmets worn during official practice. No exceptions!
8.2 The course will be usually available for official practice between 9.30 and 10.15, and from 13.15 – 13.45. Riding on the course outwith these times will result in disciplinary action.
8.3 All practice must be in the race direction.
8.4 The course will usually be available for inspection by riders from 3pm the day before the race. Please note that this is not official practice time, the course is not covered by event first aid provision, and all riders are responsible for themselves at all times outwith official practice and their own race times.
9. Race Rules
9.1 All riders must use a suitable mountain style bike.
9.2 All riders must wear a helmet and each rider's bike must be in safe working order with bar end plugs fitted.
9.3 Riders must not take short cuts or intentionally deviate from the marked course.
9.4 No outside assistance is permitted during the race. All spares and tools for use outwith the designated Technical Zone must be carried by the rider during the race.
9.5 Riders wishing to pass another rider must give a clear call of “Rider on your left/right” and wait until the front rider gives way when it is safe to do so.
9.6 Riders being passed must not intentionally obstruct passing riders and must give way to passing riders as soon as it is safe to do so.
9.7 A rider must cross the finish line with his/her bike after the winning rider to qualify for a finishing place.
9.8 There will be at least one marked Technical/Feed zone. Feeding is only allowed within the feed zone and at no other places on the course.
9.9 Absolutely no verbal or physical intimidation will be tolerated at our events, regardless of the circumstances. This includes aggressive, foul and abusive language. Be an ambassador for your sport! If you experience unpleasant behaviour during a race, please speak to a commissaire or the event organiser as soon as possible at the end of the race so the matter can be promptly dealt with.
9.10 All riders must respect the environment the event takes place in, leave no litter, and cause no damage. Any rider found dropping litter outside the Technical/Feed zone will be disqualified.
10. Retiring From The Race
10.1 Riders retiring from the race, for any reason, must report immediately to the nearest marshal and inform the recorder at the finish line at the first reasonable opportunity.
11. Series Points
11.1 Series points will be awarded to the first 22 finishers in each category from Juvenile (U14) upwards. No series exists for U8, U10 and U12 categories, no series points will be awarded and no series tables will be published for these categories, in line with British Cycling guidance for U12 racing.
11.2 Points will be allocated: 1st= 35 points 2nd =25 3rd =20 4th =190 5th =18 6th =17, 7th =16, 8th =15 9th =14, 10th =13, 12th=12 then one point incremental drop for each place down to 1 point.
11.3 Total series points will be calculated by totalling all points accrued over a maximum of five rounds, where a rider's lowest-scoring round is disregarded. Where a round is cancelled, the number of rounds included in a rider's overall score is reduced by one. A non-scoring round (DNS/DNF on the results) may count as a rider's lowest-scoring round.
11.4 Riders must enter at least 3 rounds to qualify for the series title and prize.
11.5. In the event of a tie, ranking will be based on finishing positions over the Series (most 1st places, most 2nd places, etc) and then, if still tied, on the relative finishing positions in the final round.
12 Refund Policy
12.1 Entries made online may be refunded (not including the £1 British Cycling admin charge - it actually costs us another £1 on top to refund an entry) or transferred to a later round in the series by contacting the organising team via the Facebook page or emailing info@sxc.org.uk by noon on the Wednesday ahead of the event. Once this deadline has passed, the organising team then incurs a fixed cost associated with your entry and is unable to automatically remove your entry from the event. Any refund beyond this deadline is entirely at the organising team's discretion, and therefore any refund or transfer beyond this deadline cannot be guaranteed.
12.2 In exceptional circumstances (usually weather-related) we may find ourselves with no option but to cancel the event at short notice. In these instances, we will usually find ourselves still liable to pay the significant fixed costs associated with staging the event and reserve the right to retain 25% of the entry fee. We will try to avoid this if at all possible.