Date: Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September
Track: Black Run and Root Canal
Online Entry (Saturday): Click here!
Online Entry (Sunday): Click here!

So What’s going on?

Aston Hill is playing host to a weekend of racing!

Following on from the cancelled Black Run Race earlier in the year, the stops are being pulled to cram two races into one weekend. You don’t need to be a racer though - it’s open to all who want to race flat-out down some of Aston Hill’s finest terrain.

The infamous Black Run needs little introduction with its steep sections, rock garden and treacherous root sections, and once again we’re using a tweaked version of the acclaimed Root Canal, home of the 2010 Eastern and Central Champs. As any Aston Hill regular will tell you, it’s a super-fun track with swooping sections and a few jumps before getting steeper and downright technical - something to keep everyone happy.

With support from the bike industry, catering from Café in the Woods and testing tracks it also promises to be a great day out for everyone, from pro racers through to casual spectators - come along and enjoy the action!

Want to help out? We always need marshals at the race: click here to find out a little more.

Want to take come over and take photos/video? Then you need to read this.

Sounds like a laugh! How do I enter?

Entry is online:
Online Entry (Saturday): Click here!
Online Entry (Sunday): Click here!

If there are spaces left they will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day.

Excellent! What categories are there?

There will be nine race categories available:

Juvenile: under 14
Youth: 15-16
Junior: 17-18
Senior: 19-29
Master: 30-39
Veteran: 40+
Expert/Elite: 19+
Ladies: 12+
Hardtail: 12+

You can also enter one other category plus the Hardtail (for all you crazy fools out there!)

All categories cost £30 to enter per race, apart from Juvenile and Youth, which cost £28. If you enter races on both days you’ll receive £5 back onsite, and if you enter Hardtail as well as another category, racing Hardtail will only cost £15*.

Should there be space left, all on the day entries will be £35 per race, per day.

You’ll also need a race number plate (which is provided at sign-on) which is £5 deposit (or your BCF licence) and is refundable on return of the race plate after the race.

*If you are racing both days and enter the Hardtail category as well as another, one category will be full price and the other will cost you £15, per day. This applies to pre-entries only and will not count on the day.

I’m in! Where can I stay?

Camping is available at the race costing £5 per tent. It’s in a field with nothing but a few portaloos, so pack accordingly! The nearest large supermarket for supplies is Tesco in Tring with a smaller Tesco Metro (parking difficult) in Wendover.

Otherwise there are plenty of places to eat and stay in Tring and Wendover.

Barbecues are fine on the campsite, but open fires and loud music are not allowed. Aston Hill has several neighbours, all of whom we wish to remain on good terms with!

Due to previous problems anyone caught trespassing or stealing from private property will be disqualified, asked to leave and refused entry to any future Aston Hill event. The police will also be notified if appropriate. Yes, it’s a big deal.

The campsite is in this field and, if you fancy some grub when they open, Cafe in the Woods is a short stroll away in the wooded area on the left (follow the path from Aston Hill to the parking and table symbols in the centre of the wood).

Finally, if you’re camping please take your litter home!

What’s happening race day?

The schedule for both race days is:

Registration and race number collection from 7.00am – 10.00am (bring £5 or your race licence to hire a race number plate - given back on return of the race plate)
Practice from 7.00am – 10.15am (BC regulations state that you need to get two full race runs in before the race starts)
Racing starts at 10.30am

At 6pm on Saturday there will be a free lil’ rippers race for the under-12s and a whip-off - judged by Aston Hill’s very own Mr. Whippy Matt Wakefield - followed at 6.30pm by a pump-off on the new pump track.

Parking is in the signposted field over the road and there will be food available from Wendover Woods’ Café in the Woods.

Where can I park?

Parking will be in the same field as the camping, which is here and will be clearly signposted.

The nearest postcode to Aston Hill is HP22 5NQ. More information on getting here is on http://www.rideastonhill.co.uk/about/location/

Please do not park on the verges near the Aston Hill entrance. Apart from the risk of getting a police ticket, we will disqualify any racers caught parking here.

I don’t want to race, but want to help out! What can I do?

We always need help marshalling! Marshals are the backbone of the event. They ensure the smooth running of the race itself and are the eyes and ears for the timing crew and medics. To put it bluntly, if there were no marshals there would be no race.

If you want to help out at the race we’d love to hear from you. Drop Mark and Rich a line at [email protected] and in return for helping us we’ll give you £35 per day and feed you lunch as well as plenty of tea, coffee or soft drink of your choice.

Can I just come along and shoot some photos/video?

Totally! We love photographers and film-makers coming along, getting stuck in and capturing the race.

If you could add your captures to our Flickr group too so racers can see themselves in action, we’d really appreciate it! All we ask is that you use flash sparingly and in a way to avoid distracting racers, and stay outside the race tape (so you are never on the track); this is to ensure both your safety and the safety of the racers.

If you are at the race to take photos in a professional capacity then we ask that you drop us a line using the contact page before the race.

Anything else I should know?

You will need a race number which is £5 to hire on the day and refundable on return of the plate. Alternatively you can leave your BC licence at sign-in which will be stored in a locked, secure box and can be exchanged back for your race plate at the end of the day.

There are BC points up for grabs (so if you’re points-chasing bring your licence), but you do not need a BCF licence to race.

A working bike and fastened full-face helmet is a must, armour is strongly advised.

That’s it.

Good luck!

3 thoughts on “2013 Double Header”

Dave on 24/08/2019 at 18:22 said:

Hi,

I’m looking at racing on the Saturday in the hardtail class but if I try to enter another class as per the above I have to pay? Is that correct. Or should I just enter the hardtail class and register in the other one on the day (or vice versa)?

Thanks,
Dave
Neil on 25/08/2019 at 20:54 said:

Yeap - you need to pay to race each class you race in. If you want to race hardtail and another class, hardtail will cost £15 instead of £30.

Bargainous!
Alex on 01/09/2019 at 22:23 said:

I thought I would share the short video I shot today. A great day to stand on the side of a hill!

http://youtu.be/Jdkfbg9SXzA