Race info / Spectator / Media / Marshals

TERMS AND CONDITION AT FOOT OF PAGE

Racers info

Here you can find most of the info you may need

Once entered you may see updates online/ via email and you will also receive a Riders Tech Doc via email on the Thursday evening of the event . This will include all event information that you will need, please read through this as it may contain vital information about the weekend.

When you arrive on site we will have a max 5mph speed limit in force. There will be small children around please kill your speed.

Many of our venues are Farm and Forest based. All dogs are to be on leads at AT ALL TIMES. Also please clean up after your Dog and dispose of the mess in the skip.

We use national level tracks that are uplifted via dedicated uplift trailers and uplift is included in your entry fee. Uplifts are provided via the venue or an external provider. We can not be held responsible for bikes placed onto the trailers by yourself, you are responsible for securing your own bike and should also be vigilante of any other bikes that may not be secured and may cause harm to yours. Should a bike suffer damage then you should inform an event official too identify the trailer/reason for the incident. any claim if upheld will be against the trailer owner and not Gravity Events. It’s your bike you should be happy too secure it yourself and safe in the knowledge that it will be safe and secure at the top ready to ride. Extra straps should be avaliable please ask your driver.

Regional A races are based on the format of Sign-on and practice Saturday and Sunday morning with 2 timed race runs (Best Run Counts) from Lunchtime Sunday. National DH has the same format with the exception of the First timed run being your seeding run and the last run being your result. Format is liable to change due to weather and track conditions.

We normally have good caterers onsite, we strive to have more variety at the Nationals where there is a greater demand. , Please bring any drinking water with you as there may not be a safe drinking tap onsite.

All rubbish is to be either disposed of in a skip if there is one on site or taken home if not. Please make sure any zipties etc that are cutoff are cleaned up from the floor, we use many Farm or forestry locations and livestock can swallow these and cause harm to the animals. Goggle tearoff’s or gel packets are not to be disposed of on track. Anyone found littering will be excluded from the event.

Security, Please be vigilant when leaving your belongings or your race bike around both during the day or at night. Do not leave bikes unlocked in an awning it just simply isn’t safe, if the Events is held in a public Forests or private land. Both ourselves or the landowners will not be held responsible for items of theft or damage. We have know that gangs have been looking out and targeting events with Police attending one National in 2022 to catch thieves in action. e do have families with young children so please be considerate.

Noise: Please turn off generators and music from 10pm to 7.30am We have young people and racers who may need to rest.

We have a zero tolerance for abusive language or behaviour towards our Event team, Marshal’s, Commissaries or towards your fellow competitors this includes in person or online content. We reserve the right to withdraw a rider or family from an event and exclude the rider from future events held by Gravity Events.

Spectator and Media information

Attention Spectators: By entering the race venue, you acknowledge and accept the inherent risks involved. Mountain Bike racing is a potentially dangerous sport, and although we take every precaution to minimize accidents, they can still occur. It is crucial that you are aware of these risks and take necessary measures to ensure your safety, as well as the safety of your children and pets.

All spectators and family members of racers are welcome to attend and participate in the event, but we kindly ask that you remain behind the taped track if its Downhill or off the track edge if any other discipline, especially in there is a double-taped B Zone.

Please be mindful of limited parking at some venues and park sensibly to accommodate racers leaving early or access for emergency vehicles. Vehicles left in a precarious manner may be moved by the landowner.Unfortunately, we are unable to reserve spaces for disabled parking at some venues.

Please keep small children away from the track edge and any potential danger, they can easily become distracted and unaware many of the risks around them. If you bring a dog they must be kept on a leash at all times to stop them being startled or running on a live race track also as some venues are located on farm land with free-roaming livestock. Clean up after your pet too maintain a safe environment for everyone, including children who enjoy playing on the hillside.

Do not attempt to cross the track unless a marshal is nearby and signals that it is safe to do so. No standing on the low side of the track, on the external part of a corner, or on any other feature deemed unsafe is strictly prohibited. Racers can reach speeds of up to and sometimes exceeding 50kmph, and they may not make much noise when approaching. Do not enter any taped out B zones or standing on the lower part of the track, as these areas are strictly off-limits to everyone, including the media.

Please respect all signage, follow the directions of marshals and the track team for your safety, as well as there’s and the racers’.

MEDIA Accreditation:

If you plan to take, use, distribute, or sell media on Roots&Rain, Facebook, or any other platform inc for inhouse team use, Commercial blogs or Podcasts you must register at Race Control and obtain a Media vest and wrist pass to film or photograph at any of our races. The event is hosted by Gravity Events UK and permission to capture images or record content is granted by us subject to those who can provide valid Public Liability Insurance of at least £3,000,000 and have signed in at Race Control. You will also need to provide a copy of the British Cycling media form which can be found at the bottom of this section. Please bring a hard copy including your PLI with you for our records.

Individuals without accreditation will be considered unauthorized, and any rights to the images or content will be invalid. Accreditation is a requirement for attending our event and ensures compliance with the Guidelines of the British Cycling code for the protection of children.

Once registered you will be issued a Media vest upon receipt of a £20 deposit . The vest will help our track team and marshals identify media personnel trackside. Wearing a vest does not grant special access to any area, including marked B Zones, or permit access to the uplift service over our riders. The vest must be worn at all times on the outside of all clothing.

Only Media personnel with our Vests only may be allowed to use our uplift service for free, subject to availability. When using open tractor/trailer units, head protection such as a cycle helmet securely fastened is mandatory due to our uplift insurance requirements. Please provide a copy of your Public Liability Insurance and a Media ID, which can be sent in advance to media@gravity-events.uk and will be kept on file for future events.

Remember to stay on the high side above the track at all times, never below, for your safety and that of the racers. Do not stay on the outside of a corner . Ensure that all lenses or poles remain behind the taped line and not in the track. Be mindful of the placement of your flashes, as they can startle or temporarily blind riders, especially in darkened wooded areas. Flashes must never face an oncoming rider.

Obey all instructions from marshals and the events team. Do not tamper with the course tape and be aware of any debris, such as flying rocks, coming from the trackside. Kindly return your vest at the end of the day; failure to do so will result in the forfeit of your £20 deposit. This has come about as 3 Media vests were never handed back after Rheola24 the first time our new vest were used!.

Please mention ‘Gravity Events UK in any media listings, reports, publications, and feel free to share your media with us so we can promote your work, direct riders to your listings, and credit you accordingly.

Failure to comply with the above conditions and any instructions given at the event may result in you being excluded and potential denial of access to future events. Failure to register for the event will also prompt action to have the images taken down from your hosting site.

Media Form

Race Marshal info

Welcome to the Race Marshall Duties guide. Thank you for volunteering your time to be a race marshal at our events. Your presence is essential in ensuring the safety of the riders and the success of the races. Being a marshal is a rewarding experience as you get to be up close to the action and engage with the riders in unique viewpoints not accessible to regular spectators.

To show our appreciation, we provide some benefits for our marshals. As a volunteer, we can reimburse your out-of-pocket expenses. We also offer a packed lunch and drinks during your service. On Sundays, after the racing has finished, we pay £60 per day. For Nationals, the payment is £70 due to the longer day. Before the event, there will be a Marshall Briefing that you must attend. The details of the briefing will be communicated to you in advance, and it will usually take place near the sign-on tent.

During the briefing, you will receive instructions regarding your duties for the day. If your assigned point is near a hazardous feature or road crossing, you will also receive specific information about it. You will be provided with a Marshall Kit, which includes a radio, flags, a sanitized whistle, spare course tape, and a rubbish bag. Additionally, you will receive a packed lunch with typically sandwiches, snacks, crisps, a chocolate bar, a cold drink. Feel free to bring extra food if needed. If transportation is required for your position, you will be directed accordingly, and return arrangements will be communicated to you at the end of the day.

Please ensure that you come prepared for your role as a marshal. Since you will be stationed on a mountainside for the duration of the practice and race day, it is important to wear suitable clothing and footwear for comfort. Additionally, bring waterproofs to cope with changing weather conditions, as well as suncream and insect repellent. If you need a toilet break, please inform your head marshal, and they will arrange cover for you.

As a race marshal, your responsibilities include ensuring that spectators and media stay in designated areas and off the course at all times. They should not enter the ‘B’ zones or go below the course tape on steep corners. Media personnel should position themselves safely and avoid distracting riders. If anyone is found in violation of these rules, they should be addressed and asked to move. If they refuse, contact the Head Marshal for further assistance. Before the course goes “Live,” a full Marshall Radio check will be conducted. Each marshal will announce their position over the radio. During practice, you should blow the whistle once for every rider that passes your position. This helps riders know if there is another rider behind them. Before using any flags on the course, check if another rider is nearby and allow fallen riders time to get up and continue. During racing, there are 30-second intervals between riders, which may be enough time for incidents to clear without using flags and slowing down the race. However, if necessary, you can use a yellow flag during practice to slow down riders in case of an incident.

Yellow flags should not be used once racing has started on Sunday. If you do use a flag, inform the chief marshal via radio about the incident and when the track is clear again. A red flag may be used during practice and racing to stop riders when the track ahead is closed. During racing, a red flag should only be used for serious incidents that require the track to be closed for medical assistance. When using a red flag, announce it over the radio. If a rider ignores a red flag, report their number to the head marshal and the Commissaire for appropriate action. You may also be asked by the Commissaire to provide input on a situation you witnessed at your location. If a rider breaks the tape, inform the Head Marshal and arrange for any necessary course repairs. It is also important to report any incidents of foul riding, course cutting, or other significant rule infractions. When reporting infringements by riders, provide their number only.

During the race, you will have a radio for communication. Remember that only one person can transmit at a time, so avoid unnecessary conversations. Keep the radio close by and respond to all radio checks with your Marshall number. In case of an emergency, act immediately and communicate a response. All emergency communication should go through your head marshal, who will inform the Commissaires.

You may be the first person to contact medical assistance after a crash. Provide your Marshall number, the location of the incident, and the rider’s condition. Take care of your radio and return it to the head marshal at the end of each day. If a rider falls off their bike, raise a yellow flag to warn other riders of their position. Radio in that there is a yellow flag at your marshal point. If the fallen rider quickly gets up and poses no danger, allow them to remove themselves and their bike from harm’s way. Do not move to assist them as it may put you in danger. In more serious cases, raise a red flag and inform the head marshal via radio to stop all riders immediately. If a rider ignores a red flag, report their number to the head marshal and the Commissaire. If it is safe to assist, either seek help from a fellow rider or assess the situation yourself and communicate with the head marshal. If you notice any changes or instability on the course, radio in to the head marshal for observation or assistance from the course maintenance team.

After the racing on Sunday, please help in keeping the area clean. Use the black bin liner provided to collect any litter around your marshal point. This is important as we are usually in forest or private farm land, and rubbish can be a danger to wildlife and the environment. Additionally, at the end of the event, please clear the course of rubbish, course tape, race signage, and poles. There may be designated collection points for the poles, which will be communicated during the marshal briefing on Sunday morning. At the end of Saturday’s practice, return to the marshal briefing area for a small debriefing and to hand back your kit.

After clearing the track and returning, there will be a marshal debriefing on Sunday, where you will receive payment for your services from our marshal team. Thank you once again for your valuable contribution as a race marshal. We appreciate your dedication and support in making our events safe and successful.

GRAVITY EVENTS TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

Downhill, Minis and Pumptrack races are run under British Cycling regulations. Llan25 Enduro is run under Bemba regulations but many safety protocols are superseded to use BC regulations where possible. The Race Director has the overall say and will be guided by his Chief Marshals and the Team

Force Majeure, Whilst every effort is made to bring you a quality event if directly or indirectly we are unable to fulfil our obligations in any way by either an act of God, strike , breakdown, trade dispute, strike, any Governmental or Political act, act of war or terrorism, acts or omissions of a third party or for any other reason whatsoever beyond Gravity Events Uk control then we shall not be held responsible or liable in anyway for any compensation, refund, re-imbursement or costs, transport or hotel in any matter.

You are responsible for making sure that the event is still going ahead , we will make all efforts to contact riders who have signed up via the online system via email, social media posts etc.

Rider Refunds for all of our Mini & DH events other than Nationals are available up to 14 days before online entries close and will incur a nominal £15 refund fee to cover admin/BC costs, There can also be a transaction fee from the payment processor which is out of our control. No refund is available after this time for any circumstance. We are unable to transfer entries to another rider or event without a transfer fee of £15 being paid although this isn’t possible within the 14 day period prior to an event being held.

Refunds for National series and the Llan25 is 28 days before entries close online. You may incur a processing fee from British Cycling as well as our standard refund costs. We may where a race has sold out and we then have a reserve list operating deny a right to transfer an entry and instead just refund the original rider and then allow a reserve rider to enter. This being the fairest way for all.

Terms on our Website supersede any terms on any other site or social media.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the Event is still proceeding before travelling, we will make every effort to make sure this is widely known as soon as any decision is made .We are not responsible for any other costs incurred by yourselves.

Should an event be cancelled/ postponed for events beyond our control we are unable to refund or part refund or provide a transfer of place to another event. If we call an event off prior to it taking place we normally refund in full minus any booking fees by third party booking sites.

We will however provide any updates on our Facebook page as soon as possible . Emails will also be sent when further information needs to be sent.