Information provided by Allan Miller (awmiller@jerseymail.co.uk)
The first RP event starts at 10.00am on Sunday the 25th March on a course (NC19) between Litchborough and Sulgrave on roads to the south-west of Northampton near Towcester on the A 43, where there is a handy Travelodge. Also there's a nice little warm up 10ml tt run by the Sotonia CC on the morning of Saturday the 24th (the day before) starting at 8.30am on a course near Cadnam (P128) which is at the junction of the A 31and J 1 of the M27 in the north east corner of the New Forest close to Southampton. Interested? If so, Allan Miller can provide more information: awmiller@jerseymail.co.uk
I think the following is the latest dates and venues for the National RP series ;-- (1) March 25th, Towcester, Northants. (2) April 8th, Haverhill, Suffolk. ( 3) April 22nd, Bassenthwaite, Cumbria. (4) 4th May, East Yorkshire. ----Mid-season break---- (5) August 4th, Great Whitley, Worcester. (6) August 27th, New Forest, Hants. (7) September 16th, Lincoln. (8) September 29th, Chippenham.
The courses / organisers / times etc will be confirmed within the CTT Handbook and on the CTT website. There is a special closing date for entries and I have found the organisers to be more than helpful to us islanders and willingly converse by email / fax / telephone beforehand. Your right that there does have to be a full hearted commitment as arrangements for travel, entry and accommodation have to be made well in advance---and a good look at Condor's latest shipping schedule needs to be made now if that's the mode of travel to be selected---and again you've made the point that going over in numbers does reduce the individual costs quite radically. Overnight sailing on the traditional ferry is a good time saving way to get to the mainland if there's 4 travelling together as a cabin occupied by one is the same cost regardless---and return during the season is normally from Poole (earlier races in the season may necessitate both out and return journeys from Weymouth if the O/N sailing is not used).
Travelodge allow 3 adults to occupy one room but Premier doesn't. A minimum of 5 events from the 8 have to be completed if an overall formal standing position is to be recorded. I'm not sure if there are still to be lesser 'District' events included in the competition---(they carry less points and could be used as back up in the event of a tie)---but it is always advisable to aim to ride at least 6 of the National races if one is serious about a high finish in the overall result at the end of the year. I think the Cumbrian event (No.3) is the only one that's a really lengthy trip but I have ridden it a couple of times and it is manageable with a fair bit of effort---depends how keen you are!---the other 7 are well within range of the special economic weekend return trips offered by Condor---and it is really worthwhile to obtain a 'frequent travellers' card if you're seriously thinking about riding the minimum of events. I usually try and fit in another tt race whilst on the mainland before heading back to the ferry.
Regards
Allan
