The Newnham Bark, May 26th - 28th 2017

So what's the big idea? 

Every good party needs a crowd, and a big event field like Newnham Park needs an army of campers to fill it. South West mountain bikers are generally a fun bunch, and the cani-sport crowd need to have a sense of humour to tolerate being dragged by their four-legged friend at 20 MPH across a rutted field. Put the two groups together in an action packed Devon weekend, and what could possibly go wrong? Ladies, gents and doggies - we present The Newnham Bark. 

So how will it work? 

The bike bit. 

Unofficially, the weekend will incorporate the SW XC champs. BC didn't endorse a separate SW Champs this year, but we think the West is the Best and deserves recognition.

Sunday will be a regular cross country MTB race (or as regular as any Fully Sussed race gets), with all the usual categories. If you choose to, you can treat it as a one day race as usual.

Alternatively, you can throw your cap in the ring and contest the SW Champs. This will be contested over four stages, on Saturday evening and Sunday. The four elements will be 1) a short time-trial 2) a track-stand comp 3) a wheelie comp and 4) Sunday's XC race. You'll score points for each element, which will go towards your overall score. The winner will hopefully be the best all round rider. 

Heckling is encouraged during the track-stand and wheelie comps, but no physical contact allowed. 

There will be SW Champs tops for the category winners in juvenile, youth, junior, senior, veteran and grand vet, both male and female. 

The race course will be technically somewhere between a Soggy and a National. Closer to a PG certificate than an 18, 'B' lines all over the place and a determination to keep everyone intact. 

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The cani bit. 

The Newnham Bark will be our second cani-sport event, having had Cornwall Canicross previously hijack a running event we organised, and they made it a lorra, lorra fun! 

There will be categories for cani-cross, scooters and bikejoring on both Saturday and Sunday morning. 

All events will be run over the traditional 5 km distance on mixed, dog friendly terrain with some water crossings. 

You will be set off  in time-trial format, either individually or in pairs depending on participant numbers. 

You can enter an individual event, several events over the weekend, or just go for the 'enter everything' option (which includes all the mountain biking events) for a tiring, but great value weekend away. 

Category prizes will be based on the combined times of the Saturday and Sunday events. All participants will receive a Newnham Bark memento. 

There will be trade stands on site over the weekend, including canine first aid and canine massage. 

Don't be afraid to have a go at all the disciplines over the weekend. There will be cani-cross harnesses available for you to try, and if you have a functioning mountain bike you can have a crack at the fun category of the bike events too. Challenge yourself and do something different! 

Event Timetable

(All times are subject to fudge-factor alteration, but we HATE being late!) 
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Friday
Campsite opens at 5pm
Cani-sport self guided leg stretcher on the 5km course

Saturday
Times are approximate, depending on entries
0800             Bikejoring/scootering time-trial
1000              Canicross 5km time-trial 
1300-1500    Mountain bike course open for practice
1530               Stage One (Unofficial MTB Champs)
1800               Stages Two and Three (Unofficial MTB Champs)

Sunday
0800             Bikejoring/scootering time-trial 
1000              Canicross 5km time-trial 
1200              Under 12s mountain bike race
1400              MTB XC race  (including Unofficial MTB Champs                                                                                               Stage four)

Monday
​Campsite closes at 1000

Facilities?!

Newnham Park is a gorgeous place to spend a camping weekend, if you don't mind a bit of rough and ready, m'lady. There will be banks of portaloos, drinking water, a luxurious natural spa bath in the river, catering on site courtesy of Kerno Forno and a keg of beer on tap for the relaxed racers. 
There are numerous eating out opportunities near to the park, and local takeaways are happy to deliver if you are that way inclined. 

How do I enter? 

The on-line entry can be found here. 
Updates will be posted on the Newnham Bark facebook page.