The aim of this series is to provide a bridge between the existing extensive League based programme of racing and national level Elite and Premier Calendar racing for riders within the South East Region and to provide regular racing in the region at this level through the season. Tim Lawn and Glyn Durrant have developed the Series on behalf of South East Cycling.
Last year the series was won by Steve Gower (Pacific Racing) based on consistent performances during the year and included several top scoring places in the Series. The Series was greeted with enthusiastic support and provided a focus for riders throughout the season, with the top overall places in contention through to the very last race of the year.
Top-line sponsorship
Sigma Sport is the well-known Kingston based cycle shop, offering top quality racing products online and direct to the public. They are a longstanding supporter of cycling in the south east through their association with the Surrey League and sponsorship of their own road team driven by the enthusiasm of partner Ian Wittingham.
Gizmondo is the world’s most powerful handheld multi-entertainment system. It delivers console-quality gaming, messaging via SMS, MMS, and email, MP3 music, MPEG4 movies, pictures via a digital camera, and has extremely powerful GPS hardware for gaming, satellite navigation, tracking, and location-based services. This British-developed device is currently launching in the UK followed by the rest of Europe and North America this spring.
So down to the racing. The Sigma Sport / Gizmondo sponsored series consists of 10 single day races based on pre-established events spaced throughout the season from March to October. Each event will maintain it’s own independent prize list with the Series to be based on an overall point’s table. In 2005 there are several new races on the calendar which feature in the Series and the format is expected to be as follows (subject to final confirmations).
Round 1 – 06.03.05 Dulwich Primavera – Tenterden, Kent.
Round 2 – 10.04.05 Fred Cowley Memorial – Cranleigh, Surrey.
Round 3 – 01.05.05 Cycle Kingdom Spring Classic – Milland, Sussex.
Round 4 – 08.05.05 Bec CC – Lingfield, Surrey.
Round 5 – 30.05.05 Surrey League/agiskoviner.com – Elstead, Surrey.
Round 6 – 3.7.05 Les Ingman – Bletchingly, Surrey.
Round 7 – 17.07.05 Southborough & Dist – Bells Yew Green, Kent.
Round 8 – 7th or 14th August Redhill CC 60th Anniversary – Norwood Hill, Surrey
Round 9 – September tbc
Round 10 – 09.10.05 Surrey League/Sigma Sport – Ewhurst, Surrey.
Entry to events will be as individual event criteria (at least Elites, 1st & 2nd categories) with individual race prizes open as usual. Eligibility for the Series to be only to BC South East registered riders. Overall ranking for the Series will be on a point’s basis for each round towards the final overall table. No minimum number of qualifying rounds. There are plenty of incentives to finish races and (unlike BC rankings) there is points all the way down to 25th.
POINTS TO BE AWARDED PER ROUND
1st 100 pts, 2nd 75 pts, 3rd 50 pts, 4th 30 pts, 5th 25 pts, 6th 22 pts, 7th 20 pts, 8th 18 pts, 9th 16 pts, 10th 14 pts, 11th 12 pts, 12th 10 pts, 13th 9 pts, 14th 8 pts, 15th 7 pts, 16th 6 pts , 17th 5 pts, 18th 4 pts, 19th 3 pts, 20th 2 pts then 21st – 25th 1 pt each
Points mean prizes
The total prize fund will be at least £2,725, with an overall 1st place prize in the region of £500, and individual cash prizes down to 20th place. Overall team prizes for the first three teams of three riders will also be available. There will also be a prize for the first Vet and first Under 23 overall in the series.
Further support from:
Integra SP™ is a City based software and solutions provider specializing in interactive real time systems, most notably the award-winning AltioLive™ software. Through it’s global presence Integra SP supports customers and partners within the Finance, Energy Government and Public Sectors. Integra SP’s CEO, Sven Thiele is a member of VC Meudon and Sigma Sport and a regular competitor.
The London to Paris Charity Cycle Ride is an extremely challenging “Tour de France” style endurance ride for amateur riders, who want to help support charity. It is co-ordinated by volunteers and is non-profit making event, ensuring that every effort you and we put in gets to those that really need it. June 30th – July 3rd 2005. This year’s chosen charity is Schools for Children of Cambodia (SCC). SCC are a British registered charity funding free education programs in Cambodia.
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