Open events are a little more formal than club events and usually have a good social gathering afterwards with food and an HQ - typically a village hall. They require pre-entry just under a fortnight before each race on a standard form. You must be a member of a CTT-affiliated club to ride, which Wrekinsport are. Entry typically costs around £7, and prize money is always offered in several categories which vary from club to club.

You’ll receive a start sheet with details of the HQ and the course a few days prior to the event with a designated start time - unlike club events where you just turn up on the night and take the next available number in the so-called ‘Entry on the Line’ format. This is because the field is seeded based on past performances. Unlike club events where you can ride in any cycling top you need to wear either a club top or a plain one - ‘trade team’ tops, for instance ‘T Mobile’ or ‘Rabobank’ aren’t allowed unless you are a member of that team. Triathlon style tops also aren’t allowed at present in Open events (they are for club events). For the County Open Series points are awarded for each SCCA-affiliated club member from 60, 70 or 80 points depending on distance down to 5 in 5 point steps for all finishers, so regardless of your time you will be helping your club’s standings in the County ‘Top Club’ Award.

Points in each category are scored as follows:

A change for 2012 means that a point cap will be placed on riders best twelve scoring rounds, increasing the level of competition.

CTT entry forms can be found HERE and downloaded HERE

Visit the SCCA website www.shropshirecca.org.uk for contacts, further details and for up-to-date standings and race reports.