Entry Fees, Closing Date, Late Entries, Refunds

Entry Fees, Closing Date, Late Entries, Refunds

Anyone under 19 years old $50

Everyone else (aged 19 years and older) $75

Late entry fee (if you enter after the closing date) an additional $25 per person.

Closing Date, late entries and refunds

Entries Close at 11:59pm on Tuesday 19th March 2013. After this date a late entry fee of $25 will apply. If you decide not to race after your entry has been accepted and you let us know in writing before entries have closed we will give you a refund of 50% of your entry fee. After entries have closed no refund will be payable.

Registration Categories – (based on your age on race day)

Junior/Youth (aged under 19)  - Blue Mountain Gorges Challenge is not recommended for children under 12.  Competitors under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult participant and must be approved by the race director. Mt Peel Mountain Bike Marathon - you must be 15 years or over to enter this race.

Seniors (19-44 years)

Veterans (45+ years)

Tandem (2 people on 1 bike) - The riders can be any age but each person must register and pay the appropriate registration fee.

Course Details and Maps

The Courses
Both the Mount Peel Mountain Bike Marathon and the Blue Mountain Gorges Challenge races start and fnish at Peel Forest Hall, in Canterbury. Peel Forest is inland from Geraldine and Ashburton. Click here for a map of how to get to the start.

Blue Mountain Gorges Challenge
The first half of the ride travels up the Orari Gorge (crossing the Orari River twice) to the Lochaber Road. The course then does a u-turn and heads back to the start via the striking Blue Mountain station, it ascends the Blue Mountain saddle (1050m) before a dramatic down-hill along-side and through the Bernard and Andrews Streams (expect to get your feet wet with plenty of river crossings). The course crosses the Orari River once again before heading up Scotsburn and back to Peel Forest.
The endurance course is 100% rideable (depending on river levels you might have to carry you bike through the rivers).
The course is on working farms, so there will be stock about and closed gates. Always leave all gates how you found them.

Click here to download a map and elevation chart of the course.

Mount Peel Mountain Bike Marathon

The Mount Peel Race initially heads West up the Peel Forest Road ....heads first half of the ride travels up the Orari Gorge (crossing the Orari River twice) to the Lochaber Road. The course then does a u-turn and heads back to the start via the striking Blue Mountain station, it ascends the Blue Mountain saddle (1050m) before a dramatic down-hill along-side and through the Bernard and Andrews Streams (expect to get your feet wet with plenty of river crossings). The course crosses the Orari River once again before heading up Scotsburn and back to Peel Forest.

Click here to download a map and elevation chart of the course.

Race Day Check-In

Race Timetable

 6.30am  Pre-Race Check in and Late Entries Open
 8.00am  Mt Peel Race Late Entries Close
 Complusory Pre-Race Briefing, Gear Check & Weather Check
 8.15am  Mt Peel Race Starts
 8.30am  Blue Mountain Race Late Entries Close
 8.45am  Complusory Pre-Race Briefing, Gear Check & Weather Check
 9.00am  Blue Mountain Races Start
 12.00pm  Complimentary lunch served for all competing riders
 3.00pm  Prize Giving


Pre-Race Check-In

All riders must check-in before the race and collect race packs at the Peel Forest Hall.

Race packs contain your race plate (race number along with cable ties to secure it to your bike) and some sponsors goodies and important race safety information.  At check-in we confirm your details and you can find out who else is racing in your category.

Race Plates

Raceplates

All riders are issued with a race plate.  This is your race number and should be attached securely to the front of your bike (it needs to be able to be seen at all times, so make sure it stays on and visible).  Your race plate helps us keep track of you during the race and it is also used to record your time as you cross the finish line.

At the finish line we’ll have clippers available to take you race plate off the bike

Course Changes and Race Cancellation

Course Changes and Cancellation

The Mt Peel Mountain Bike Marathon and the Blue Mountain Gorges Challenge races are staged in an exposed, high country alpine area and in the case of flooding, snow, high winds, or weather conditions or any natural disaster that might affect rider safety, the courses may be changed or the race may be cancelled. This is unlikely, but if so the following measures would be put in place:

Course Changes:  If after an inspection of the course on Saturday or Sunday, the organisers deem it unsafe, the course may be changed.  In this case the start and finishing location will not change (although the start may be delayed).  During the compulsory pre-rider briefing riders will be advised of the course changes.

If the Mt Peel Mountain Bike Marathon race is deemed unsafe, but the Blue Mountain Gorges Challenge course is safe to ride, all participants in the Mt Peel race will be transferred to the Blue Mountain race and the events wil lbe combined.

Cancellation:  If the course (or alternatives) are deemed unsafe the event may be cancelled. In this case the decision would be made by 8:00am at race HQ and advised on the the PortFM cancellation service.

Refunds Policy:    In the unlikely event of change of course or cancellation, entry fees are non-refundable.

What to bring and compulsory gear

Firstly remember you ride at your own risk.  That means you need to be prepared.

Bring with you

  • Your bike in good working order plus spares to keep you going for the whole of the race.
  • Cycle clothing for any weather – it can change quickly from full sun to heavy snow in a matter of hours so make sure you bring something for both hot and very cold weather - rain, snow, wind.
  • Plenty of hydration and food to keep you going for the race.  We recommend all riders to use hydration packs and not water bottles – these are too often lost/dropped from bikes and left on the track. As with any littering any competitor caught dropping rubbish will be intantly disqualified.
  • $$$ to purchase fresh coffee at the start or refreshments at the finish (your registration fee includes lunch)
Compulsory Gear that must be carried by all riders (NB random gear checks will be made before the start of the race): 
  • All bikers must wear an safety stanards approved helmet throughout the entire race.
  • All bikers and must carry (or wear) a full set of thermal clothing and/or wet weather gear.
  • At least 1.5 litres of fluid/hydration (there are is a water/aid point at Coal Hill and at Lochaber Road).
  • Energy food/nutrition for the whole race.
  • Bike repair kit - at least one spare tube (we recommend 2 or more spares), a puncture repair kit, tyre levers, pump, chain repair tools, chain lube and multi-tool.
  • Personal first aid kit

Prizes and Prize Giving

Prizes and prize giving - plenty of booty to be won

Every entrant competes for a $5,000 prize pool made up of cash and product.

The first male and first female finishers in each race will win the coveted Trophies which they keep for the year (or 3).


There are also trophies for the first junior male and female to finish in the Blue Mountain Gorges Challenge and the first male and female to the top of Coal Hill.

Depending on the number of entries in age group category winners will receive merit cash, voucher or product prizes.

We have heaps of spot prizes. All major spot prizes are awarded during the prize giving.  Race plates are randomly selected and the winners are invited up to collect their prize.  If the winners are not present then the prize is redrawn.

To ensure your number is in the major spot prize draw, you need to hand it in at the finish line.

The Prize giving will be held in the Peel Forest Hall at approx 3.00pm.  Some riders may still be riding at this stage but the prize giving will still proceed.

Prior year results

Click on the year to view results

2013 - Full results 
2012 - Blue Mountain Only
2011 - No race held
2010
2009
2008
2007