NWCX League Round 6: Hawarden Farm Shop Cross 2nd December 2018

NWCX invites competitors to Round 6 at Hawarden Estate Farm Shop in Flintshire.

Hawarden Castle was home to William Gladstone  a famous Prime Minister of Victorian Britain. The modern estate stands next to twelfth century “Old Hawarden Castle.” In 1157, as Henry II prepared to invade Wales, he sent an advance guard to flush out Owain Gwynedd, the “Prince of North Wales.”  Owain’s men ambushed Henry’s forces at Hawarden and forced them to withdraw to the safety of the coast.  In 1282 the Old Castle was attacked by Dafydd ap Gruffuddin’s militia. This was the final time that the Welsh assaulted the forces of Norman England. Five hundred years later Oliver Cromwell destroyed the Castle denying royalists a possible defensive stronghold.   Work on the modern Castle commenced in the 1750s although this is all very recent because Hawarden has been a stronghold since the Iron Age 3,000 years ago.

NWCX League are guests of the award winning Hawarden Estate Farm Shop. Please follow the parking signs and occupy the reserved car parks. Event HQ is adjacent to the Farm Shop. Teas, coffees and cooked food will be on sale from the Farm Shop team. The Farm Shop is launching its Christmas season. Expect many visitors in addition to NWXC competitors.  NWCX visitors are invited into  the Shop and the Cafe but please no bikes near the store entrance.

The course consists of grass, banking, gravel tracks and stretches of woodland single track. This is the only time our League passes through  lines of orchards including the unique Blackberry plantation maze.  We will have a full width start.  In 2017 the race took place after a fortnight of heavy rain and was very muddy.  The course has the potential to be fast running if dry and a battle for mechanical survival if wet. The lesson from 2017 is don’t stop  because everyone is going slow by the final quarter.

Competitors are to park their vehicles is the designated car parks and to preserve the Farm Shop Car Park free for regular visitors. Competitors are not to clean their bikes in the car park.   Children are (of course) allowed to play  in the  Childrens’ play area but for visitor safety there must be no cycling (adult or children)  in the  Childrens’ Play area or at the  Farm Shop entrance.

NWCX requires competitors to assist course clearance post-race.

RACE TIMES