Peaty and his team of Ewoks have been scurrying around the forest moon of Greno prepping for the return of 300 Jedi’s capable of piloting their speeders safely between the Wildlife Trust’s tree’s. Episode 9 of the Empire’s Biggest Little Race will see the epic finale of months of preparation and hoarding of radness ready for release in a planet sized explosion this Saturday. Can a new hope of a trash free race bring together the forces of good to ensure the best race yet and a possible victory of Padawan over Master? Will the Emperor be unseated?
With 3000 spectators expected, Greno Woods will be lit up with chatter and cheers for the racers as they try to lay down their best times through the wall of sounds from the noise makers. The Bomb Hole finish arena will be brimming with stalls selling food, drink and products to keep you fed, lubricated and lighter of pocket. Racing’s finest MC, Toby Parodi, will be on hand to conduct proceedings and let us all know what’s going on. It’s a harmonious cycle event. Greno woods are owned and cared for by the Sheffield and Rotherham wildlife trust who we work with to improve the woods for everyone.
The best race finish line?
Racing begins at 11:30 and final runs will be around 2:30pm. The course is open for practice just before 9am so there will be plenty to see all day long. Prize giving and champagne spraying will be just after the final runs of the elite men at about 5:30. This year Ratboy, TMo, Sam Reynolds, Reece Wilson, Jono Jones, Marc Beaumont and Sam Dale will all be trying to beat Steve Peat for the win. They’d better watch out though because the old boy is still hungry and knows the woods like the back of his hand. Who’s your emperor on? May the 4th be with us all…
Schedule
- 7:00 – Official car park Opens
- 8:00 – Registration opens in event car park
- 8:45 – Course open for Practice
- 10:00 – Registration Closes
- 11:20 – Practice Closes
- 11:30 – First Race run begins
- 2:30 – Second race runs begin
- 3:00 – Car Park Entrance Closes
- 5:30 – Podiums and Prize Givings
- 7:00 – New Barrack Tavern for beers and cheers
Prizes
Our race sponsors provided thousands of pounds worth of prizes to reward the fastest riders and given everyone a chance to win with spot prizes.
- Exclusive SCDH mudguards from Bike-Track.com
- Monster Energy are bringing their PA and plenty of energy rich products
If you’re racing and you finish in the top 3, you will receive a great prize from one of our sponsors.
First up the great guys at Eighteen Bikes who are sponsoring our marshals this year, they get extra thanks for helping us out and letting you all have a great day.
LADS
- Ripper – Bike Garage
- Juvenile – Expert Bike Repair
- Youth – Peaty’s Products
- Junior – Renthal
- Senior Lads – Hope Tech
- Master Lads – Cotic
- Veteran Lads – 7 Protection
- Grand Vets – Polaris
LASSES
- Senior Lasses – Trek Sheffield
- Master Lasses – Five Ten
- Veteran Lasses – Royal Racing
PRO-AM
- Pro Lads – Leighton Vans– £500 cash in prizes for the fastest 3
- Pro Lasses – 60 Sticks– £500 cash in prizes for the fastest 3
Every winner will get a medal made by Sheffield Legends TADO.
This years racer good bags will be packed like never before.
- Steel City Pint Pot
- There will be a bottle of Beer from Bradfield brewery.
- Clif Barare also giving one of their delicious and nutritious out to every racer.
- Plus many other goodies
Exhibitors
On the day the finish line bombhole will be filled with lots of stands selling and promoting their wares. There will be opportunity to buy Steel City DH, ThisiSheffield, Bolehills and Ride Sheffield merchandise from our stand.
- Hunt Wheels
- Santa Cruz
- Cotic
- Big Bobble Hats
- Leighton Vans
- 6th Element Wheels
- Expert Bike Repair
- Ride Sheffield
- Gowaan Gals
- Banana Industries
- 250 London
- Yorkshire Wheel Works
- Trek Sheffield
- Peatys Products
- Five Ten
- Viris Goggles
- Royal Racing
We have several food and drink vendors to keep you fed and refreshed, so please bring some cash. They all donate to the race fund so please support them all as much as you can.
- Nether Edge Pizza
- Out to Lunch
- Whirlow Hall Farm
- Bradfield Brewery
- Forge Coffee Roasters
- Scrumptious Foods
- Bean Rover
Parking
If you are driving to the race you must park in our official car park. Parking anywhere else, in the public Greno car park or on the road, jeopardises the running of the race on the day and in future. Please be responsible.
Parking is in Farmer Jack’s field, at Hall Head Farm on Woodhead Road, the entrance will be clearly marked. It is marked on the map below by the car and the closest postcode is S35 7DS but dont rely on it for a Sat Nav. Do not try to come in to the exit, marked with a man, it is a one way system. Parking is £3 per vehicle and offsets the loss of earnings from hay from damage to the grass in the field.
The car park opens at 7am it will close for entry at 3pm. Please remove your car as soon as possible after the race.
In the bomb hole
The race track finishes in the wall of sound and activity that is the bombhole and plays host to our race arena. Once again it will be packed full of things to peruse and choose, lots eat and drink, and people to catch up with or newly meet. Most important is the Steel City Merch stand manned by Sheffield’s own Mayor Dallow and crew. Here you can purchase a whole host of exclusive garms that will directly benefit the trails you ride. This year the mighty TADO have produced another classic design for you to wear with pride showing everyone that you put that little bit back in. We’ll have Tees for a tenner, Hoodies for £25, along with amazing Beanies, socks, cow bells, water bottles and mud guards from Bike-track.
The Wildlife trust
Greno Woods is a nature reserve owned and managed by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. It is an ancient woodland, rich in wildlife and full of historic interest. Covering 169 hectares, it is one of the Trust’s largest reserves and offers excellent opportunities for wildlife watching, exploration and recreation.
The Trust has carried out work on the reserve to increase the proportion and quality of priority habitats on the site and maintain features of interest as well as maintain and improve recreational infrastructure such as our downhill mountain bike trails.
Help protect and enhance our local wildlife and green spaces by joining Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. By joining Sheffield and Rotherham’s community of wildlife lovers today you can help care for the wild places you love – preserving them for years to come.
Find out more at www.wildsheffield.com or join us on Facebook and Twitter.
To keep up to date on all things Steel City you can visit Steelcitydh.com and follow us on Facebook or Twitter
The race is run as a not for profit event, with all funds raised from the race go directly back into the trails in Greno Woods and to support mountain bike projects around the city. The race is made possible by all the volunteers that give their time willingly to make good things happen in the city that we love for the sport that we love. The race is organised by Steve Peat, Steve Hardcastle, Henry Norman, Simon Bowns and Nick Hamilton. If you see them… give them Knucks or a Hug, the force is strong with these ones.
