Dates & Venues Announced for British National Enduro Series 2024
Words: British National Enduro Series
Dates and Venues Announced for British National Enduro Series 2024
Dates and locations for the 2024 British National Enduro Series have been confirmed, with new venues and some fantastic riding from the Scottish Highlands to England’s Somerset. This is the seventh year for BNES, and we have a fantastic year lined up.
2024 Calendar
R1. 27/28th April: Laggan, Highland, Scotland – TweedLove/Laggan Forest Trust
R2. 11/12th May: White Rocks/Machynlleth, Wales – Welsh Champs/WES
R3. 29/30th June: Isle of Man – Manx MTB Enduro
R4. 3/4th August: Minehead, Somerset, England – Southern Enduro
R5. 17/18th August: Ae Forest, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland – BEMBA National Champs – PMBA
Enduro
R6. 14/15th September: Innerleithen – TweedLove
Categories
BEMBA, the British Enduro Mountain Bike Association introduced five new categories last year and all of these will continue into 2024 for all the events.
The National Enduro Series points have a minimum age of 13, with categories for:
Men: U15, U18, U21, Senior, Master/30+, Vet/40+, Grand Vet/50+
Women : U16, U21, Senior , Master/35+
E-Bike categories: Women, Men U40, Men 40+ (minimum age 14 in line with ebike law)
With six rounds, and five organisers there may be some local differences to categories, e.g. PMBA and Southern Enduro allow those younger than 13 to race and TweedLove events have additional podiums/categories for women. However, the results will be processed to only allow 13-year-olds and older to score points in the U16 women and U15 men and these will be reflected in the BNES Series standings. Any of the rounds that will split categories differently on the day will be recalculated for the BNES series results.
Race Venues
ROUND 1. The season starts at the end of April in the Scottish Highlands, and the first time the British series has visited Laggan. With a fantastic combination of steeps, tech, rock and flow, this will
be a round of the series unlike any other. Laggan has also just had a big boost of investment with some superb new trails providing the perfect addition to the famous test pieces and sculpted enduro
trails. A big weekend is guaranteed – just a few days before the Fort William World Cup DH kicks off. It’s a first for race organisers TweedLove too – leaving their Tweed Valley enduro homeland for the first time and working in partnership with Laggan Forest Trust.
Laggan pic : Brodie Hood & Machynlleth
For ROUND 2 it’s down to Wales, where Dyfi Forest has been a cornerstone of enduro for years, and in 2024 the Welsh Enduro Series team have gone all out to extend the course into a new venue at
Machynlleth/White Rocks in search of a bigger lap and longer stages. A mix of technical forest and open sections look set to make this a classic.
ROUND 3, You will probably need a ferry! Manx MTB Enduro join the series for the third consecutive year - they’ve consistently had excellent racer feedback, labeled the toughest two day race. A slightly different format gives even more riding at this absolute gem of an event also has the absolute cheapest ticket price of the series - which helps to offset the increased travel costs and gives you two days of racing, event t-shirt and food both days.
Pics: Manx MTB & Southern Enduro
ROUND 4 heads way down south to Minehead in Somerset. Both Southern Enduro and this venue have a fantastic reputation. This combination has seen many great BNES rounds in the past and even
the British champs – literally a track record that speaks for itself.
ROUND 5 and we are back North into Scotland, to a venue that returned with a bang last year – Ae Forest. A stunning venue with a huge selection of wild trails, rooty singletrack and good elevation - a suitable venue for the BEMBA National Championships. If you’ve not ridden at Ae recently there’s a pleasant surprise in store – the enduro trails are mint.
Double portion of Scotland to round off the series
ROUND 6 is the big finale. TweedLove has the honour of hosting the final round and the venue is, you guessed it, Innerleithen. A classic enduro test-piece can be expected on trails which have provided a suitable challenge of length and tech for the world’s best riders. Overall series winners will be crowned here, after the kind of enjoyable battle only the Tweed Valley can provide. Expect some of the country’s best enduro tracks.
In 2023 BEMBA achieved faster updating of the BNES series standings, with results online the Monday or Tuesday after each round; thanks to SI Entries for achieving this for us, the exception for 2024 will be the final round where the overall results will be available on the day – and series podiums will take place. As always for the series, the best four results from the first five rounds, plus the final count towards the overall series points standings.
For entries and on-sale dates check the individual race organisers event web pages. Follow the BNES social media for updates throughout the year.
BNES Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BritishNationalEnduroSeries
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britishnationalenduroseries/
Organiser websites
TweedLove: https://tweedlove.com
Welsh Enduro Series: https://welshenduroseries.co.uk
Manx Enduro: https://www.manxmtbenduro.com
Southern Enduro: https://southernenduro.co.uk
PMBA http://www.pmbaenduro.co.uk
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It would be great to see for a National series with a minimum distance and race time ie 30km 1000m ascent +12 minutes of race time, along with ebike categories having climbing stages, we have the venues!
I was wondering if that comes down to the licence structure within DH racing, where points are scored and they go towards your overall licence points and decide where/when the riders can race internationally in the future ? Is there a similar structure within Enduro ?
UKGE in the early teens was another level.
It now seems to be about convenience racing which is popular and these events sell out.
Some of the issues with UKDH are seen in enduro and vice versa.
I’m aware of the reasons why BC don’t get involved with enduro and it’s a shame that they see it that way.
Currently if anyone wanted to race EDR they have to either win a EDR 100 race and get a golden ticket to a EDR World Cup race or be on a UCI team. There is no other way to do it, not even if you win the British national series overall. There is lots of good riders who are restricted by this.
As per similar issues in DH to race world cups.
A lot of these issues start at home with the national cycling federations and how much they support racing and the riders doing so. Everyone is quick to shoot down the UCI and ESO but sometimes you have to look closer to home…
BEMBA has a standard core rule book across all its racing, across all organisers; yet the freedom to explore this beautiful sport in all its incarnations.
I'd love to be able to run a UCI points counting event to help the pro's score points - as I did when EWS qualifiers were a thing - and I promise the licensing fee was more than the commercial benefits but it is what the sport needed.
I'd love to run a National where the winner can legally then wear a sleeve at EDR - something I've been in discussion with BC about since 2018 to be honest.
Please give BEMBA some credit for doing our best to standardise Enduro, its categories and getting many competing organisers together to try and keep the sport moving forward; and provide racers with a genuinely good national series.
But I think we can all agree, the current regulations, rules, and understanding of the running of events doesn't correlate to what we think counts as a european wide "best of the best" race, and I think this conversation needs to be had.
The only way that we can convince Europeans that a British race is worthy enough, is by bringing them along for the ride and joining their rides, to compare and contrast.
Until then, in Britain we will carry on bitching and moaning until we get our own way or invade a f*cking country.
Honestly the BNES is great, it doesn't need to be bigger with the current numbers of riders that want to do a national enduro series. There are so many great Enduro's to choose from, so many great local series, everyone doesn't need to do the national series like they did in 2012 when it was UKGE or nothing. We have over 70 enduros each year at the moment. Remember each BNES organiser is also trying to run there own series. I'd much prefer to grow PMBA back to its 2019 pre covid size than struggling for income like I am now. If more people do the full BNES series then it shows the demand is there and maybe then 1 person will try again at a full series under 1 organiser - but that has now failed at the last 3 attempts.
I guess to an extent, if you knew the answer to it, we wouldn't be having this disucssion in the first place
Not sure, been in this for 10 years now, struggled for 8 years, made money for 2. I'll keep doing what I do to the best of my ability and prioritising what I think I should do for the sport - which is concentrate more on the grassroots and kids than the pro level while also doing my bit for the top end of the sport.
I mean do people need to understand cost break downs?
Also the organisers who pull more cash will be VAT registered, land for sport use does not attract VAT but people will still want cheap entries! really tricky line to walk and only investment and sponsorship can make it a full time profession.
Personally and of course I am biased, I think racers in the UK have superb value from an entry.
I'd be happy to pay more or at least have the option to fund something. Just got back into racing and it would suck not to have any PMBA rounds.
I see no value as a national series in it's current form. A quick scan of the 2023 standings (which weren't easy to find), ignoring the military teams suggests only 1 woman and 18 men did all 5 rounds.
I have previously offered to help but it's fallen on deaf ears. Some suggestions:
- Pre sale or discount for people entering all rounds.
- Pro/Elite class. Make the age groups more competitive which would encourage people to race the full series.
- Rounds need to be consistent. Tweedlove doesn't award points for unseeded riders, but no other round has seeding.
- Events need to be worthy - National champs was 1 minute stages - I was assured after 2022 Dyfi round would be different for 2023, but it was basically the same.
- BNES needs to be better promoted and make the information more accessible. There's no calendar or info on your website. Once this disappears from Pinkbike front page, where is this information? Where are the standings from past years etc. Your social media presence is basically non existent.
However everything BEMBA/BNES is voluntary, there are no funds to spend on purely BEMBA stuff. 1 member has stepped up to design and fund a better website but ultimately each member is often overwhelmed with work for thier own events to give too much to promote BNES/BEMBA I know I am with PMBA work.
I think we do a great job to provide what we do for free, unlike say BC with 1000s of members paying a join fee so there is a fund to promote cycling. Do you think all enduro racers want an additional license fee every year to race? We think that would drive away racers not encourage them.
We are doing the best we can to fill a hole left by not having a national governing body for enduro. All events with the same rulebook and saftey standards was the key purpose of BEMBA - rather than a free for all approach. I know its easy to complain about what we don't do, but a lot of what we do goes unnoticed or taken for granted. Im sure however the sport would be in a much worse place without BEMBA. Please bear that context in mind.
I don't think I've complained, I've just pointed out that the series doesn't have buy in from riders and suggested areas for improvement.
Don't blame being overworked when you have ignored offers of help.
However I'd argue the series does have buy in from riders - its very well received. However it is not perfect, but it is certainly many times better than a standalone 1 organiser series could be; despite the limitations the multi organiser format has it is strong, reliable, consistent and here for the long haul. I think you are letting perfection be the enemy of the good by not understanding the big picture.
I appreciate BEMBA is 20 organisers, but we're talking about BNES.
Is the series well received, or is it the standalone races? As i pointed out above, there doesn't appear to be many people committing to the full series.
- Pre sale or discount for people entering all rounds. - there is no common pot - 6 individual events, into a points league. Enter each with the respective organiser.
- Pro/Elite class. Make the age groups more competitive which would encourage people to race the full series. - No, too many reasons to answer why but if we have more cats it will be more womens or more kids - there are all ready a lot. You need rankings and points for, we are not BC with race licenses and a way to sort that,
- Rounds need to be consistent. Tweedlove doesn't award points for unseeded riders, but no other round has seeding. If you want to race BNES race the BNES qualifying events, no "lite" versions, and if Tweedlove specify only points for seeding - select seeding and get entered.
- Events need to be worthy - National champs was 1 minute stages - I was assured after 2022 Dyfi round would be different for 2023, but it was basically the same. - I wont answer for WES, but note the description on the round for this year.
- BNES needs to be better promoted and make the information more accessible. There's no calendar or info on your website. Once this disappears from Pinkbike front page, where is this information? Where are the standings from past years etc. Your social media presence is basically non existent. I agree - you'll find that its often me posting on BNES socials, sharing stories from other peoples events - some organisers are doing more but with all there own to do as well they seem to forget the BNES socials.
Info however is on the BNES socials, racers are sent links to the series standings (on SI entries) and they are also shared to socials - if you are a racer in the series you should have no issue keeping up. Bit harder for casual spectators. Could we do better? Yes - but again the national series only works as its a cooperative and there is some reluctance to give as much effort into promoting BNES as to the organisers own events. Again I think I do better than most on that.
However if you consider it a failure that only 100 do the national series you are missing the genius of this BNES solution. IF it was JUST a national series, only 100 would do it and it would fail and go bust (as has been proven) so by having 6 strong standalone events into a points league we have a fantastic set of races with huge entries to race - and its sustainable, varied and there for the 100 that do really need something like BNES to exist.
None of the above is insurmountable with a bit of effort, and you have ignored offers of help because you aren't willing to relinquish control.
What is the alternative approach, as the rider reps haven't been made public?
Some of the bits I mention genuinely are 'a bit of effort', for example the website with no information or the social media that has only had 4 posts this year.
We do listen to rider feedback, but we also have the reality of the situation firmly slapping us.
However I, and the other organisers already put a MASSIVE amount of effort in, so quite insulting when somebody that doesn't understand that, or reality is saying "just a little more effort" as if these things just happen and we float along with the current.
Glad you think its zero effort to build a website, I've been paying the domain fee and we have sorted out hosting for over 5 years now - struggle to keep up with my own PMBA Enduro Website and the PMBA.org.uk volunteer trailbuilder website however moves are happening on that front.
Socials may be bare bones, but all the required info is there - makes it easy to find without any clutter too. Are we trying to become social media influencers? No - so we dont need daily posting.
And again, this is a collection of events - the full details are always on the host's socials - again, despite keep pointing out this is a colab of events - if you don't understand that I'm sorry but we do keep saying it. Yes, it makes BNES a bit more disjointed, but we area all also trying to prioritise our own events/series/income/promotion and therefore BNES will always have a slightly lower profile. Please understand exactly what BNES is and isnt, and again sorry if its not what you want.
Come join the party, organise enduro's build one up to be big enough to be part of the BEMBA series and show us how its done?
Required info on socials is not there - you've still not posted 2024 dates.
My issue is not with the event organisers, it's the fact as a nation series it's simply not working but you refuse to acknowledge that. Without the military riders getting their paid entries, you would have less than 20 riders.
You have had offers of help which you've chosen to ignore.
Admittedly stories only on Instagram - but mainly as that has the biggest reach.
And you miss the point that the demand for a national series is not there - hence for the 100 that want it its there. We aren't foing to flog a dead horse of trying to build BNES into a standalone series. You have just the wrong perspective on what BNES is or isnt - and refuse to accept it. Its working fine to the aims we at BEMBA have. Just not what you want eh?
The demand for a national series is not there in it's current format... Doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
It doesn't need a standalone series, I agree the multi organiser format is the most effective way of doing it, but that doesn't mean there can't be discussions about how to get riders invested in the series. Surely this should be an active topic to ensure the sport is sustainable going forwards.
I have tried to provide feedback as a rider because I think a healthy national series is important for the sport but you're not willing to hear it. I regularly do some BNES events by chance, surely the aim should be to convert riders like me doing 2 or 3 events to completing the full series?
I will do at least 6 races from BEMBA associated bodies, but there is no incentive for me to target BNES rounds
As someone else mentioned, Innes Graham finished 8th overall after doing just one round. What's the point in me competing for places in an age class when there's world level riders able to drop in and clean up?
The individual events get large numbers of riders, but series doesn't reflect this
with fuel etc each round is a few hundred quid, even if you're camping
Maybe offer a chunky discount for people who sign up to 5 or 6 rounds
Like you say each event has good entries, riders can choose to ride the whole series. A standalone national series won't work, so taking some of the best events into a points series allows a national series.
As it stands, what reasons do riders actually have to compete in the whole series? There is pretty much no additional exposure, prizes or recognition on offer currently.
It should be you need to race x amount of rounds to have an overall result as well.
Innes Graham was 8th in the overall for seniors this year and he only raced one round, that just forces more people out of top ten overall results.
Billy bolt was first in ebikes for months this year.
Its designed to fit the demand out there from racers.
BEMBA and BNES are non-monitory, non-sponsored its a National series for those that want one, and without us clubbing together to put it on there wouldn't be one. Several tried after UKGE nobody made it work. This works, and has prestige and you get to go and do the best events up and down the country if you take part.
Speaking of prizes, it would be great to see more enduro events in the UK offer some sort of prize money to the winners, or at least a free entry into next year's event. After paying £90-£100 for race entries, even the overall race winner usually comes away at a loss - Ard Rock & Moors excluded.
Winning an entry to next year's race would help to keep the competition high, and would be much more appreciated by the riders
Yeh Tarland is full of flow trails, but thats what makes it different for enduro than the other venues.
Aboyne, Ballater, Scolty, Pitfichie, to name but a few supreme riding spots in the North East to hold Scottish or indeed UK nationals at.
It was getting inspected today I think so I heard, Dallas was done on Tuesday.
I am glad we have our venues and so much to ride in the north east that's kept away from the main stream. Keeps everything fresh and means the trail builders and maintainers are not over stretched keeping such good locations prime. If you ever want to ride one of the most tech short tracks up here come give summer fruits a whirl. Before I simplify 2 wee sections, wouldn't ride it in the wet, it might be too rocky gnarly.
Monaughty is awesome in the wet though and just along the road as is Dallas good in the wet.
Also raced at Llangollen and can't see any way it could be considered less gnarly than anything at Tarland.
It would be great to have a big Enduro up there though- never ridden Aboyne, but used to ride Pitfichie regularly 20 odd years ago
@betsie , not ridden summer fruits yet.....Monaughty??, and only had half an explore of Monaughty itself so keen to get back up there again. any news on if Dallas is getting felled? last i heard the ground was too steep for the machines in the lower half .
Paul was up doing an inspection for FLS on Tuesday.
The Gi side of the trails isn't being harvested only from dead doe to canal. We had to identify 2 trails on that part of the hill for them to take the best care of whilst harvesting so picked canal and dead doe. Will see what happens when the machines are in, but it is what it is and FLS have to manage and active forest still. It's been a very long time since I built the first trail there and we have had such a good run of no forest work on the hill.
Monaughty is great for some 2 minute trails and fere are a good few across the hill now, all south facing.
Summer fruits is up the fire road crossing on DD (called steep and rocky on trailforks and Strava I think), both DD and summer fruits are defo black trails. Arguable DD if you complete the features is a double black, summer fruits was built as a black bit I have been told there is no what it's only a single black. It was some build with the size of the rocks we had to move to build it and is on a very unique part of the hill. It has 1 line in particular which is very technical, but is has a nice b line around it. Not sure if anyone else has ridden the a line apart from me. I have a GoPro of it somewhere but it does it no justice. Defo worth a trip over at some point, especially once it's been dry for a couple of weeks if you want to get summer fruits.
Factor in when venues are available, or preferred by landowners and there are even more challenges. That and the fact that most EDR riders don't come back to UK to race between rounds anyway there seems little reason to make that a priority.
However we have made sure the nationals is in the EDR summer break and doesn't clash - for reasons that as yet are unannounced, but .... well its all setup ready for that thing.
BNES is hoped to be a stepping stone to EWS/EDR, not compete with EDR.
I hope you find your motivation and aspiration - don't blame lack of that on us please.
Hence why this cooperative of the best UK event was formee to create a national points league/series.