Black Grace Cowley, the local firm of estate agents and chartered surveyors, has extended its established support of Manx cycling for 2015.
The season-long league of local cycling races includes a mix of road races, time trials and cross-country mountain bike events.
There will be 15 events in the series, with the best seven counting towards the rider’s final tally.
In 2014, the concept of a multi-disciplined competition proved to be highly popular with 184 individuals taking part in one or more event in the series and the versatile Ed Perry ending as overall champion.
The opening event in the series is this Sunday’s mountain bike event (see Cycle Clips), followed by the 40-mile Roy Killey Memorial road race over five laps of the Ballamooar course on March 29.
In time trials and scratch road races the points will be awarded in finishing order. In races where there are separate A and B ability categories, the A group finishers will be awarded points first, followed by the B finishers (e.g. if there are 20 A finishers, the first B finisher will receive points equivalent to 21st place).
In mountain bike events, the awarding of points will be determined by race distance, followed by race time.
Details of all the counting events can be found on any of the club websites, which are: www.manxmtb.com.ellanvannin.cc www.manxvikingwheelers.net and www.manxroadclub.com
Isle of Man Cycling Association chairman Richard Fletcher commented: ‘Black Grace Cowley is a long-established friend to Manx cycling and the board’s continued generosity in funding such a comprehensive prize fund for the series is much appreciated. It’s a series for island-based riders so it is particularly appropriate that a local firm chose to champion the concept.’
Sue Gibson, residential manager at Black Grace Cowley, said: ‘We are delighted to sponsor the Isle of Man cycling series again, in fact this will be our sixth consecutive year. During that period we have witnessed the sport going from strength to strength in the island, producing junior champions, national champions and world champions.
‘Black Grace Cowley are very proud to be associated with such a well-organised and varied series.’