Here's what I know of the courses :
Temple School, Strood - school playing fields, scrubland + a bit of woodland - fast flat course with some zig-zags through trees, and a couple of short climbs and drops - non-technical. 100% rideable.
Hillingdon - cycle circuit - grass, tarmac, wasteland (!) - moderately technical - 2 off camber steep drops and run-ups in rapid succession - single track through scrubland. Punctures frequent (probably due to rubbish and broken glass). Quite bumpy in the dry
Deers Leap Park - mainly parkland - a little woodland - on the side of a hill -not technical, however as this drains poorly it can get extremely woody, and at times unrideable. Be careful of your rear mech !!
Howard School - school playing fields - non-technical - just a couple of short drops and climbs to reach the different levels of the playing field. Long flat (sometimes windy) sections. 100% rideable
Lydden Hill - field, trails, tarmac, woodland - moderately technical - long uphill drag, steep climb, long single-track descent, off-camber zigzag through trees, a series of 2 whopdy whoos.
Penshurst - purpose built trails that drain well - traditionally dubbed a mountain bike course - last year was fast and non-technical - long descent, long climb + a couple of "step-ups". 100% rideable by half the field. Ask Mark L about this year's course.
Reed Court Farm - farmland + a little forested area - non-technical - heavy terrain makes it hard work to ride. On a false flat. 100% rideable, though very energy sapping.
Stanmer Park - parkland and woodland - very technical - dubbed a mountain bike course - long climb through field - steep run up, narrow wood trails, long fast technical descent with tree roots, a tree trunk to climb over, another climb, a fast descent through the park. Many crashes during this round !
Lancing - parkland and woodland - untechnical - on the side of a false flat then one or two short dips and run-ups - in the dry 100% rideable. In the wet a difficult course.
Herne Hill - tarmac, field, woodland, sand (!) - moderately technical - poor drainage means off-road sections are hard work - try and avoid falling in the puddles of mud - lots of zig zag sections - a steep run up, a couple of short steep descents, and a sand pit.
Footscray - parkland - untechnical - a good Xmas pudding burner - easy course - just one false flat section and a short dip - can be very hard work when wet. 100% rideable.
Axton Chase - fields and woodland - I didn't ride this, just watched - it looked mildly technical - a series of twists, turns and dips and ups through woodland - the fields are fast and flat, though a little windy. Laps are very short (less than 5 mins) so makes for a tiring course.
Betteshanger is a new cross venue and I haven't ridden Hog Hill. I suppose it's like Beastway.
Others may want to chip in on this.
Maria
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