WELLINGTON CUP RULES

Introduction

The Wellington Cup is a yearly track racing league held at the Wellington Velodrome from November to March, run by the Port Nicholson Poneke Cycling Club Track Sub-Committee. The aim of the Wellington Cup is to provide four rounds of quality racing. In conjunction with more casual club racing and a separate sprint aces series, the Wellington Cup aims to encourage competition and participation. The season will be made up of four rounds, one being the Laykold Cup Carnival with individual winners in each age category and an overall champion by combining the riders’ points across the four rounds.

These rules are to be followed in conjunction to the Cycling New Zealand Racing Rules and are subject to change.

How to participate

Riders can participate in the Wellington Cup on a casual basis, or pay for a season pass. Prices to be advised by the Wellington Cup organisers.

Riders are encouraged to have a valid Cycling New Zealand racing license.

Riders will be split into categories based on ability and number of riders participating.  Rider numbers permitting, the categories will be grades A, B, C and D.  Riders can request to be placed in a certain category however the Wellington Cup organisers have the final say. Wellington Cup organisers may choose to move a rider into a different category at short notice, and during a race meeting.

Age Grade

Junior riders compete in the Cycling New Zealand age grade relevant to the actual race day.

This means that some riders who move up from Under 15 to Under 17, or Under 17 to Under 19 on January 1, will change Wellington Cup classifications, however, since category allocation is the sole factor in a rider’s ability to earn points, all Wellington Cup points earned count in their new classification.

E.g. A rider may start the season as an Under 15 rider but finish as an Under 17. It’s therefore possible the rider may lead the Under 15s classification until becoming an Under 17. The rider’s overall standing in the Under 17 classification will include ALL points earned during the season.

Race types

Wellington Cup race types will vary throughout the season. The race programme for each Wellington Cup will be published in advance.

The majority of race types can be found on the PNP website and in the Cycling New Zealand Racing Rules, however the Wellington Cup organisers may put on races that are not in these lists. In this case, the programme will include details and the race manager will explain the race before the start.

Positions for handicap races will be made by the Wellington Cup organisers and announced before the race start. Their decision is final.

How points are allocated

Riders can score points for the overall Wellington Cup table in the following ways:

For registering and racing at any Wellington Cup round, each rider gains 3 points.

For riders racing in D or C grade: 1st, 5 points; 2nd, 3 points; 3rd, 2 points; and fourth, 1 point.

For riders racing in B grade: 1st, 7 points; 2nd, 4 points; 3rd, 3 points; and fourth, 2 points.

For riders racing in A grade: 1st, 9 points; 2nd, 5 points; 3rd, 4 points; and fourth, 3 points.

If the race type is a mixed grade race, points awarded for the highest grade rider in the race will be awarded for places.

The slightly higher points allocation for the faster categories are to encourage riders to move up when appropriate.

Some races may have points allocated differently. In this case, the race details will be published in the race programme and explained by the Race Manager.​

The Laykold Cup track carnival is a round of the Wellington Cup and will count towards the overall points table. 

There are no points allocated for Emma’s Pursuits races.  These races, often at the end of a race meet, are to be primarily for fun and building community, rather than for points.

Overall Wellington Cup Champions

At the end of the season, the following champions will be determined based on the total amount of Wellington Cup points accumulated during the four round series.  If there is more than one rider on the same number of points in a category, the rider with the most amount of race wins over the four rounds is named champion. If there is still a tie, the champion will be the rider with the most amount of second places, and so on.

Riders must compete in at least two Wellington Cup rounds to be eligible for trophies.

Wellington Cup Male Champion – male (open or masters) rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the  season.

Wellington Cup Female Champion – female (open or masters) rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Under 19 Boys Wellington Cup Champion – under 19 male rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Under 19 Girls Wellington Cup Champion – under 19 female rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Under 17 Boys Wellington Cup Champion – under 17 male rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Under 17 Girls Wellington Cup League Champion – under 17 female rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Under 15 Boys Wellington Cup Champion – under 15 male rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Under 15 Girls Wellington Cup Champion – under 15 female rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Under 13 Boys Wellington Cup Champion – under 13 male rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Under 13 Girls Wellington Cup Champion – under 13 female rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Under 11 Boys Wellington Cup Champion – under 11 male rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Under 11 Girls Wellington Cup Champion – under 11 female rider with the highest number of points accumulated during the season.

Most Improved Rider – to be decided by the Wellington Cup organisers.

Most Improved junior rider - to be decided by the Junior Coach.

Teams’ Prize – team with the highest number of points accumulated during season (see Teams’ Prize section for details).

Prizes and Trophies

Prizes and trophies will be given out at a prize giving ceremony held at the end of the season.