The ever-busy Gorrick MBC is up to its race-organising tricks again. The chaps there don’t seem to need much of an excuse to conjure up another race series, and the onset of autumn will do nicely, thank you.

It’s more of a mini-series than a series, mind. OK, it’s more of a pair – 24 October at Surrey Hill and 7 November at Crowthorne Woods. All categories will be available and start times are described as “Gorrick standard”, which looks like anywhere between 9.30am and 2.02pm depending on category.

In traditional Gorrick style, the big prizes will be awarded by drawing numbers out of a hat (or other suitable receptacle). This time around the title sponsor is Motion Fitness, with personal training and fitness sessions up for grabs.

All the usual race accoutrements will be on site, with last-minute bike parts furnished by Mountain Trax and First Gear Cycles, rapid results from Timelaps and of course post-race refuelling from Big John’s Diner.

If racing in daylight sounds a bit too easy, then you might want to opt for one of the Gorrick/USE/Exposure Lights short-course night races. There’ll be one on 18 November at Heath Warren Woods, Eversley and another on 2 December at Yateley Heath. Those are both Thursdays.

Both courses will be short, ten-minute lap affairs with a mix of trails. Apart from the start and finish area they’ll be unlit so you’ll need lights. Races will be cyclocross-style set-time-plus-the-lap-you’re-on, with Fun/Novice racers going in the 40-minute Intermediate race at 7.15pm and everyone else in the 60-minute Open race at 8.15pm.

Sponsors USE and Exposure Lights are being very generous with the prizes, with Liquid Asset lubes and cleaners, Ciclosport bike computers and of course a prize draw for a £265 Exposure SLED light system. Don’t go home until they’ve drawn a number for that – if you’re not there they’ll draw another one, and you don’t want to miss out…

Further details and entry forms can be found at www.gorrick.com.