2026 Battle of the Aarses (BOTA) - HWCC vs UQCC

It's Valentine's Day, so why not make a date with the winner's podium at Nundah?

• Teams Race - Riders must be a member (or add-on member) of Hamilton Wheelers Cycling Club or University of Queensland Cycling Club. Please ensure your club name is correct on your EntryBoss profile (including if you are an 'add-on' member).

• Separate women's races.

• Racing for Your Club! - In addition to winning the perpetual Aarses Trophy, all prizemoney is shared on a percentage basis to assist in the running of each club. Details below.

• Max 30 Riders Club/Grade - Entries are limited to a maximum number of 30 riders representing each club in each grade (Max of 60 riders per race).

• Host Club - HWCC is the event hosting club for 2026.

• Race Entry Enquiries -

Hamilton Wheelers Cycling Club (HWCC) Members - handicappers@hamiltonwheelers.com

University of Queensland Cycling Club (UQCC) Members - info@uqcycle.com

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The Basics

Eligibility - Riders must have a valid AusCycling race licence and be a member of either Hamilton Wheelers Cycling Club or the University of Queensland Cycling Club.

Dual (add-on) Membership? - If riders have 'add-on' membership of either club, it is very important to ensure they indicate which club they are racing for in the 'comments' section of the EntryBoss entry.

Race entries - Entries from each club/race will be capped at 30 (i.e. 60 entries maximum per race). Riders may nominate to race in a higher grade if their club/grade numbers have reached 30 (subject to approval by handicappers).

Women's Races - There will be a 'race in a race' for the A/B and C/D Women grades (separate podium presentations)...unless we get 10 or more women entered in both grades, which will trigger separate Women's A/B and Women's C/D races.

Race Kit - All riders are asked to wear their club kit if possible.

Course - The course is the Nundah Criterium Circuit (1.2km), Hedley Ave Nundah.

Host Club Responsibility - The hosting club for this 2026 event is the Hamilton Wheelers Cycling Club (Commissaires, officials, first aid, etc).

Entries - Entries close 7pm on Friday evening (13th February). Please make sure your AusCycling membership has not expired and your current membership number and gender is in your EntryBoss profile (AusCycling licence numbers sometimes change when renewing licences).

Entry fees - Seniors - $12, Juniors up to U17 - Free

Gradings - Enter in your usual club grade. Provide an explanation if you wish to enter a different grade and check the start list before your race. To try to ensure close racing, HWCC and UQCC handicapping teams will vet entries to ensure riders are graded appropriately to ensure close racing. Handicappers' decisions are final. Contact your club officials if you are unsure which grade to enter.

Registration - From 6.00am on race day - closes 10 minutes before race starts.

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Schedule

Grade	Time	Comment	Duration	HWCC Code	UQCC Code
A Grade Men	7.00am		50 min + 2 laps	A-HW	A-UQ
C Grade Men	7.00am		40 min + 2 laps	C-HW	C-UQ
A/B Grade Women	7.50am	* NOTE	40 min + 2 laps	W-AB-HW	W-AB-UQ
B Grade Men	7.55am		45 min + 2 laps	B-HW	B-UQ
D Grade Men	8.35am		40 min + 2 laps)	D-HW	D-UQ
C/D Grade Women	8.45am	* NOTE	35 min + 2 laps	W-CD-HW	W-CD-UQ

NOTE - If less than 10 women enter in both Women's grades, there will be a combined 'race in a race' for the A/B and C/D Women grades (with separate podium presentations and points awarded). The race will commence at 7.50am (40 minutes + 2 laps).

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Race Points System - Points awarded to clubs for 1st to 4th places + primes in each race. Half points are awarded for any races with 20 or less entrants. There will be 1 Prime in each race.

Place	Points
1st	50
2nd	40
3rd	30
4th	20
Prime	10

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Event Details

Prize Money - No individual prize money will be awarded. Riders get a podium pic, a handshake and glory only! Prize money is split between the two clubs as a percentage of the points won by each team (e.g., if the outcome was UQCC: 400 points, HWCC: 400 points, both clubs would take 50% of the entry fees less expenses). The Battle of the Aarses Interclub Trophy will be presented to the winning club. In the event of a tie, the winner of the Aarses trophy will be decided by a 5 round 'arm wrestle' between each of the club Presidents!

Rollout - All U17 and U15 Juniors must have their gearing rollout checked on the footpath near the clubhouse steps BEFORE picking up their race number. Riders younger than U15 are not permitted to enter HWCC Senior races.

Licences - Riders should have their digital licence ready or printed email ready to show if requested. How to obtain your digital licence for your phone - Click Here

Registration - closes 10 minutes before race start. Riders who miss the compulsory commissaire's briefing will not be allowed to start. Riders must wear their race patch number on their right hip.

Race Scratchings - If riders find they are unable to race after entering the event, they may 'scratch' themselves up to 5am on race day. Click on the 'Scratch' button on the EntryBoss event page. Please note that there is a small cost to the clubs due to unrecoverable merchant fees, whenever riders' scratch.

Wet-weather Policy - A decision to cancel due to poor weather will be made by the Chief Commissaire with announcements via both club's social pages. Generally, we race in all weather, except heavy rain or if there are sheets of water on the road surface. Any decision on cancellation will be made as early as possible.

All race entry fees will be refunded if races are cancelled.

Battle of the Aarses Trophy - The current holders of the annual trophy are Hamilton Wheelers. This annual teams race between the two clubs commenced in 2011. UQCC have won 10 times and HWCC 5 times.

Bryn Hughes Acknowledgement - Both clubs acknowledge UQCC member Bryn Hughes for coming up with this idea of the 'Battle of the Aarses' between UQCC and HWCC so many years ago (and he's still competing!) - congratulations Bryn!

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Race Entry Enquiries

Hamilton Wheelers Cycling Club (HWCC) Members - handicappers@hamiltonwheelers.com

University of Queensland Cycling Club - info@uqcycle.com

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Disclaimer

By entering this event you agree to all our terms and conditions - Click Here

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Riders must be a member (or add-on member) of HWCC or UQCC. Please indicate which club you will be representing in the comments box of the entry form if you are an 'add-on' member!