DERBY has been confirmed as the venue for the 2011 British Cycling National Cyclo-cross Championships.

The prestigious two-day event, the highlight of the winter cycling discipline's domestic calendar, will be held at Moorways Sports Centre on the weekend of January 8-9.

The news is a coup for Derby Cyclo-cross – the collective name for the group of local clubs who got together a few years ago to promote regional and national events in the city.

Formed by members of Derby Mercury RC, South Pennine RC and Heanor Clarion, they first made an impact with the successful organisation of the Midlands Cyclo-cross Championships.

Twice in 2009 – in January and October and therefore in separate cyclo-cross seasons – they have put on rounds of the National Trophy series of races.

But the national championships, held a couple of weeks ago in Birmingham this year, is the jewel in the crown.

Derby's success in landing the event is the result of almost a year of lobbying.

"Having worked hard over three years to bring the other events to Derby, we felt we'd practised our craft and that we could go for it with a bid for the nationals," said Mary Gill, a Heanor Clarion member and prominent on the Derby Cyclo-cross organising committee.

"We had to make our bid to British Cycling, as they own the title, so to speak, and it was around Christmas when we first heard good signs."

The man largely credited with being the driving force behind the local group is John Holmes, originally of Derby Mercury but now with the new team Empella Cyclo-cross.com.

And Holmes says the local have looked to Belgium, where cyclo-cross is a highly-organised, televised national sport, for their inspiration.

"When Derby Mercury and South Pennine got together to organise the Midlands Championships, it was really the first time two local clubs had proved they could work together," said Holmes.

"But we have tried to use the Belgian model as far as we can.

"We've been out there and seen how they promote the sport.

"There, they'll have 10-15,000 spectators paying 12-15 euros to get into a race and it'll be on TV.

"We can't manage that but we have organisers walking round badged up as Derby Cyclo-cross, looking professional and we mark our courses out properly, so people can see what's happening.

"Then we try to prepare fast, flowing interesting courses – not quite the old image of cyclo-cross as a mud-plugging sport."

Both Markeaton Park and Moorways have been used for the events Derby Cyclo-cross have put on so far and what they have had in common is courses designed by 30-year-old Mickleover rider Ben Eedy, who is about to clinch a record sixth Notts & Derby Cyclo-cross League crown.

Eedy will be asked to take charge of the course for the national championships, too.

The local group have picked up some significant sponsors – several of whom have stuck with them – and have been grateful for the help of Cycle Derby, the council department which promotes cycling in the city.

But they have a real champion in Derby Mayor Shaun Marshall.

"Anything that puts the city on the map is brilliant and the amount of hard work the group have put in to get to this point is fantastic," said Marshall.