The newly renamed Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan at Macarthur - the only botanic garden in the world believed to contain a mountain bike track – will soon be the new venue for ‘JetBLack 24H’, one of the most challenging and prestigious races on the Australian mountain bike endurance calendar.

Relocated from its previous home at Wiseman's Ferry, event organiser Rocky Trail Entertainment said The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan was selected to host JetBlack 24H on December 3 and 4, 2011, thanks to the quality of the botanic garden’s newly created 7km Enduro Trail, and its proximity to the Sydney CBD just 40 min away.

Race Director, Juliane Wisata, said the success of the Shimano MTB Grand Prix - the first mountain bike racing event to be held at Mount Annan in March this year which attracted more than 500 competitors and their supporters - convinced JetBlack 24H organisers to commit to The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan as a quality mountain bike (MTB) destination for competitors and amateur enthusiasts alike. JetBlack 24 H will be the finale to the Sydney 2011 MTB season.

The Director of the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, Caz McCallum, said her team was “'committed to putting the Garden on the map as a world-class MTB venue”.

“We are pleased to see that all visiting and racing mountain bikers are supportive of the trail. We are seeing increased numbers of biking enthusiasts and they are enjoying the Garden and its facilities,” Ms McCallum said.

“Our track caters to all level of riders, both professional or otherwise, as long as riders under 16 are accompanied by an adult and all cyclists are wearing an approved safety helmet.”

Ms McCallum said spectators would be welcome to watch BlackJet 24H at The Australian Botanic Garden and enjoy the on-site entertainment which will be provided as Australia’s two-time world MTB champion,   Jason English, battles to retain his championship over the course of the event.

For more information, contact Rocky Trail Entertainment on 0416 737 972 or visit www.rockytrailentertainment.com.  For details on The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, and its new mountain bike track, which is open to the public free of charge from 10am–5pm, call 02 4634 7935 or visit www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/annan. And for general information on Macarthur see www.visitmacarthur.com.au.