THE dates of the three road races to be held on the Billown Course in the south of the Island during 2011 have been announced.

The Pre TT Classic Road Races opens the TT Festival on Friday, May 27 and continues on Saturday, May 28 concluding with the main race day on Bank Holiday Monday, May 30.

On Tuesday, May 31 the Prize Presentation and Concours D'Elegance take place in Castletown Square in the early afternoon.

The Post TT Road Races take place on Saturday, June 11 and will bring the curtain down on the 2011 TT Festival.

The 56th running of the Southern 100 International Road Races starts on Monday, July 11 and continues on the Tuesday and Wednesday evenings with a full Championship Day on Thursday, July 14.

The Southern 100 prize presentation takes place in Castletown Square on the Thursday evening.

Southern 100 club chairman Phil Taubman said: "After a safe and successful year with the three road races on the Billown Course, it is pleasing to be able to finalise the dates for 2011, which now lets the organisers progress their plans for the year ahead.

"As chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my committee for all the hard work they have put in to ensure the races on the Billown Course are as safe as possible.

"As organisers we are also extremely grateful to all the volunteer marshals and officials who give up so much of their free time during the practices and races for each of the meetings held annually.

"We also appreciate the help and courtesy afforded to us by the residents and landowners around the 4.25-mile course.

"Of course without the continued support we receive from the competitors, their sponsors and supporters it would not be possible to plan and organise the meeting we run each year.

"We all have one aim and that is to promote, organise and run safe and enjoyable events on the 4.25-mile Billown Course."