Marshals Required for Regional Road Race

[plifford]

In the absence of an organiser from one of the regions clubs/teams for this years event, the East Midlands Regional Board will be organising the Senior Regional Road Race on Sunday 22 May 2011. Any surplus funds generated from the event/catering will be donated to the regional development team funds

Starting at 9:30am from a new HQ for the course, Walton on the Wolds Cricket Club on Loughborough Road, LE12 8HT, the race will use the Six Hills circuit covering a total of 90miles. The circuit goes from Walton on the Wolds north to the Six Hills Hotel (on the A46), then west to Burton on the Wolds, then south back to Walton on the Wolds.

The circuit requires a minimum of 13 marshals for this event to take place and for your region/club/teams riders to be able to compete to be the Regional RR Champion.
The role of marshal will require you to be at the HQ at 8:30am for a briefing and the issuing of equipment. The race should be finished in less than 4 hours.

I have already had one person volunteer but if there are not enough marshals the event will not take place!

Please contact me with your details either through Veloriders, or email peter.lifford@googlemail.com or call me on 07852167476 by 8 May.
_________________
Pete Lifford


Regional Competition Administrator
British Cycling East Mids Region

[Dave Wilkes]

Don't want to be a party pooper but that circuit is not the safest. I called a halt to promoting on that circuit in 2004 and when I marshalled in 2005 I vowed that Team Bradgate would never promote on that circuit again.
At the Six Hills junction traffic approaches in the direction of Burton On the Wolds at high speeds - emerging from under the A46 close to the junction. 4 marshalls would have difficulty warning traffic there.
The fast descent into Burton On the Wolds results in a sharp left at the mini roundabout. Traffic entering Burton from the Loughborough direction reach the roundabout over a small rise and because of the restricted exit from the roundabout, riders turning left have to be on the right as they start the climb. The approach to the 5 way junction at the bottom of the winding descent with blind bends is impossible to control by mobile marshals and the exit is fast and wide to make the immediate second left into Walton Lane. The village requires marshals at the bend in front of the Anchor Inn and at the top of the hill.
For the sake of rider safety, please heed what I say when doing your risk assessment. 18 Marshals would not be enough in my opinion.
_________________
The starting point of all achievement is Desire.
Napoleon Hill

[billyam998]

IMHO, the biggest hazard is where you drop down from Burton on the barrow road, join the nottingham road and then do the sharp left on to loughborough road to go through walton.
Speeds are high on most parts of the course and I agree the B676 at six hills is a very big hazard.
Regardless of hazards well done to Pete for putting this on, I hope it gets the support it deserves.
I have offered my flag waving servicesand will be there if I can (need to check diary etc) Pete I will Pm you my details.
_________________
Users browsing this forum: None

[ray stuart]

Have to agree with Dave here, this circuit is tricky in places and requires a large number of marshalls at some key points + plenty of motos who are familiar with the circuit. I have moto marshalled this several times; its the only circuit in my experience where there has been a moto accident (with one of the official cars!). The main risk areas are: the Six Hills junction, not only high speed traffic from the right but also the A46 Northbound exit entering the circuit just after as the riders "run wide"; Burton village mini roundabout, almost blind approach, sharp left into narrow winding climb, riders forced to attack on wrong side of road, parked cars, hard to control oncoming traffic over long distance; 5 way junction after fast descent needs a lot of marshalls, need to close long section of road.
If plifford is unable to raise a sufficient army of marshalls, the event will have to be cancelled on safety grounds. The current maniac BC policy makes this difficult. ie riders who live in the region rather than members of clubs registered in the region. Madness! How do they expect to get regional support?

[Dave Wilkes]

My comments were made in light of experiences 6 years ago. The course has provided some great events in it's time - many spectators have turned up to watch and enjoy the racing.
I have always appreciated Ray's assistance in making the events we promoted safe - read his comments again as he has seen these hazards at close quarters.
Since 2005 traffic has increased and I believed then that the risks were too high to use that course again. It can only have gotten worse since, and I firmly believe it has passed it's sell by date.
_________________
The starting point of all achievement is Desire.
Napoleon Hill

[Martin Booth]

I'm sorry,i have to make a comment on this subject.I can't believe what I've just read,putting a divs on ,on the proposed circuit with as few as 13 marshalls,please,someone for Gods sake get real!!!!!!!

[flash!]

[Steve P]

Ridden this a number off times and have to say one off the safest races ive ridden.

Too add the winding descent as a rider not really a problem as the traffic has been stopped at the bottom, if traffic has gone through its usually made it to the marshall (dave edlin) at the roundabout and stopped.

[tommo]

For once in my life , i have to agree with Mr Palmer with it's long straights etc always seemed like one of the safer circuits , well done to Peter for trying to make this happen .
_________________
Clay cross RT www.claycrossrt.co.uk
Don't Mess!
Only Northerners need apply
Sir Lord Tommo of Clay cross

[windymiller]

How about any of the Melbourne Circuits, Newark area, all the Leicester ones, numerous Lincs ones and my personal favourite Oxton Bank. None of which are any worse than the Burton on the Wolds circuit.

Go back to affiliated clubs in the Region and you may get some interest again, instead of it being a relatively easy race for the Elites to carve up between them.

The days when VC, Ashfield, Leics, Mansfield etc. would compete against each other where heady days for road racing in the area.
_________________
Hoping the race organiser will give me a postcode to find the headquarters hidden in the wilderness.

http://www.ioptix.co.uk

[tommo]

[windymiller]

[tommo]

[plifford]

Thanks for the replies. Have noted the comments and will look into the concerns raised and will discuss these at the Regional Board meeting this Thursday.
_________________
Pete Lifford


Regional Competition Administrator
British Cycling East Mids Region

[ray stuart]

Before this thread develops into a "spoilsports who think its too dangerous" vs " I've ridden it before and its OK" battle, you need to read the original posts. What has been said is that the circuit requires sufficient, experienced marshalls to make it safe. As does any circuit. There are several junctions on this circuit that require a number of marshalls and radio contact (because there are several hazards in close proximity requiring a co-ordinated response from marshals). As an example S.Palmer says "the winding descent as a rider not really a problem as the traffic has been stopped at the bottom," Exactly, and only possible if sufficient marshals are in place and with advance info to make SURE that the traffic is stopped before the race convoy arrives. I reckon you need 5 at this point + some communication between them + advance warning from a moto. I have arrived at this junction several times to find the marshals not ready and had to use my moto to stop the traffic (not easy at a double junction). The marshalls need some experience of controlling traffic; I've always been pleased to see Dave Edlin at the mini roundabout, increasingly though I have found inexperienced static marshals at events and had to assist with the moto(s). The motos offer flexibility and can react to situations but only if there are adequate numbers and good communications.
In conclusion:
1. Sufficient marshals to ensure a safe race: its up to you- if plifford is unable to raise a sufficient number of volunteers then the event will have to be cancelled.
2. Sufficient number of motos; just a question of cost.
3. Proper training and briefing of marshals.
4. Good communication system from the chief comm to marshals and motos.

[Martin Booth]

Well,explained Ray,I have to agree,the decent to the double junction as described,is dangerous especially so if the hedges have not been cut,as there is even less visibility for riders,and more importantly for other road users.As dave explained the Six hills junction alone would need a minimum of 6 marshalls,the majority of whom would need to be experienced.
The more I read these type of threads in this East Mids section,the more I realise,how little organisational experience there is left in the Region.This is potentially dangerous in itself!

[dave kennedy]

Martin Booth Wrote:

[Dave Wilkes]

Well said Ray, I agree whole heartedly that without the moto's, our races could not have gone so well.
I would, of course, be happy to offer any advice to Mr Lifford and answer any questions about this circuit.

For instance-
Positions of signage is very important, as well as pre-warning locals about the event. The last event I ran, had a horse riser attempting to turn right into his long drive (on the road to Six Hills). He was warned of the approaching race but refused to acknowledge and continued his intended route. A complaint was made, but I managed to appease him later.
So it isn't just about traffic.
I have been away from organising for some time, so am not totally up to date with what control marshals can make - but Six Hills is a must to stop traffic during it's passage if possible. Be prepared for abuse!! motorists are less tolerant than they were.
Put as many marshals as you can in Walton and on the hill - this is where riders can cross the white line as they pass the Anchor Inn - cars approaching down the hill have little time to see oncoming cyclists at this point.
_________________
The starting point of all achievement is Desire.
Napoleon Hill

[Martin Booth]

Well,thanks Pete for volunteering us.Just a quick reply,bin there, done that,got over 500 tee-shirts for it (and thats just the number of races I've promoted-along with my team of family and friends,over a period of well over 30 years ).
No,i shan't be helping with any races,thankyou very much,but I shall be making comments,with regards to activities within the region,if i feel they are relevant.

[Martin Booth]

Apology.......Sorry Pete,for addressing my last comment to you,when it should have been to Dave,sorry.