Any Nottingham races left?

[windymiller]

I got asked the weekend if there was any BC races in Nottingham on open roads remaining. I couldn't think of any off the top of my head. A lot of local riders now consider Mallory and Darley as local, neither are in Nottingham or on open roads. I think this is the first year I couldn't think of any.

I feel sad for the youngsters and newcomers to the sport wanting to have a go at Road Racing.

Apologies to any clubs or organisers who have put on races that I couldn't think of.
_________________
Hoping the race organiser will give me a postcode to find the headquarters hidden in the wilderness.

http://www.ioptix.co.uk

[Will Scarlet]

There's a few LVRC and Velo 99 races for the coffin dodgers, but nothing under BC rules. Plenty of circuits on quiet roads in the Vale of Belvoir, but putting on a race on open roads is a logistical nightmare. You can run a race at Darley or Mallory with 5 people, but you need 25 to put one on the open road. A lot of clubs don't have 25 active members and those that do are mostly TT clubs with no interest in Road Racing.

[ray stuart]

No road races in Nottinghamshire and still no proper track. Nottingham was formerly the world epicentre of cycling as epitomised in Alan Sillitoe's novel "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning".

[maryhinge]

A very small section of the Eagle Road Races at the end of the season creep into Nottinghamshire, majority of the circuit is in Lincolnshire.
_________________
As Chris Carmichael would say in his training manual "What would Lance do?". Now we know!

[Will Scarlet]

The next question is what, if anything, do we do about this sorry situation?

[maryhinge]

Although not on the open road there has been youth racing on a closed circuit at Thoresby Hall with racing for seniors to come in September being promoted by the Retford Wheelers.
As a relative newcomer to Nottingham, where are the open road circuits previously used and why did they stop?
_________________
As Chris Carmichael would say in his training manual "What would Lance do?". Now we know!

[windymiller]

[Tom Butcher]

Never heard of Velo99 before - interesting.

I'm in Derby rather than Notts but it'd be good to have a list of courses that are still considered OK for racing on - I know when I was putting on races there was precious little choice locally and didn't Rodders have to cancel a GoSports event last year because of police objections about the circuit ? Was thinking about maybe putting something on next year but would rather do a different circuit for a change.

[16mm]

Veloriders Chipper Series.

Marshall 1 event to ride the series. Cross club organization.

I've only organized lvrc, but I'd be happy to help out with BC races. If it meant that I could race a couple of proper on road local races.

The circuit up to dorket head sounds bonkers. Any idea which way up / down?
ta
Mike

[Will Scarlet]

Historic circuits that can no longer be used:

Calverton-Patchings Farm-Dorket Head- Bank Hill-Bonner Hill- calverton (now has 2 sets of traffic lights).

In fact I think you'd struggle now to find a viable circuit north of the River Trent in Central Notts nowadays.

Historic circuits that could still be used (mostly in the Vale of Belvoir):

Flawborough-Alverton-Kilvington-Shelton

Sibthorpe-Shelton (still useed for LVRC)

Hawksworth-Thoroton

Belvoir-Stathern

Plungar-Barkestone-Granby-Plungar

[highlandpro]

[windymiller]

Can't see why you couldn't use the Oxton Bank - Saversick Lane - Halam - Farnsfield - White Post Island - North Gate circuit.

Plus the Oxton - North Gate - Salterford Lane - B6386 that Mapperley CC used for their evening league.
_________________
Hoping the race organiser will give me a postcode to find the headquarters hidden in the wilderness.

http://www.ioptix.co.uk

[Hans Datdodishes]

Grantham is almost Nottinghamshire - theres a race there later this month.
Personally I thought the Oxton Bank circuit was dangerous due to residents cars on one part of the circuit
_________________
World Masters Drive HillClimb For Taureans Category C Champion 2013.

I'm a qualified coach.

[Will Scarlet]

[officer bob]

Norwell and the 'Silver Spoon' circuits are still viable,as is Staunton-Long Bennington

just can't be @rsed anymore
_________________
I'm not a pedestrian,a cyclist or a motorist,I'm just a human being.

[Will Scarlet]

[Dave's Daughter]

Hi All

Developing the number of road race events across the East Midlands Region is a high priority for me as Regional Events Officer over the course of the next 3 years.

I am aware that historically we have had a very active road racing scene in the Region, which over the course of time has been reduced due to the loss of viable courses and a drop in the number of active and interested race organisers. Also, the perceived 'red tape' surrounding risk assessments and health & safety requirements together with the potential costs to an Organiser to use the National Escort Group (NEG) etc have meant that any new Organisers have been easily discouraged from coming forwards.

However, I am confident that this situation can be addressed and that we have the opportunity to turn this around and reinstate a regular program of British Cycling road races across the Region.

I am interested in hearing from anyone in the Region who is keen to get involved in Race Organisation and am here to assist all event organisers with advice, support and race equipment. My contact details are as follows; email: jennygretton'at'britishcycling.org.uk or mobile: 07930 229993

There are a number of different ways to approach the development of new events; either for individual Clubs to become involved in race promotion, &/or we take Windy Millar's suggestion and form an Organising Team that contains a combination of riders and volunteers from a number of different Clubs in the area to take this forward - which I would be happy to take a lead on. From there I would also be actively involved in the identification and risk assessment of the courses that could be used for these events.

In addition to this, I will be delivering a training course for new Road Race Organisers in September, the full details of which have gone out to all Club Contacts in the Region and to which I have had already received a very positive response.

I have also been involved with the development of a new NEG team for the East Midlands, which will mean that engaging this group on events in the Region will be more economically viable for Organisers in the future.

If anyone is interested in becoming involved with Race Organisation in the Region, or would like further details about the Organiser training course, or the NEG team please contact me direct.

Jenny Gretton
Regional Event Officer - East Midlands

[highlandpro]

[windymiller]

Is it true, that even the person/s doing the signing on has to be a BC member?
_________________
Hoping the race organiser will give me a postcode to find the headquarters hidden in the wilderness.

http://www.ioptix.co.uk

[ray stuart]

Jenny wrote: " However, I am confident that this situation can be addressed and that we have the opportunity to turn this around and reinstate a regular program of British Cycling road races across the Region. "
100% agree with this. Many of the traditional courses have been "lost" because the traditional organiser simply lost the "will to live" and no one else took on the role or because the traditional organiser would not adapt to modern traffic conditions. Courses can be made safe, for example, by using NEG motos but organisers were unwilling to meet the cost. We need to review
existing and new courses in the light of modern conditions and available facilities; and work on the public perception of road racing. If you need an example, just look at the fantastic Rutland - Melton Classic Race.