cyclocross

A.Lee said:

A.Lee alan@darkroom.+.com said:

think the West Mids league may now have more participants overall than
the N&D, as the W.Mids have separate Seniors and Vets/ladies races.The
W.Mids was struggling 5 years ago, it is doing really well now - over 50
in the vets/ladies race regulalry.

A quick look at the results from the W.Mids shows that yes, there does
seem to be as many, if not more entering overall than the N&D race.
On 29th Oct, there were 77 entered in the Vets/ladies/junior race - that
is bloody good going when the majority are over 40yo.

It's probably because most races in the WM and Yorks leagues are split
by category that the fields always seemed more modest to me, with maybe
20-30 competing in a Seniors race from personal experience. Then again,
this is the main reason I like riding them, since there's far less
chance of congestion out on the course at the points where the race
tends to suddenly slow down and bunch up (obstacles, tricky
single-track, streams), or of causing problems for the serious
contenders.
Might give the odd WM event a go this season, but my favourite course
(Hagley Park, Rugeley) is the Midland Championship venue this year, so
being a lowly 4th-cat on a provisional BC licence I don't think I can
enter even if I wanted to. No Himley Hall again this year, either,
which is a shame - that was a great course to ride, even if I didn't
place highly. Might try out the series final at Lichfield, but no idea
what the likely course is (based at the Curborough motorsport circuit,
maybe??).

David Belcher

A.Lee said:

Despite, or because of, the high numbers taking part, the N&D committee
stood still, and said there was no need to divide the field into 2
races, and so we still have the aged 70+ riders (and me!) on the same
course as GB team members who do at least 2 laps more than mere mortals.

Sounds rather like the WM league, where the likes of Steve Knight
usually manage to gain couple of laps on also-rans like myself!

Quoted message said:

Numbers dropped a lot last year when the entry fee went up to £10 for
all races, coupled with the fact that there are absolutely no facilities
at some courses(you want to go toilet - "where do bears go?"😉

Must admit, I sometimes pick and choose events based on the
availablility of "creature comforts" - it's good to have at least a loo
and somewhere to change kit, even if you don't get the option of diving
under a shower at the end of a race.

David Belcher

David E. Belcher said:

Might give the odd WM event a go this season, but my favourite course
(Hagley Park, Rugeley) is the Midland Championship venue this year, so
being a lowly 4th-cat on a provisional BC licence I don't think I can
enter even if I wanted to.

Anyone can, and do, enter. Being as it is a WM league race, there will
be lots of other 'lesser' riders taking part.
I've entered the Midlands Champs loads of times, and never got out of
the bottom 10! They'll be glad of anyone who enters, as usually, the
promoting club makes a loss when hosting the event(perhaps thats why the
WM laegue is incorporated this year.
I thought the competition would go down when I got to be a Vet, but if
anything, the competition is keener.
If you can get to the one at Misterton, near Lutterworth on Dec. 10th,
then that is really good.It is held in the garden of a large country
house, going round the ornamental lake, and out into the sheep fields,
then into woods. A really good course.
Alan.
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