Clifton CC

There has been uncertainty about whether a second edition of the city centre races could be run this year as the Cycling City funding ended last summer. This uncertainty has now come to an end - York has been successful in getting £4.5m over three years through Local Sustainable Transport Funding. Funding for the races was included within the bid - so the event is definitely on.

The Cycling City Races will be different to last year though and - for us as a club - will require much less input. There are three main changes:-

- The programme of races is shorter. We will have four races - a Brompton Challenge (again run by York Cycleworks), a Youth A/B race, a 3/4/W/J support race, and an E/1/2 race (though not part of the National Circuit Series this year). So, less entries and organisation to deal with.

- The programme will be run later in the day to avoid conflict with shoppers and tourists, with a 5pm start (probably preceded by some Go-Ride demo/racing in Duncombe Place) and prizegiving to round it all off at 8:15.

- As last year the whole circuit will be crash-barriered, but the crossing points will be controlled entirely by stewards employed by the council (more than fifty of 'em), so we won't get involved in crowd control this time. Signposting and advanced publicity will be improved too.

Other changes will be no gazebos in St.Sampson Square, and more of a push to get shops and cafes onside. Again City Screen are joining in - The Bicycle Thieves will be showing at 8:30 in the evening.

Again it'll be a Clifton promotion, so we'll get plenty of publicity (Jess!). We've got some jobs to do to make it work - but less than last year. At the moment:-

- I'm dealing with liaison with the council, attending meetings, working with British Cycling, dealing with planning.
- Jason's dealing with entries and related stuff.

I'm otherwise occupied when the event happens (sorry folks - joys of collective family arrangements). So, to make it all happen okay we'll need:-

- A team of about four on the day to deal with running the race HQ, signing-on, etc.
- About five or six marshals within the circuit to handle signalling to the race motorcycle escort, warning riders of hazards etc

...and that should be it. BC officials will deal with the nuts and bolts of actually running each race; there'll be first aiders, etc.

Last year it was a bit stressful but, generally, fun. This year should be much less stressful and much more fun. If I suggested a Monday night for a Brigantes gathering, would some of you be happy to come along and talk about taking on the "on the day" jobs, please?

Phil

I'm happy to help in the HQ on the day. I've never done it before and so will need to know what needs doing on the day.

When should we have the Monday night gathering at Brigantes? 1st August? or before?

Have we got anyone else who has volunteered yet?

Thanks

Virginie

Many thanks Ginie. We've got a few offers of help from way back, so a session to talk through what needs doing would be the best way to firm it all up.

How about:- Brigantes at 8:00pm on Monday 25th July. (That way we don't have two consecutive Mondays, with the committee meeting being on 8th).

I'll get this over with now... ...this meeting is for anyone in the club (or indeed "friends of the club" too) who would like to be part of the Cycling City Races event. It's probably the glitziest thing the club gets involved with, sports-wise - some big names riding it (hopefully), commentator, mayor dishing out prizes etc. We've got a proper budget this year and we've got the experience of last year to learn from - it should be good, and it should be a buzz to be involved with. Don't worry if you've never had a job at races before - it's all straightforward stuff and you'll get help.

Count me in Phil, for the pub (you know I love my real ale !

I would love to marshal again, what better way to see a great evenings racing eh.

Cheers. Ian H

Hi Phil, I will also be out of the country that week end (Denmark), but will be happy to be at the pub to pass on any relavent knowledge that you think I can impart.
Bernard

Just bumping this back up to the top of the heap - pub meeting on Monday night at 8:00pm at Brigantes for anyone who'd like to be involved in Clifton's running of the 2011 York Cycling City Races. Doesn't matter if you've not done anything like this before - there'll be plenty of support.

Phil

I have entered the 3/4th race (not sure how wise that was) but happy to help out later on after this has finished. Simon

Hello Phil,

I am now also available to help again this year

Phil Suddaby

Hi Phil- we met on saturday at the training ride. I've only just joined the club (last week) but am more than willing to help if you need any further assistance with marshalling etc. Please let me know if you need assistance...

Nigel T

Thanks folks. The event HQ will be on site and being set up (in Duncombe Place next to where the finish line will be) from 3pm on the day. If you can turn up then, jobs can be divvied up in a way which ensures everyone knows what they're up to. There should be enough people that everyone will get at least some time to simply enjoy the racing!

I'll put the programme, start sheet etc up on the website once they're finalised.

Bumping this up again...

Based on emails / postings on here / attendance at the pub we've got a squad of about a dozen for staffing and marshalling. If you've said you'll be there, it's 3pm in Duncombe Place where the event HQ will be being set up. There will be a list of jobs to do so you can sign up for what you'd prefer to do, when.

If anyone else would like to lend a hand then please do - just email roadrace at cliftoncc dot org between now and then so the squad running the HQ knows numbers and can dish out jobs. Simply wandering the circuit selling programmes would be helpful - and brings a few bob into the club!

If you fancy watching the races and just lending a hand for an hour or two that would still probably be appreciated. And there's plenty to watch:- Clifton has riders in the Youth race and the Support (3/4/W/J) event, and the Elite race now features Malcolm Elliott, Graham Briggs, Kristian House and a number of big-name teams including Rapha-Condor and Motorpoint. Malcolm Elliott eh? It takes you back....

Dear all,

Phil has very usefully given me a "to do list", of what needs doing when on the day. I can't post it to here as it's in Word but the roles are as follows:

1) Signing-On Youth Race and collecting numbers / returning licences
2) Signing-On 3/4/W/J and collecting numbers / returning licences
3) Signing-On E/1/2 and collecting numbers / returning licences
4) Steward at Marygate car park competitor’s area
5) Clifton info counter at HQ
6) Marshal 1
7) Marshal 2
Marshal 3 (not sure what's so cool about the number eight?)
9) Marshal 4
10) Marshal 5
11) Marshal 6
12) Marshal 7
13+) Programme sellers

A lot of these roles would benefit from more than one person doing them at any one time.

Bearing in mind that we need people there from 3pm till 8pm (not all the roles need doing all the time), that's a lot of person-hours of tasks. So, if you can make it next Sun and haven't already let Phil know, drop a line to the roadrace at cliftoncc dot org address, or just turn up at Duncombe Place (near the Minster) any time from 3pm on the day.

All assistance (however small) gratefully received.

Thanks,

Jason.

I was going to race the Brompton race, only to find out it is a team event and I have no "friends". I really want to race this w/e! My wife and I are booked in to see "The bicycle theives" and were going for a meal aswel.
Considering racing the 3/4 cat race now, can I enter on the line? ie. any spaces left? I know Ive left it late, but I thought I had hung my race wheels up for this season.

There are a few (probably three or four) spaces left in the 3/4 race - I've had a few last minute queries and will be dealing with entries received first-come first-served. Depending on drop-outs on the day, there will probably be some EOL availability.

Hope this helps.

Jason.

Jason wrote:There are a few (probably three or four) spaces left in the 3/4 race - I've had a few last minute queries and will be dealing with entries received first-come first-served. Depending on drop-outs on the day, there will probably be some EOL availability.

Hope this helps.

Jason.

Cheers Jason.