National Road Race Championships.

[IanH]

Below is an e mail from Ian Holmes (Chief Marshall) who has asked if anyone else (apart from those of us who have offered to marshall already) would like to help at the National Road Race Championships on June 24th staged in the magnificant setting of Ampleforth Collage and surrounding area, should be a great day out for both spectators and marshalls.

Dear Marshall(s),

Thank you so much for your offer to help at the National Championships on Sunday 24th June based at the spectacular setting of Ampleforth Abbey and College and the surrounding countryside.

A great deal of effort has already gone into the organisation and preparation for the event and it is shaping up to be a fantastic championship. The entries have now closed and the field on the start sheet resembles a who's who of world cycling.

The Women's Championship has a strong field of 62 riders including former National Champions Lizzie Armitstead and Emma Pooley (AA drink leontien.ni), also multiple former winner Nicole Cooke MBE (Team Faren Honda). Local interest is provided by the entries from Heather Tuffs (Clifton CC York) and Iona Sewell (GB Cycles.co.uk.).

The Men's Championship includes lots of amateur talent alongside continental and home professionals alike with a full field of 140 and 18 reserves. Local names racing include Kit Gilham (Herbalife-Leisure Lakes) and James Sampson (Node 4-Giordana). UK based talent includes teams from 100% ME, An-Post-M, Endura Racing, Node 4 Giordana, Rapha Condor Sharp, Team IG-Sigma Sport and Team Raleigh with names such as Russell Downing and Kristian House among past winners of this championship. Continental professionals include Steve Cummings, Adam Blythe (BMC Racing), Andy Fenn (Omega Pharma Quickstep) and of course a full team from Sky Pro Cycling including Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome and World Champion Mark Cavendish. What an incredible line up!

The events will also be televised with Highlights on ITV4 Monday 25th June 2000 so you'll be able to see it all back in the comfort of your armchair the very next day!

I'd like to provide some more detail on what is happening in respect of event support from marshals and some of the points to allow me to get things moving and help with organisation on the day. The marshalling activities take place throughout the day to support both events so it is going to require some sterling commitment from the whole team to ensure that the day is the success it deserves to be.

The women's event starts at 0900 so to support this I will need marshals to report to me by 0800 at Ampleforth College in the St. Alban Centre Squash court which has been set aside for marshal briefing and mobilisation on the day. It will be necessary to sign on here and I will provide the more detailed briefing and equipment (HV kit, flags, radios etc.) that will be required for the days events (women's and men's). I will nominate marshal team leaders so that I can brief a reduced number of individuals who can them onward brief their marshalling team. I'll be in touch with marshalling team leaders in due course. Equally important along with the briefing will be the issue of food bags for the day, it will be a long day therefore enough good food and drink will be provided to keep you going.

Remember that as a marshal you will receive a T-shirt on the day so could you please confirm to me the T-shirt size that you would like[S= 34/36”, M= 38/40”, L= 42/44”, XL= 46/48”, XXL= 50/52”]. Also you will be eligible for a £10 refund on your entry fee for the Ryedale Rumble Sportive to be held on the 2nd September 2012 please refer to the following web site for event details (http://www.ryedalerumble.co.uk/).

I am still in need of a further handful of volunteers to support so if you could contact friends, colleagues, fellow riders or family wand convince them to offer their services I would be most grateful of the additional help, please let me know.

If there are any questions in the mean time please do not hesitate in contacting me.

If you are unable to support the event in any way could you let me know at your earliest convenience so that I can make alternative arrangements as necessary, otherwise I am very much looking forward to seeing you all on the day for a great set of championship races.

Best Regards,

Ian Holmes
Chief Marshall
National Elite and Under 23 Road Race Championships 2012

Mobile 07808 826659

ian.holmes@siemens.com

See also:

For event details:-

http://www.ryedalegrandprix.co.uk/

Event Previews:-

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/a ... ionships-0

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/18368490