Afternoon all,
We are holding our annual Sherwood Open TT on the A10/14 course. The Race HQ is based at Long Bennington Sports Pavilion.
As joint organisers, Steve Littlewood and I are looking for volunteers to help out in the afternoon from 3pm until around 8pm on various duties.
We need the following:-
10 Marshalls to stand looking pretty and point riders in the right direction
1 Pusher Off to hand riders at the start whilst they clip in and countdown commences
1 Timekeeper's Assistant to relay times back to HQ via either phone or walkie talkie
1 Scoreboard Assistant to write relayed riders' times up on the board
2 Kitchen Staff to prepare and serve drinks and any food which may be provided for sale.
It promises to be great event and your support would be much appreciated.
The time trialling side of Sherwood has almost died a death and Steve and I wish to resurrect it back to its former glory with more events next year.
Please comment below if you can help on the day.
EDIT: CONFIRMED VOLUNTEERS SO FAR (PLEASE SHOUT UP IMMEDIATELY IF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE ALTER)
I would like to see a pool of around 20 persons if possible.
Steve Custance - Timekeeper
Bill Stanley - Timekeeper
Howard Clark
Jim Hollands
Dave Woodward
Julie Roberts
Howard Clark
I don't mind helping out, but I also want to ride. Is this possible?
Why is is not on our website on upcoming events? How do we enter? Though I have rode a number of club TT's I know nothing about open events. I even struggle to follow conversations at club meets through my ignorance I get completel lost. I don't really know but I wonder if my miandering posts on "what have you done" may have helped bring a few more into club racing?
If this event has been advertised I am not sure where, and to go on the BC site is next to usless, how anyone can find anything on that site I don't know as I cannot get my head round it, navigation is far too complex.
Technically it shouldn't be an issue but you couldn't be a pusher off, timekeeper's assistant or a Marshall or even scoreboard so providing your pinafore is clean you could work in the Kitchen!!!
When you enter on CTT website, make sure you select the option to be considered as a reserve because your current times will not necessarily guarantee you a ride. However, I need to check rules, regulations and protocol because a club member should be guaranteed a ride if they want one in my book. I am not sure what the actual reality is though.
Here is a good place to start Howard: https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/articles/view/9
Sorry Howard. I think I only glanced at the first line of your message. Cheers Chris for picking up on this!
Here is our event Howard:-
https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/16237
What have we unleashed?
Thanks all for feedback. Understand a little better now, all the secret course names! A nice bit of history there.
Not sure I am ready for opens yet? May just help out.
In my day it was start at telegraph pole number29 just past the metal field gate-----first man off 6-01 am sunday the //////////.
I usualy marshal where they slip left to roundabout to join A1 so I can sut down and do the job I will check if I can help this year and post.
Have checked the calendar on the kitchen wall and SATURDAY 7th JULY IS FREE, therefore I am free to marshal .I would like the spot noted in my previous post.
I am an old man and NOT VERY MOBILE so no other duty is suitable only marshal.
PLEASE send me a hard copy of start sheet or have available at HQ. JIM HOLLANDS.
wing nut
Thanks to all that have responded so far. I will start to add people to the top post as a guide but I would still prefer to see an over-subscription of helpers so we have some float if necessary.
Jim. You can purloin the 'Bear left' position at the first turn by all means. Thank you.
Rather than waiting for people to volunteer, you might need to be more proactive and ask people when out on club rides.
Funny you said say that Trev. Woody said exactly the same thing earlier tonight.
Thing is I'd already asked a few people late last year and some agreed (and old age prevents me from remembering - I think one who said they could was one of the ladies) and after I'd left Little Jacks on Sunday, I realised I should have asked Ian Church!
By all means, if you are on any club run, please feel free to mention it to people as I may not be riding too many club runs between now and then. In fact, I think this Sunday was my first club run in 2 months and 2 months before that also!!!
It's why I'm also reaching out to members on here and FaceBook.
Going to give this post a little nudge!
Come on members. Please step up. I believe we have around 175 paid-up members. A couple of Club stalwarts have offered and 3 'brand new' members have offered.
It has been said that at times I have a split personality BUT even that will not make up the apparent deficit in the helper stakes.It is not as if the club promotes many events ,in the past we did lots brewing up tea in my frame tent near the finish ,runners taking time keepers notes to a big result board or even using a field telephone ,you younger people who understand modern phones ETC should have no problem sorting that side of things...
How hard can it be to stand/sit and point the way ,you also get to see others in action,
CUMMON THE MEN ARE TRYING KEEP THE RACING /PROMOTING SIDE OF THE CLUB ALIVE IF YOU ARE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN THE CLUB THAT WAS A RACING CLUB COME AND HELP------------------IF NOT JOIN THE CTC ------------WE GERIATRICS CANT DO IT ON OUR OWN -------AND I WONT BE ABLE MUCH LONGER.
Who said yipeee?//????--------wing nut
The problem with asking for help on the forum, is that most club members aren't registered, so won't see your request. Like I said, you need to personally ask people. Half the membership wont even realise that the event is on.
Over the years, I have organised 5 road races, 1 open TT, 4 cyclo crosses and an MTB race. The reason I gave up is that people won't help out, apart from the dedicated few regulars like Jim.
Another "problem" is we no longer have a regular weekly club night where members meet face to face and sort things out.---------sadly---------THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING-----------!
wing nut
All paid-up members have been emailed last week and that elicited a few responses.
We're getting there but it's almost soul-destroying as you say Trevor.
We've even had offers to advertise the need for marshals from other clubs. I am going to explore that option if no further joy soon.
I am surprised by your comment TREV that many members do not use the website in my ignorance and simplicity I thought it sort of replaced the old club nights we used to have.
That is why I struggle with it to try and keep up to date.
Surely the club can find enough members to run our own 10 mile TT.
In the past for a 50 or 100 with lots of turns other clubs would help out willing if you had a long leg to say Lincoln then a Lincoln club member would do the turn for you and your club would help them.
I feel very sad at the passing of an era that was such fun.
Perhaps future club trophies will be decided on an I pad or computer.
Look at the number of registered users on the website - 41 at the last count. That's less than half the members. And how many views the posts get, my audax report post has 10 views, 4 of which are mine. The website works ok with a pc or laptop but I can't get it to work on my iPad. Works on the phone but very slow to load. Our Facebook page has over 200 registered users. Roger has posted on there too, but still little response.
We're getting there slowly but surely. If necessary, I call, rather embarrasingly, on other club to help out. It just looks a bit sad if we cannot muster enough help from our own ranks.
There should be lots of new vibrant youthful/younger members taking over from the old hands. They've put so much work into the club over the years.