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The 2014 Woolly Mamil winter series review- musings and thinkings

2/25/2014

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In the summer of 2013 we got together over tea and stickies at Mamil Towers (yeah, okay, it’s my house) to decide what events we should put on in 2014 to supplement our (so far successful) summer sportive.  After much debate and much tea, we decided to take the plunge and put on a series of winter circuit races that would lead with, and seek to encourage, women’s racing.

British Cycling certainly encouraged us, but with half of the GBTx team coached by Rich being women, Craig’s involvement with youth development and 3 of the 4 of us having daughters involved in sport, we didn’t take much persuading.

Experience told us women’s racing was commonly an afterthought, often being the last race on the card and thrown in with the 4th category men. It might be a bit of chicken and egg, but we’d sometimes seen 3 women registered on line and 2 more turn to sign on for a race only to discover they have widely different skill and fitness levels meaning the race has degenerated in to a circuit based time trial. Keen not to repeat this, we thought we’d try and establish some basics.

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1. To have a women (only) race first on the card and grant free entry to the 4th Cat race if riders want to race again. Having the race on first means a less crowded HQ and signing on area together with more than an outside chance of getting a car parking space and a coffee.
2. Like all of our events, we wanted it to be friendly, informal and well run. It’s our objective to help rather than hide behind officialdom. This means keeping our events relatively small so we can speak to everybody. Hopefully this makes accessing bike racing less stressy if a rider is new to it or has turned up on their own.
3. We wanted a great facility and Stourport provides a good circuit with a good HQ with modern changing facilities, signing on area, access to decent tea, coffee and parking. It’s also pretty safe and secure with friendly staff.  
4. We tried to make it good value. Out of the £6 we charged (£6.70 if you did it online with the 70p going to BC), half of that goes to British Cycling as a levy. Once the Commissaires, track hire and prizes are paid for breaking even becomes pretty marginal.

Not rocket surgery is it? But what have we learnt from the experience? We got some (admittedly informal) feedback from the riders by, you know, speaking to them.

1. Women only races work and attract more riders irrespective of licence category. There were some takers for the free entry into the 4th Cat race (the last on the card) but not many and decreasingly so as the series went on.
2. Putting the women’s race on first works for the reason we hoped it would. We had 25 riders on the line for the last race of the series as word spread - more than we’ve seen in most summer races.
3. Riders didn’t seem to be motivated by the (admittedly crap) prizes but were interested in accumulating BC points (at least some of them were).
4. The women’s racing was of high quality and competitive but had a collaborative element to it with riders working together when dropped from the bunch. It was clear from our Twitter feed that a good number of new friendships had sprung up during the event. I hope this doesn’t sound patronising; it’s just what we saw.   
5. The no frills/low key approach seems to work. The women seem to want to get on with their racing rather than have a big fuss made about it and would generally sooner not have ‘crowds’.  
6. Riders would like their finishing positions even if they are outside the top 10 (point scoring) places.
7. The 4th Cat only race attracted the biggest fields (50 riders) with the E/1/2/3 having circa 20 each week. The Youth racing was pretty well supported.
8. The consecutive weekly series format works, many of the same riders coming back each Saturday of the four to race.
9. We were fortunate to have the Boom Cycling team along who brought half a dozen riders to each event. We need to find a way of contacting, engaging and encouraging more women’s teams or groups from clubs to come along in the future. Boom made a big difference to the event.  
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As an organiser, what can we do better or different?

1. Better line judging. A video camera supplemented with judges equipped with pen and paper works okay but a fool proof electronic system would be better. Everybody, irrespective of position, would get a finishing place and time and it would let us do a ‘fastest lap’ competition.  
2. A series entry (i.e. the ability to enter all four events in one 'on-line hit') and a team prize would be useful.
3. Some colour coded numbers would help, particularly with the youth racing where there are four races on the circuit at the same time.
4. It would be good to have a series sponsor to relieve some of the financial pressure!

Rider feedback was generally good (from both the men and women) but we need constructive criticism, what else would riders like to see? What could we do better? Please tell us. In particular, is there a demand for coaching in a ‘race’ environment?   

Finally, we loved putting the racing on, the plan is to do it again next year on the 17th, 24th, 31st January and 7th Feb 2015.

Big thanks to all those who supported us, most particularly the riders but also Brian from Raleigh, Pez for the amazing pictures, the staff at Stourport, the Comms and the volunteers who helped out.

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Woolly Mamil winter crit series, Stourport - Round 4 – 8th February 2014

2/10/2014

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Women’s race

Anybody who has ever raced a bike will have bailed at some time. When you can’t find enough holes to breathe through and the handlebar tape has teeth marks in it, sometimes you just have to watch the bunch disappear up the road. It’s a less common occurrence to have to bail the circuit out before a race can begin but that’s what the organisers found themselves doing at Stourport last Saturday.

This winter’s unprecedented weather meant the track side water feature of last week’s race had grown in to a small sea. Despite the valiant attempts of a number of hastily drafted volunteers, it was not to be shifted meaning the course was shorted a little allowing Noah to continue his boat building unmolested by racing cyclists.

Once underway, the healthy field of 25 women riders settled in to a now familiar pattern with Maxine Filby (Trek Coverntry) often at the head of bunch setting a strong pace closely monitored by Darrelle Parker (Boom CC) and Masie Duckworth (Wolverhampton Wheelers CC) both of whom had featuring in podium positions during the series.

Working well together, the three pulled away from the field and established a significant gap, Duckworth displaying the race craft from her schooling at Wolverhampton Wheelers by following the right wheels and Filby showing her strength on the windy circuit.

Their break was well established entering the final straight and with a final scramble for position, Masie Duckworth (WWCC) took an excellent win from her breakaway companions with Maxine Filby (Trek Coventry) in second and Darrelle Parker (Boom CC)in a solid third.     

Close observers of the race were treated to an appearance by a certain Tracy Moseley representing Malvern Cycle Sport, more often than not seen winning world class downhill mountain bike events, getting some early season speed work in.   

Results

1 Duckworth Masie
2 Filby Maxine
3 Parker Darelle
4 Keneko Hisayo
5 Jones Eleanor
6 Odell Sarah
7 Birtles Emma
8 Moseley Tracy
9 Phillips Jacqui
10 Ackland Lindsay

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U14/u16 Boys and Girls   

With the growing crowd of spectators half expecting to see the animals of the nearby West Midlands safari park being ushered to safety two by two at the rear of the flooded circuit, a healthy field of youth riders gathered for the start of their races.

Making light work of the challenging conditions and with the increasingly blustery wind blotting out their baying parents, the youth of the Midlands set about their work with aplomb. Of particular note today was an excellent ride from u14 rider Ben Healy (Halesowen ACC) who, with a solo attack, both caught and went through u16’s to take an excellent win.

Alice Law and Hollie Owens (WWCC) repeated their victories of last week in the u16 and u14 girls races respectively with Jake Stewart (Solihull CC) doing similarly in u16 boys. 

Clearly, many of the young riders benefited from the helpful track side advice to both ‘ride faster’ and indeed ‘close the gaps’ which undoubtedly led to some interesting conversations in the car on the way home.          

Results

Youth A Boys
1 Stewart Jake
2 Lewis Will
3 Lewis Kier

Youth A Girls
1 Law Alice
2 Simmons Rebecca

Youth B Boys
1 Healy Ben
2 Lewis Matthew
3 Manfield Will

Youth B Girls
1 Owens Hollie
2 Homer Gabriella
3 Williamson Chloe


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E/1/2/3

Not to be put off by flooding of biblical proportions, 24 riders signed up for this week’s thrilling instalment of senior racing. 10 minutes in to the 45 minute race, George Richardson (Unattached), Jack Escritt (Velocity WD40) and last week’s winner Adam Lewis of Belgium based outfit Terra Safety Shoes, had broken away from the field and established a useful break.

Realising the danger of the move, the more alert and able riders in the group set about a chase with Iain Palmer (Twickenham CC) being the first to respond closely followed by the young pairing of James Ireson (Wolverhampton Wheelers CC) and James Elmore (Mid Shropshire Wheelers).

Whilst never actually making contact with the breakaway riders, Palmer showed remarkable resilience by managing not only to hold off the pack but also to gradually distance it. Similarly, brave work by the two young James’s did eat away at the distance to the break although the reward for their joint effort was ultimately to be subsumed by the bunch towards the end of the race.

Nobody could accuse Richardson of a lack of strength or commitment as he put in some huge turns to lap the field with his younger breakaway partners within the final 5 laps. Leading out the sprint, Lewis and Escritt’s fast legs outpaced the strong man to take first and second places. The knowing smile on George Richardson’s face as he went over the line speaking volumes.

Palmer capped off a good day for him with a solo fourth with James Ireson keeping enough powder dry to take the bunch sprint for fifth.

A classy race run with great spirit and sportsmanship. Clearly the crowd were happy the race was run at a pace acceptable to them as nobody had told the seniors to ‘ride faster’. Bonus.

Results

1 Lewis Adam
2 Escritt Jack
3 Richardson George
4 Palmer Ian
5 Ireson James
6 Noble Nick
7 Cox Simon
8 Watts Daniel
9 Ellmore James
10 McKinn Daniel

4th Cat

The 4th Cat race this week reflected the worsening weather conditions and was attritional in nature with no single rider or small group being allowed to tap off the front.

Lots of work was being done on the front of the bunch by the lads from the Worcester St Johns club and, as the race progressed, many riders were unable to hold the strong pace they set. With the strengthening wind blowing in seemingly uninterrupted from the Urals, it looked increasingly like a bunch gallop would decide the race.

Sure enough, into the final straight for the last time and Charlie Hargreaves of the Solihull club took the win to conclude the final race of the series.

Results

1 Hargreaves Charlie
2 Thomas Harry
3 Withers Joseph
4 Hickinbottom Sean
5 Alcock Matthew
6 Smith Danny
7 Minton Stephen
8 Holyman William
9 Wilkes Joshua
10 Thomas Mark

That concludes the racing for this year’s series. The organisers Mamil Cycling would like to thanks the riders for their support, our chilled to the bone Commissaires and Stourport Sport Club for their hospitality.

A summary of the series and overall standings will follow.    


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Race report. Woolly Mamil winter crit series, Stourport - Round 3 – 1st February 2014

2/5/2014

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Riders of the Woolly Mamil series had been monitoring the weather reports this week to see if Stourport on Severn had become Stourport in Severn during a week’s worth of rain. However, aside from an impromptu water feature that was quickly coned off at the top hairpin, the rather damp circuit was signed off as rideable.

18 women riders took to the start line but within the first lap Maxine Filby (Trek Coventry) established a good lead which grew to nearly a minute as the rider made the most of fresh legs from a light training week to time trial her way to the win.    

Once more, the Boom Cycle Team road strongly controlling the bunch although nobody was minded to try to bridge the gap to Filby. A mention in dispatches must go to Boom rider Hisayo Keneko who rapidly regain both her composure and the bunch after a slip near the new water feature. Gutsy riding from her again.

Maise Duckworth (Wolverhampton Wheelers CC) riding her first race of the series and having only this season graduate from youth racing, looked comfortable surrounded by the Boom Team and took the bunch dash for a creditable second place. A testament to the time spent honing her skills on the track over the last couple of years.

Transplant Champion Ottilie Quince (Luton CC) returned for another lash at the circuit before heading off to commentate on the Women Tour of Qatar starting on Tuesday 6th February. The profile of women’s cycling continues to rise and with races of this quality, deservedly so.

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Results

1 Filby Maxine
2 Duckworth Masie
3 Parker Darrelle
4 Rutherford Paula
5 Kaneko Hisayo
6 Ackland Lindsay
7 Odell Sarah 
8 Bamford Alicia
9 Mcdonagh Elisa
10 Stuart Gemma

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U14/u16 Boys and Girls   

The racing started as soon as the shivering had finished. Characterised by sharp aggressive attacks and strong riding to hold the pack at bay, Jake Stewart (Solihull CC) and Lewis Askey (Lichfield CC) took good wins in the Youth A and Youth B Boys races respectively.

Alice Law (WWCC) repeated her win from last week with a strong ride in the Girls Youth A category with Hollie Owens of the same club taking Girls Youth B.

Encouraging to see a strong thread of women riders coming through the ranks of this large and well supported local club.  

Results

Youth A Boys
1 Stewart Jake
2 Waters Josh
3 Lewis Kier

Youth A Girls
1 Law Alice
2 Hudson Connie

Youth B Boys
1 Askey Lewis
2 Healy Ben
3 Lewis Matthew

Youth B Girls
1 Owens Hollie
2 Homer Gabriella
3 Williamson Chloe

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E/1/2/3


This series has been blessed with at least one stand out race each time and it was the turn of the E/1/2/3’s to show how it was done with a great display of strength and tactical nouse.  

Within the first couple of laps, Stephen Cavey (Catford CC) and Luke Churchus (Ganett CC) had established a useful 2 man break with the pack, containing last week’s winner Adam Lewis (Terra Safety Shoes), seemingly reluctant to chase them down. Working well together, it looked like the pair had launched the race winning move even with the speed of the chasing bunch shelling out tiring riders.

Windy and occasionally wet conditions made positioning on the circuit vital to conserve energy by finding those few valuable sheltered spots in the bunch. At times the race appeared to have more in common with a dinghy race as riders tacked into the wind.

Inside of the final 5 laps, Lewis launched a well-timed attack from the side of the pack and set off in chase of the two break away riders, managing to bridge the gap with 2 laps to go. Tucking in for the penultimate lap, he attacked again on the bell to distance Cavey and Churchus to make the race winning move.

A great display of strength and tactics by the Cat 1 rider to take the win and a gutsy show from Cavey and Churchus.        

Results

1 Lewis Adam
2 Cavey Stephen
3 Churchus Luke
4 Wiltshire Joseph
5 Richardson George
6 Palmer Ian
7 Cox Simon
8 Manfield Ben
9 Dimitrov Preslav
10 Ellmore James

4th Cat 

By the time the 4th cats took to the line, the heavens had opening and riders gazed at the horizon anticipating the imminent arrival of Heathcliff or the return of Captain Oates. 

A hardy field of 40 riders lined up for the final race of the day with the pace high from the beginning the race split down into two principle groups with a number of individual riders left literally out in the cold.

Some brave attacking out of the lead group came from NFTO’s Andrew Turner who, on a couple of occasions, looked like he may have made a winning move. Indeed, on a calmer day he may have been better rewarded for his efforts but with the wind buffeting the circuit his attacks were closed down by the bunch.

A final attack by Turner over the line for the last lap was neutralised with the race ending in a bunch charge. James Middleton (Media Velo) taking the win with Turner managing a creditable 6th following his efforts for the day.  

Thanks must go to Esther Stewart for an impromptu assist on the day and to the riders for battling the challenging conditions in such great spirit. Apologies from the organisers for the later than usual submission of results following the cold handed piecing together of various pieces of wind torn sodden paper!  

Thanks to Dave Perry for the pictures. 

Round 4 of the series will be held Saturday 8th February at Stourport. Signing on from 10am with the racing starting at 11. Bring a coat… 

Results

1 Middleton James
2 Hickinbottom Sean
3 Turner Andrew
4 Thomas Harry
5 Alcock Matthew
6 Minor Keith
7 Fearns Darren
8 Holyman William
9 Thomas Mark
10 Wilkes Joshua
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