2008 Cyclo-Cross Conference Minutes

Minutes of the Annual BC Cyclo-Cross Conference

Saturday 7 March 2009
Kegworth, Leicestershire, 1:00 pm

Present:

Commission: Colin Docker (Board Representative), Ben Eedy, Martin Eadon, Steve Grimwood, Peter Hargroves, Kelvin Hoy, Pete Mooney, Ian Poole, Liz Slater
Central: Josie Heffernan, Graham MacNamee
Eastern: Tim Butler, Tony Wilkins
London/South East: Chris Reed
East Midlands: Martin Booth, Mary Gill, Harry Gould, John Holmes, Hilary Johnson
West Midlands: Nick Barnett, Gerry Blackmoor, Dave Miller, Gordon Siers
North West: Jim Court, Ian Small
South West: Graham Edwards, Lester Young
Wessex/South: Paul Coates, Ian MacDonald, Geoff Shergold
Yorkshire: Darrell Bradbury, Philip Ingham, John Rawnsley, Fred Rothwell, Pete Sutton
BC Staff: Brian Furness (Cyclo-Cross Co-ordinator), Terry Greenwood (Membership Manager/Minutes)
Apologies: Vin Cox (SW), Cliff Featherstone (NE), Tom Forbes (Scotland)

At the start of the meeting a minute’s silence was observed out of respect for Ron Atkins, co-founder of the BCCA, who died in February 2009 aged 92. The death of former international racing secretary and team manager Brian Cossavella was also marked. Later in the meeting it was learned that former GB team mechanic John Derland had passed away earlier that day.

Welcome and opening remarks meeting chairman Colin Docker.

Colin Docker welcomed attendees and introduced himself to the meeting. He explained that the BC Board had reaffirmed its intention of being represented on every Commission, and he indicated that it was his personal aim to be present at all CX Commission meetings throughout his three year term as a Board member, and deliver feedback to the Board. It had been agreed that the location of Commission meetings would rotate around the country, with representatives from adjacent regions being invited to attend as geographically appropriate.

He noted that the cyclo-cross competition regions were closely aligned to the formal BC regions in England, and indicated that full time Regional on Development Officers would be appointed in the near future to each region, with a remit to cover all disciplines, including cyclo-cross.

Finally, he recognised that there were some concerns over matters of governance, which would be addressed at the end of the meeting. However the focus of today’s meeting would be on cyclo-cross competition issues and asked for the cooperation of the meeting in achieving this aim.

Workgroups: Ian Poole introduced the core section of the meeting, indicating that a new format was being tried in order to encourage greater interaction between attendees. Each broad topic – regional, national and international competition – would be introduced by a Commission member before throwing discussion open. Regional representatives were divided into five discussion groups, each facilitated by a Commission member, and a spokesperson from each group would report feedback back to the meeting.

Topic: Regional Competition, introduced by Kelvin Hoy

Groups were asked to focus upon issues such as under 12s racing, pits provision and gridding.

Summary of Feedback

Some regional leagues are atracting large numbers of U12s, but not others. Need to spread good practice.
Award of prizes for all U12s has become an expectation among riders and has become expensive.
Longer laps for U12s races needed where numbers are high.
Many areas with high U12 entry split race between U12, U10 and even U8, either as separate races or staggered starts.
Consensus that on U12s racing numbers are booming and costs onerous. Solutions discussed included a stamp scheme for youngsters and additional support from BC.
A small entry fee of, say, £1 per U12 rider is considered reasonable in light of the development of U12 racing.
Gridding methods are disparate across regions. Advantages seen to all options, but regions employing single line start resistant to change. Similar differences on pits and role of officials.
Pits in a basic form not a bad idea.
Consideration has been made to electronic timing, but it is very expensive.
Costs to organisers are high, especially against current economic backdrop.

Response to formal proposals

From East Midlands: To amend Rule 10.1 to make pits obligatory in all races.

Proposal given unanimous support, incorporating amendment to wording to establish pit areas only for Youth, A,B,C and upwards races. Not applicable to under-12 or Go Race/Go Cross.

From Yorkshire: To form a task group to address under-12 competition issues.

Proposal handled through a commitment for the Commission to address this issue.

From Yorkshire: To introduce a £1 entry fee for under-12 riders at all events.

Proposal given almost unanimous support. Fee to be retained by organiser with no levy element.

Topic: National Competition Programme, led by Ian Poole

Groups were asked to consider work being done in pursuit of better operational standards at national events, course design, event infrastructure. Ideas encouraged on securing higher standards for regional events in order to support national programme. Attendees were also asked to consider the status and location of the Inter Area Championships.

Summary of Feedback

Nat Champs course should be given a dry run as part of the previous year’s Nat Trophy rounds
One Commission member should be designated to look at competition courses
National Trophy courses should be designed on the continental model
Consensus that two post-Christmas rounds of National trophy would be good for the sport and avoid the season being pulled into September
5-6 rounds for National Trophy considered about right but some felt that 6 rounds were too many.
Some event organisers focus on the course rather than the competitors’ needs
Recommend organisers planning to stage a national event use an existing manual created by Steve Grimwood which provides extensive guidance on all aspects of the event
A greater number and spread of national events will encourage organisers to competitively drive up standards at their events.
Organisers should look to improve the quality of their events in order to avoid problems with risk-averse local authorities
No recognition on start sheets for womens vets cats. Propose that the start list is segmented the same way for both men and women. Also length of races for older (50+) riders can be excessive when all categories race together. Request for the commission to address this.
Urged that Inter-area competition should stay in Midlands area

Response to formal proposals

From Yorkshire: To re-establish the overall prize list for the National Trophy series.

The principle was supported by Brian Furness, but the aspiration was unsustainable in the context of a £6k deficit on net entry income over prize fund. BC was working towards establishing an overall prize fund for national series across all disciplines.

From Yorkshire: To increase the length of Veteran category races to 50 minutes for all National Trophy and National Championships events.

There was no support for this proposal.

From East Midlands: Rule 7.2.1: Add Veteran Women (50+)

It was suggested and agreed that this aspiration would be more appropriately addressed through an amendment of regulation 7.2.5, i.e. classifications within a combined race.

From East Midlands: To recognise the Women Vet 50 Category if only by having WV50 by the names in the National Trophy and National Champs start sheet.

It was agreed that this could be simply addressed.

Topic: International Competition, led by Peter Hargroves and Martin Eadon

PH: Explained that British riders competing abroad are often surprised by the different conditions. Standard of the field and the course differences mean that races abroad sometimes play out differently and result in a poor experience for our riders.

ME: Complimented the current talent programme of BC, but lamented the lack of commitment from some of the country’s top young riders to excel at CX. Explained that some young riders have been identified with the potential to perform at the highest level, but a change in attitude towards greater individual commitment is required. The pool of talent is small, but there is commitment to develop this talent.

Summary of Feedback

Possibly reintroduce national squad weekends for riders and coaches
Look to BC to provide (paid for) coaching resource
Look to position good young riders overseas e.g. Belgium
Look to support riders who exist beneath the ‘glass ceiling’ that hangs over non-Olympic cycling disciplines
Lobby BC to develop a sustainable talent ID and support programme for CX rather than move talented riders into other (Olympic) disciplines.
Understand what BC is doing to lobby on behalf of CX for it to be a winter Olympic sport.
Look to BC to directly engage with Major Event organisers to secure interest in and profile of CX events.
Challenge regions to establish their own talent squads with clear progression path to national squads.
Better continuity in coaching across all regions.
Look to BC to develop the profile of cyclo cross more widely
Use of terms that refer to CX as a feeder for other cycling disciplines a destructive to the discipline

At the end of this section a motion of thanks was passed for Geoff Shergold, who worked for a number of years as the chief mechanic for the Great Briatain cyclo-cross team. Geoff retired after the most recent World Championships in Holland.

Commissaire Training, Accreditation and Assessment

Updates provided by Ian Poole and Kelvin Hoy, who outlined moves to introduce a multi-discipline approach to commissaire training and the challenges/benefits this presents. Child protection modules needed to be common to all commissaire training, and CRB checks were being introduced to meet new legal requirements.

John Holmes commented that quality remains an issue for officials in cyclo-cross. Commitment given by Colin Docker that work is already underway to provide improvement in this area.

Q&A Session to Commission/British Cycling Staff

Q. (from Geoff Shergold): Why was cyclo-cross community not asked for nominations for CX Commission this year?
A. (from Colin Docker): CX Commission is one of 10 commissions. CX regs are in direct conflict with BC Bye-Laws (Articles of Association 37/38, Bye-Law 7.4) relating to the composition and power of commissions. Commissions are not composed as regional representative bodies, however BC is happy to receive nominations from regions, and it is my intention as the BC Board member appointed to the CX Commission that there is significant involvement of the regions in the business of the Commission.

Debate continued on the nature of the agreement signed between British Cycling and BCCA in 2000.

Q. (from Steve Gimwood): In light of the Board decision to appoint rather than see elected members to the commission from within each cycling discipline, does the Board feel it is an effective use of volunteer time to have convened and gone through with motions to put forward persons for the annual conference? Steve pointed out that there is no personal opposition to the people or to the proposed structure but that the feelings of the meeting on this matter should be gauged. Steve also suggested that a letter to the CX regional secretaries explaining the reasons and actions of the board would have gone some way to preventing ill feeling on this matter.
A. (from Colin Docker): No. An apology is offered to the CX regions if this has been the case. However, the fact is that there has been a conflict in the regs involving this issue for some years, and the meeting is asked to help to resolve this. A letter to the secretaries of the CX regions will follow this meeting.

The conference was asked if they had any issue with the changes and consequential update of the regulations, and a majority had no issue with this after the detailed explanations given. There followed a vote of thanks to Ian Poole from the whole meeting for his significant contribution to cyclo-cross.

Q. (from Steve Gimwood): It is encouraging to hear that the suggestion of some form of regular regional forum will be carried forward. What form/schedule will this take?
A. (from Colin Docker): It is planned to be NW late Spring, Mid South September, Midlands November, locations tbc, national conference Feb/Mar 2010.
Q. (from Steve Gimwood): Can BC commit to any level of funding to support regional meetings
A. (from Brian Furness): There is already money factored into the budget to include travel expenses for area representatives invited to attend meetings in or close to their region. Regional meetings have previously been held in Bristol (for West/South West/Wales/Wessex), Bradford (North East/North West/Yorkshire) and Rugby (East Midlands/West Midlands/Lincs.).
Q. (from Geoff Shergold): How would a rider be able to propose a change to the regs in the current system?
A. (from Colin Docker): Through representation to the regions and/or the relevant commission; (from Brian Furness): The structure allows proposals to amend technical regulations to be submitted at any time of year, and not just via an annual conference. If approved by the relevant commission and endorsed by the Technical Commission changes can be implemented forthwith. Changes rejected by this process can be re-submitted via BC regions to National Council.
Q. (from Geoff Shergold): Will there be a handbook for CX this year?
A. (from Brian Furness): Yes, this has been agreed with the suppliers, as production is currently a no cost option to BC with supplier retaining advertising revenue.
Q. (from Steve Grimwood): Do you (Colin Docker) as a board member think that it is appropriate that BC is negotiating with UCI on CX World Cups and has written to a number of councils in the UK inviting them to tender without the Commission being aware of the process?
A. (from Colin Docker): As a board member I have some concerns. However, it has been done with the best of intentions. Part of the benefits of staging major events is a greater profile for the sport.
Q. (from Josie Hefferman): How do regions finance their leagues and are there any sources of funding out there that remain untapped?
A. (from floor): Examples quoted of local commercial sponsorship in regions; raffles, prize presentations, Sport for All grants and prudent cost-saving measures, such as moderating prize values, offered as further examples. Ian Poole offered the commission’s help in helping the Central Region to become more financially stable.
Q. (from Graham Edwards): Can the Commission clarify the position relating to use of concrete steps at events?
A. (from Brian Furness): This had been an issue raised by the South West linked to guidelines in the organisers’ handbook and insurance liability. Commitment given for the Commission to address this.
Q. (from Fred Rothwell): Our region is considering electronic scoring. Can anyone offer any info or advice?
A. (from Kelvin Hoy): This has been used occasionally at previous events at a minimum cost of c. £500 for a single event; (from Colin Docker) Commission will look at this; (from Brian Furness): some BC regions/road racing leagues, such as SERRL, have already invested in transponder technology; there may be opportunities for CX to tap into this resource outside the road season.

Any Other Business

On a question from Ian Poole, the meeting agreed that the workshop structure of the meeting had been successful and should be retained.

There being no other Conference Business to consider, the meeting closed at 5.40pm.