think the West Mids league may now have more participants overall than the N&D, as the W.Mids have separate Seniors and Vets/ladies races.The W.Mids was struggling 5 years ago, it is doing really well now - over 50 in the vets/ladies race regulalry.
A quick look at the results from the W.Mids shows that yes, there does seem to be as many, if not more entering overall than the N&D race. On 29th Oct, there were 77 entered in the Vets/ladies/junior race - that is bloody good going when the majority are over 40yo.
It's probably because most races in the WM and Yorks leagues are split by category that the fields always seemed more modest to me, with maybe 20-30 competing in a Seniors race from personal experience. Then again, this is the main reason I like riding them, since there's far less chance of congestion out on the course at the points where the race tends to suddenly slow down and bunch up (obstacles, tricky single-track, streams), or of causing problems for the serious contenders. Might give the odd WM event a go this season, but my favourite course (Hagley Park, Rugeley) is the Midland Championship venue this year, so being a lowly 4th-cat on a provisional BC licence I don't think I can enter even if I wanted to. No Himley Hall again this year, either, which is a shame - that was a great course to ride, even if I didn't place highly. Might try out the series final at Lichfield, but no idea what the likely course is (based at the Curborough motorsport circuit, maybe??).
Despite, or because of, the high numbers taking part, the N&D committee stood still, and said there was no need to divide the field into 2 races, and so we still have the aged 70+ riders (and me!) on the same course as GB team members who do at least 2 laps more than mere mortals.
Sounds rather like the WM league, where the likes of Steve Knight usually manage to gain couple of laps on also-rans like myself!
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Numbers dropped a lot last year when the entry fee went up to £10 for all races, coupled with the fact that there are absolutely no facilities at some courses(you want to go toilet - "where do bears go?"😉
Must admit, I sometimes pick and choose events based on the availablility of "creature comforts" - it's good to have at least a loo and somewhere to change kit, even if you don't get the option of diving under a shower at the end of a race.
Might give the odd WM event a go this season, but my favourite course (Hagley Park, Rugeley) is the Midland Championship venue this year, so being a lowly 4th-cat on a provisional BC licence I don't think I can enter even if I wanted to.
Anyone can, and do, enter. Being as it is a WM league race, there will be lots of other 'lesser' riders taking part. I've entered the Midlands Champs loads of times, and never got out of the bottom 10! They'll be glad of anyone who enters, as usually, the promoting club makes a loss when hosting the event(perhaps thats why the WM laegue is incorporated this year. I thought the competition would go down when I got to be a Vet, but if anything, the competition is keener. If you can get to the one at Misterton, near Lutterworth on Dec. 10th, then that is really good.It is held in the garden of a large country house, going round the ornamental lake, and out into the sheep fields, then into woods. A really good course. Alan. -- To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.
