News

SWCX League AGM, a report.

EWCC Committee Members Jon Hare and Pete Bishop attended the AGM of the South-West Cyclo-Cross League, which was conducted online via Zoom on the 22nd of April .

Here are some of the salient proceedings and such:

  • The SWCX committee has lost three officers (treasurer, secretary, and social media co-ordinator), but recruited two, with Timothy Dodd the new treasurer and Jennie Thurston  the new secretary. It is still hoped to get a new social media co-ordinator recruited over the next few months. All the roles are of course voluntary and unpaid.
  • A review of participation figures looks generally positive, with a slight increase of 3% in rider numbers, or 5% on a like-for-like basis (the number of rounds increased to 10 last season). Female participation showed an 11% increase.
  • On the financial front, there was a net loss of £86 last year, which is essentially a break-even figure. £7,000 is in the bank, which has been stable year on year.
  • The presentation afternoon remains the largest expense, but it is felt that the venue (Exeter City AFC’s ‘Heritage Lounge’ is a fitting venue, and that holding the presentation there wins hearts and minds, which is very important in trying to keep especially the younger riders engaged. SWCX will, however, explore other possible venues that might also be suitable but more economical.
  • The SWCX Marquee tent is now approaching the end of its life, with a replacement likely to cost c. £1,200. It was proposed and agreed that committee members and race organisers would be asked to reach out to their respective clubs to see if they would be willing to help cover the cost via a donation of £100 per club, that would come with donating clubs having their logos incorporated in the fabric of the marquee.
  • The confirmed rounds for next season are:

Round 1

13th September

Torbay Velo Park

Round 2

27th September

Redruth School

Round 3

4th October

Arlington

Round 4

11th October

Wadebridge Showground

Round 5

1st November

Newnham upper    

Round 6

15th November

Escot

Round 7

29th November

Exeter Bike Park (Exminster)

Round 8

6th December

Newnham lower

Round 9

13th December

Perranporth Airfield

There is potentially another round that would be on the 22nd of November, but no organiser has yet been found or come forward. There may also be a Summer CX event, in early August, to tie in with Paignton Circuit Races.

  • Whilst some BC CX leagues have separate women’s races, SWCX do not (a survey of rider’s opinions on the subject was carried out by SWCX, with the majority of riders voting for no change). However, the league is under pressure from BC to review this again, so there will be further consultation of members at the end of the coming season. There will, however, be a separate Women’s Race at the Regional Championships this year. It is also hoped to run some SWCX women’s coaching sessions, possibly in August.
  • Junior boys will now race with the Senior and v40+ men rather than in the Women, V50+ V60+ race. It is also possible that the current order of the Senior & V40’s following the Women/V50+/V60+ race might be reversed, with the latter race the last of the day, but this would go out to consultation before any changes were considered, and the consensus of opinion of committee members seemed to be that such a move isn’t that likely to occur.
  • The cost for entry to SWCX races will remain the same i.e. no increase. There will, however, be an increase of £1 for each rider’s League Registration.
  • The move to digital BC licences rather than physical cards is posing problems in that riders are tending to go home with race chips. Payment of a deposit that would be returned when chip is returned would be logistically difficult and place undue burden on organisers. It was proposed and passed that, as in CTT Time Trials, if a rider, after their race, does not sign out and return chip then they will not get a result. A time limit for sign-out & chip return to be set.
  • The committee were thanked on behalf of Exeter Wheelers for the time and work they all put in to keep SWCX running.