The circuit was designed by former Tour de France rider and Olympic medallist Harry Reynolds. It is, says Guy, a great example of a partnership between club and our national governing body (British Cycling) as without Harry's drive and inspiration and without the expertise and backing of Dave Cockram at British Cycling the circuit would never have been built. "We advise other clubs who might be considering a circuit to persevere and engage with their local council and communiuty but at the same time use the expertise of British Cycling to help guide you through a fairly complicated funding process.  It always ends up taking much longer than expected but don't give up!"

"What pleases us most about the circuit is that it is in a very pleasant park right in the centre of Solihull.  It is a real pleasure to spend an evening or morning down there rather than being side-lined out in the sticks where no one wants to be.  Very close by there are other integrated sports facilities such as the Norman Green athletics track and the newly refurbished Tudor Grange Leisure Centre which has great changing rooms and other facilities including a cafeteria, swimming pool and gym."

"The circuit itself was designed by Harry to squeeze as much into a small space as possible.  Whilst we would of course have liked it to be bigger, the circuit is about 900 metres but everyone who rides it is surprised as it seems much larger. It is fairly flat with sweeping corners but can be deceptively hard on a windy day. As a spectator or race official you would assume it would be won by a bunch sprint but in fact most races so far have been won by small breakaways normally winning by about 15 seconds.  So in summary a great little circuit which is ideal for youth racing and simple circuit races with a maximum field of about 40."

August 16 'No Frills' Race Meeting

Peter Banham take the victory.

At the race meeting at Tudor Grange on August 16, organiser Guy Elliott was testing out the concept of a new 'No Frills' circuit racing.  The idea is that each rider that comes to race has to marshal or judge in the other race and hopefully, says Guy, this is the way forward for this type of filler events on the racing calendar.

"Today’s racing was a little different as we asked each rider to bring a helper but the idea is that each rider either stays an extra hour or arrives an hour earlier to help out with the other race. When there are two races, all the riders sign on before the start of the first race and retrieve their licences after the finish of the second race. I think that this is the future of racing on small circuits like this" said Guy.

Race 1: Regional B (3rd/4th Cats – Band 5)

Matt Gee takes the win in the second race

Thirty two riders took to the start for the first race of the day for 3rd and 4th Category riders. With 50 minutes of racing ahead of them, the riders settled down into an even tempo. After only 5 minutes of racing, eventual race winner Peter Banham (Private Member), broke away from the main field building a small lead of 15 seconds over 5 laps, however, he started to tire with the main field soon pulling him back.  Amongst the many small attacks throughout the race, an impressive solo effort came after 25 minutes of racing by Mark Heath (Echelon Spiuk).  His lone attack lasted for 5 laps being caught on as his legs tired just after the half way point of the race.

With no one willing to attack off the front of the field, the race stayed together right up to the last lap, with the lead only changing as the riders took turns at the head of the race.  As the bell rang to indicate the last lap, Alan Cooper (Wolverhampton Wheelers), Mark Heath (Echelon Spiuk), Pete Banham (Private Member), Simon Hole (Paramount CRT) and Micheal Thelwell (Evesham Wheelers) were leading the race. At full speed the leaders were heading for a bunch sprint to the finish line where Mark Heath was just out sprinted by Pete Banham for the first win of the day.

Pete Banham Winner of Race 1: Speaking after his first race win of the season Pete said “I tried a number of times during the race to get away and early on in the race, I managed a few laps off the front, and then it was a case of marking anyone that went off the front, attacking in the right place in the last lap.  I felt quite strong throughout the race, it was just a case of keeping my head and attacking at the right time and place, as I have a tendency to wait too see how the race pans out but today I took the race by the horns.  A win at this time of the season is good for me, with the cyclo-cross season coming up, which is where my heart is within the Sport.”

Result
1. Peter Barham Private member
2. Mark Heath. Echelon SPUIK
3. David Eaves. Private member.
4. William Bushby. Moonglu RT.
5. Gary Gee. Lichfield CC.
6. Ian Chapman. Moonglu RT.
7. Scott Wharton. Solihull CC
8. Chris Guin. Macclesfield Wheelers.
9. Edwin Puttock. Wolverhampton Wheelers
10. Richard Stevens. Spirit Racing.
11. Michael Thelwell. Evesham Wheelers
12. Paul Darby. Wyre Forest CC.

Race 2: Regional B (2nd/3rd & 4th Cats) Band 4
A slightly smaller field of riders took to the start for the second race of the day at Tudor Grange Park.  The pace of this race was significantly faster than the previous race. The first attack of the day came from Tim Ashton (Royal Sutton) on the very first lap, but the main field didn’t panic, reeling him back in quickly. Carl Dyson (cyclingbargins.com) attacked next, being joined by team mates Phillip Gough and Euan Adams (Red Kite Cycles).  Together they built a small lead and were joined by a further two riders who had bridged the gap but they had no real advantage over the main field and were soon reeled back.

After only four laps, the most significant attack of the day came from Matt Gee (Raleigh Avanti RT) along with Tony Ball (Team Swift) who nipped off the front of the main field. They were joined by Tim Ashton( Royal Sutton). Working together they gradually increased their lead over the rest of the field to 15 seconds. The pace started to take its toll on Tony Ball, who dropped back to two riders now trying to bridge the gap to the leaders. Realising that the main field were in no hurry to catch them, Matt Gee and Tim Ashton shared the work load equally to maintain their lead, tapping out the laps keeping 20 seconds ahead of the field.

With only 15 laps to go, a group of eight riders had formed a small chasing group, eventually bringing down the gap to the leaders to within 9 seconds. But the two leaders constantly vigilant persisted and maintained their lead all the way to the last lap.  At the Bell Matt Gee made his final attack of the day ensuring his win from Tim Ashton.

Matthew Gee Winner of Race 2: Clearly pleased with his win of the second race of the day Matt said. “I’m very delighted with my win but exhausted, because I rode Sleepless in the Saddle last weekend. Tim and I worked well together, we worked constantly all the way round, I thought the rest of the field would catch us about half way round, but we saw them sit up, so we carried on pushing.  We were both equally matched and I don’t have a sprint finish so I had to go early.  I have had a few wins this season but it’s always good to win from a break.  Although this is a fast course, Tim was much better on the corners and I had to work hard to claw myself back to him each lap.  
Results:

1. Matt Gee. Raleigh.
2. Tim Ashton. Royal Sutton CC
3. Wayne McKeown. Solihull CC
4. Craig Ansell. Wolverhampton Wheelers
5. Phil Gough. Red Kite Cycles
6. Paul Aldridge. Coventry Cycle Centre.
7. Jez Stone. Solihull CC.
8. Carl Dyson. Cyclingbargains.com
9. Tony Ball. Team Swift.
10. Euan Adams. Red Kite Cycles
11. Gavin Spiers. Reading CC
12. William Bushby. Moonglu RT
13. Harvey Wharton. Energy Cycles
14. Edwin Puttock. Wolverhamptin Wheelers

Guy Elliott Explains the Concept

Race Organiser talking to Richard Robotham after the racing: "We have had a good turn out here today; I would like to thank St John Ambulance for attending and despite a small crash in the first race their services weren’t needed. I’m pleased with the way the racing has gone and would thank my fellow club members who helped with judging and of course I’d like to thank the riders for turning out to support the event. "

"The Solihull CC are organising several events and although there were number of Club Members helping here today, hopefully the next event here will be run with a minimal number of officials with the riders self policing the races."

We spent the first year getting to know how to run events, with great support from Solihull Council who have been fantastic in every way.  Every time we have asked them for help or support they have always said yes - they are completely committed to developing sport in Solihull for all abilities and the circuit is used every day of the week by various groups including skaters and triathletes which we welcome." 

"What we experimented with today was something we call "No Frills" racing and we think it could be the future way to develop circuit racing without putting undue pressure on a small group of volunteers who could easily get "volunteer fatigue".

"The idea is simple and we are likely to progress it as follows: Two races of about an hour on any race day - probably a race for first and second categories and another race for third and fourth categories. If it catches on maybe races for elites and firsts who seem short of enough races?"

"No entries in advance.  Entry on the line to close promptly 15 minutes before the first race and licences to be held until the end of the second race.  Riders who are not racing to help judge and marshal the event they are not riding.  If we get things a little bit wrong then we are all in a learning process and look to the riders for support and I have to say today they were brilliant and totally enthused by the concept.  We had lots of new volunteers all with a smile on their faces and eager to help."

"No cash prizes.  Just racing for British Cycling Ranking oints and, to be honest, the fun of it. We saw today that it is possible to run races like this with an organisational team of about four and not only will it make races easy to organise but it will let riders see how easy it might be to gradually move into race organisation themselves."

"The most expensive cost is first aid cover at about £180 per event and our aim is to run 10 no frills events next year and hopefully get a sponsor to fund about £1,800 to cover the first aid costs. If that works, we see it being possible to run simple "no frills" races at just £5 per head which would be welcomed by many riders.  For those of us old enough to remember the numerous events run by Bob Mansell in the West Midlands in the 1970's we think this would make him a happy man indeed!  What a wonderful legacy it would be for West Midlands cycling to have numerous riders riding loads of events in a cheap and simple format and in a way that encouraged them to move into race organisation."

"So all in all we are feeling very optimistic. The West Midlands scene is thriving with the newly created West Midlands Road Race League seeing lots of new promoters and loads of events for 2nd, 3rd and 4th category riders plus Halesowen and Wolverhampton track leagues.  If we can overlay more circuit racing onto this it will be just great!"

Photos

Peter Banham's lone attack

Bunch chase on the small climb

Race settles down to high even pace

The bunch round the bend to start the small climb

Andy Robinson leads the bunch

Mark Heath attacks tries an attack

John Rice finds himself forcing the pace

Ben Mountford before his crash in the final lap

Jamie Morgam feeling the strain of the high pace. See more of Richard's photos at: www.rhodopsin.co.uk

RACE 2

Organiser Guy Elliott briefs the riders

An early break on the small climb

See more of Richard's photos at: www.rhodopsin.co.uk