Chingford League 2023 / 2024
Message from Billy Green September 19, 2023 14:27
All Club e-mail messages can now be viewed via the Ilford AC web site link at ilfordathleticclub.co.uk/messages
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Please see below details of this seasons Chingford League matches.
Please take note especially about the numbers situation.
I will ask you to register your interest next week.
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Dear TMs/Club Reps
Just over 2 weeks to go now to Race 1 at the Velopark.
Key details:
Weds 4th October, Venue: Lee Valley Velopark, E20
Start times:
U11/13s 7.30pm (2k)
U15/17s Senior Women 7.30om (5k)
Senior Men 8pm (5k)
The usual photos of the start lines, details for parking etc will appear on FB in a couple of days.
All arrangements on the day are same as last year (except that number pack collection is inside the venue at the track side)
###Club colours compulsory.####Advance entry only### No entries on the day###
Please note:change to the entry system for seniors this year:
To reduce admin later on and to help Bob get as much info as possible into the database in advance, we’re asking TMs to send a list in two sections in Excel. I’ll send you a spreadsheet about a week before, but feel free to adapt last year’s if that’s easier. Deadline 10pm Monday 2nd Oct.
Section 1) everyone who’s running at the Velopark on 4th Oct
Section 2) everyone else who, although not coming to the Velopark, you predict will do one or more CL races this season.
At the Velopark, you’ll get
*one set of named numbers for those racing on the night.
*a separate set of named numbers for you to keep for people not at the Velopark but who you expect to race during the rest of the season.
*PLUS the rest of your club’s number sequence so you can allocate them later on in the season for example to:
-newbies you haven’t recruited yet,
-the occasional member who suddenly discovers their love for the CL mid-season,
-anyone who loses their number bib (impossible surely 🤣🤣)-Hopefully that won’t happen, but if ever it does, under no circumstances let them make a duplicate – the number recorders always moan that they’re illegible. Please allocate them a new number from the previously unallocated sequence and inform me and Bob straight away.
I’ll ask you to inform me by email 24 hours before each subsequent race starts of any new numbers you allocate.
Date of Birth: Bob only needs DoB for runners who haven’t taken part in the CL in previous seasons.
I’m not sure if everyone noticed how accurate Bob’s results were last season: At the races up to January, in the draft results there were on average 4 post race queries per 400 finishers: 99 percent accuracy. At Vicky Park no queries at all: a 100% accuracy rate. You don’t always get that quality with chip timing, despite the vast expense!
Obviously this is partly down to Bob’s efforts and experience, not to mention the team of timekeepers. But Team Managers also share the credit by having made sure runners do what they’re supposed to, and by keeping me and Bob informed in advance about any issues.
Writing names on number bibs is absolutely vital. The ones you get at the Velopark will have names already written on. But later in the season when you allocate additional numbers we’re relying on you to do it. (They won’t!) This prevents inadvertent number swapping. Husbands, wives, partners, siblings, all swap numbers by mistake. So do friends travelling in the same car or on the tube together.The only way to prevent it is by writing names on number bibs!
Bob and I are confident that this slightly tweaked system will be better all round, but do email if you have any questions or concerns.
One obvious point to mention is that TMs will need someone to deputise for you, who everyone’s clear about, if ever you can’t get to a race.
We’ve grown in confidence that we have a great bunch of Team Managers/Club CL Reps who we can continue to rely on to help us make it all work.
Thanks as always for your support.
Cheers Adrian
Regards
Billy
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If you need to respond to this email please do not reply but contact Billy Green separately