Marshalling the Shaftesbury Wednesday 10's - Your help is needed!
To ensure that the club is able to continue to run its highly succesful, and enjoyable (well type 2 fun), Wednesday 10 time trials, we need your support to perform the role of a marshal.
The approach that the club takes to put together the rota for marshalling is to review the number of rides each member has ridden on a Wednesday evening during the previous season and then allocate duties based on that. The good news is that as the club has grown its membership base over the past few years, it means that there are more members available to marshal and so the overall ask for each member reduces.
With that in mind, the rota for the forthcoming 2024 Wednesday 10 season is, noting that for one of the three locations will regularly be covered by the generosity of a couple of members:
To support your understanding of the role, for both new members and old:
Pusher Off
Items to collect from the HQ:
- 3 x signs
- 1 x sign for Green Street turn (only of Green Street marshall is unable to carry to position)
- Hammer to put signs in
- Hi-vis jacket (which must be worn)
- The Shaftesbury Step
- Start Timer Tablet (unless the Start Timekeeper is available to take this)
- Spare front and rear lights
You will need two signs for either side of the start line. The one after the start (towards Blackmore) is approx 50 yds on the right by a drain cover.
The one before the start is approx 50 yds back towards Metsons Lane on the left. Both signs face traffic approaching on that side of the road.
In addition, we put a sign at the Blackmore T-junction facing the vehicles coming out of the T-juntion from Blackmore (duck pond).
The role is to support the starter in setting up the timing tablet and ‘pushing off’ riders who wish to be held up. I know everyone has their own approach to pushing off but for those that are new to role, my preferred approach is to hold underneath the back of the saddle with the rear wheel gently held between my legs.
Only three riders are allowed at the start at a time. There should be two lines approx 2 meters apart behind the start line for the next two riders only. All others should wait in the entrance to Metsons Lane.
You can usually park your car further down on the opposite side of the road (toward Blackmore) or alternatively just forward of the start, making sure the vehicle is completely off the road and not obstructing the riders.
The role of the marshal is to warn riders of oncoming vehicles and act as a warning to vehicles that there is a bike race in progress, it is not to stop or obstruct vehicles.
When all riders have started you can collect the signs and the tablet, etc and return to HQ.
Green Street Marshal
Items to collect from HQ:
1. 1 x sign
2. Hammer to put signs in
3. Hi-vis jacket (which must be worn)
There is just one sign after the left turn in to Blackmore Road, on the right just before the entrance to St Leonards Farm. The sign faces traffic approaching from Fryerning.
Ingatestone Rd/Blackmore Rd Marshal
Items to collect from HQ:
1. 2 x signs
2. Hammer to put signs in
3. Hi-vis jacket (which must be worn)
At the left turn at the end of Ingatestone Rd there are two signs, one in Highwood Rd before the junction by the third telegraph pole from the junction, and one after the turn on Blackmore Rd by the Footpath sign on the right. Both signs face traffic approaching on that side of the road.
You can usually park your car up the road towards Blackmore or you may find suitable alternative locations, but please ensure it is not in the road obstructing the riders nor on residents property.
The role of the marshal is to warn riders of oncoming vehicles and act as a warning to vehicles that there is a bike race in progress, it is not to stop or obstruct vehicles.
Once the final rider has passed you can collect all the signs you have put out and return to HQ. It is often a good idea to confirm the total riders and rider numbers before leaving the HQ.