Archer RC cyclo cross 2009 - Transponders!

An innovative Archer RC cyclo cross race on, Sunday, 25 October at Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, (Springfield Road, Hillingdon, UB4 0LT. Off the Uxbridge Road and Hayes by-pass) will utilise transponders. This will provide a tremendous technical back up to the normal judging panel says Andrew Postings, the organiser. With a likely field of over 80 riders with very mixed abilities from novice to expert it is likely that riders may be lappped by the winner up to three or four times. In fact last year only one rider was not lapped. The transponders show each time a rider crosses the line.

Although this set of transponders has been borrowed, future events at all events at the Hillingdon Circuit will have the availability of the system following a successful joint bid to the National Lottery by the Westerley CC, which runs time trials at the circuit, and the London Nordic Ski Club, which runs races with skis on wheels, including a four hour event next Saturday, 17 October. Both have problems in keeping records on lapped competitors and both are full members of the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit Users Group, other members of which will have call on the transponder system as they already do on the existing jointly-owned photo finish system.

As the transponders cost £85 each, BC members will have to leave their licence and non-members something of value as a deposit to guarantee their return. All types of bicycles can be used and mountain bikers are especially welcome.

The Archer RC cyclo cross is the sixth event in the long established London League and the fourth event in the second year of the Central League, and will be on a slightly revised route from last year with new trails having been cut and the main grassed areas having the benefit of being very recently cut. Ideas from the recent Blenheim cyclo cross, where Archer club officials were involved, will be introduced.

All entries will be 'on the line' with the provision of excellent changing rooms with showers, plus plenty of car parking space, in the adjacent Goals Soccer Centre. The full programme is:

Under 10: 11.00 - £1
Under 12: 11.15 - £1
Youth: 11.45 - £5.00
Junior: 13.00 - £7
Sen/Vet/Women: 13.00 - £12

There is a surcharge of £3 for non-BC members except the u-10 and 12s.

Mark O'Brien in the snow

Archer RC rider Mark O'Brien in the recent Imperial Winter Series race hit by snow.

Archer RC race starts up Central Region cyclo cross league

UPDATE: Results and more pictures here and even more pictures here. Congratulations to all the prize winners.

Two for the price of one were offered by the Archer RC Cyclo Cross at Hillingdon Circuit on Sunday, 21 September, as it was a qualifying event for both the London Leagueand the first in the new Central League.

A special cyclo cross bike was not absolutely essential on this fast course which took in footpaths and some bits of the road circuit, so a normal road bike could suffice although heavier tyres were advised. There were special prizes for those on MTBs.
There were events for all categories, with a special course for the u12 and u10 youngsters.

The normal prize list was augmented with subscriptions for Cycling Plus and ProCycling magazines from Future Publishing.