Nottingham Uni Sprint races

[Rich R]

Just looked at the entry list for next weeks events on Fabian 4 and I am suprised by the very low entry numbers. Not sure if people have clocked the event as its listed as local or failed to realise its pre entry as its an ideal training/racing opportunity ahead of the British Sprint champs the following week. Ideal for those based in the Midlands/south yorkshire area.

Those that went to the british elites will probably know that its a pretty decent sprint area and you get 2/3 races (depending what course you enter) for your entry fee!

[Homer]

You're quite right; I hadn't spotted this event, possibly because it has been registered at Level D.

I looks good and I'm sure would be very good preparation for the British Sprints. However I don't think I'll be there. The reason being there is only one 2km course which Bart and Lisa could do. I just don't think it's worth the journey (with all the other travelling we'll be doing over the next few weeks) for that. No criticsm of NOC intended, just a sad consequence of the rules for U16's at urban/sprint races.

[Marco Polo]

The BOF fixtures list has this event as level C.

I was surprised that road crossings would have such an impact on junior courses on a uni campus as traffic would be quieter. But, even if the junior courses do not cross roads, there is a lot of potential for technical sprint legs- more than the average park event.

For what it's worth, the 2k Junior course at the 2009 British elites did cross roads, but I would guess that roads were either closed or heavily marshalled, and the guidance on Juniors has come in in the last few years.

[Rich R]

Heard of magnetic rock affecting compasses but this is a new one on me taht I have just come across in the details:

Magnetic Anomaly
There is a magnetic anomaly in a small area of the campus near a laboratory which houses a powerful magnet. Your compass will not work in this area. The area affected will be shown on a map in the start box.

[jab]

This event had actually been on our calendar for months because we assumed that, being on a campus, oldest child (aged 15) would be able to get some useful practice at sprint racing. The guidelines specifically mention that roads with low speeds "15 mph as on many campuses" are OK for juniors. I don't know Nottingham University at all but just assumed that the roads would be traffic managed for low speeds. But it's really not worth investing that amount of time and the cost of diesel to run one leg of an orange standard course.