A3 National Championships 2014

John Rowan FTW again!

I agree. all the volunteers organising races should get off their arses and put up facebook pages and online payment to make it slightly easier to enter a race.

Obviously that was said slightly tounge in cheek

From my own experience dealing with people who organise a lot of races, and talking to other people who organise races, there is a core group of people who do the organising. They have done it for years, before cycling was so popular, and will probably continue to do it for years because they love it. Some of these people may or may not have the ability or access to set up online payments, or facebook pages, or anything else online. As new blood comes through the clubs, I'm sure that will change, but for now, be thankful that there are people out there willing to put in a lot of their own free time to organise cycles races so you can go race your bike every week. Is it a lot to ask that you respect their chosen method of payment? If it really gets to you maybe contact the organising club offering your services? I've never heard of anyone offering to help being turned away.

Cond0r wrote: »

I do understand that a lot of folks organising races may not be tech-savvy, but they also are usually part of a larger group or club which almost always contain such people. They should be able to draw upon these folks to help out, IMO.

A club may Contain such people, but a club can not force said people to volunteer.

St Tiernans obviously have people willing to volunteer who are tech savvy. Not every club has that luxury.

CI have provided facilities, but again, if you don't have the experience or technical ability to use them, they are about as much use as a hairdryer to a fish.

I would rather the committee focused on providing a safe well run event myself. Sure, it's nice to have bells and whistles, but not everyone willing to take on a national c'ship has the ability to provide that, but they do have the ability to put on a great event. I don't think that not having online entry means that a club is not set up to take on the race. If it was a requirement that online entry was mandatory I'm sure there would be a lot less clubs willing to take on event organisation. You also run the risk of preventing people from entering races if you have online entry only, as some people who race may not feel comfortable online. This was raised at the AGM last year.

I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

sheepfield wrote: »

Anyway, what is the route for the champs like? Wondering whether to dust off the postal orders or not

http://www.strava.com/routes/667815

Very decent climb x9 with a little bit of flat in between the descent and climb again.

Cond0r wrote: »

Yep, I know. I agree totally about the safe and well run event part. First impressions are formed at registration time, and that left me a little worried about the general organisation. I realise one doesn't necessarily lead to the other, but there you go.

It's not a crime to support AnPost. I think that company probably contributes more to Irish Cycling than most others I can think of.

Snail mail only takes one day. You have weeks to enter so no big drama!

Blarney have organised big events for many years so I do not think there will be a problem in that regard.

fixie fox wrote: »

There are two clubs based in Blarney

One Team and one club perhaps. My point is that cycling people in Blarney have organised many different events over the years. These same people are probably now spread between club and Team but I still think the A3/junior Championships will be a well organised event.

Maybe you have information that leads you to a different conclusion.
Time will tell, I suppose.

Inquitus wrote: »

Are the A3 and Juniors a combined race or separate races?

They will be 2 separate races.If I am to be honest [and this goes back to another topic which I have no intention of addressing now]last years A3 champs was about the most negative A3 race of the year.

Inquitus wrote: »

The circuit looks pretty selective this year.

Hope so.A3s will need to race
because if it follows the same format as the last 2 yrs,pretty good chance of the juniors catching up on a 10k odd circuit.2 races will be on at the same time but I could be wrong.Hopefully will be 2 great races on the day in a beautiful neck of the woods.

Cond0r wrote: »

Huh? Why is that?

no crazy juniors to constantly attack probably.

Using postal entries is hardly an indication that the race won't be well organised. Great races like Newry 3 day etc still use postal entries. It's not ideal but not something I'd get hung up on.

Fair play to the organizers for taking this on and choosing a more selective course. The last two years have been flat courses and as Wav1 says the racing has been quite negative. I met one of the the organizers of this year's race in Omagh last year and they were taking notes on how they might improve things in 2014. That impressed me although any event run by Omagh Wheelers will be hard to beat!

wav1 wrote: »

Hope so.A3s will need to race
because if it follows the same format as the last 2 yrs,pretty good chance of the juniors catching up on a 10k odd circuit.2 races will be on at the same time but I could be wrong.Hopefully will be 2 great races on the day in a beautiful neck of the woods.

I'm not sure your right about 2012 as the A3 race avg was 41k hr according to what i had ridden that day.

The Juniors that day was 40.5 so we were still quicker no chance of ever being caught not sure about last year.

Heres my call for tomorrow Con Doherty from Covey to win the A 3 champs and covey also for team medals.Dylan O Brien for jun r/r and NRPT team medals

elchupanebrey wrote: »

No Con as he is on the National Tri squad and they won't allow him to race!! Someone else will have to step up!

Thanks for the info.More wide open than ever so as I had him down as the big favourite.
Going now for Aidan Wall from Navan