Money regionals bring in - it COST Jarrow several hundred pounds after the race fees were paid in to host the regional, this of course wasn't helped by the fact we were limited to hosting one day event and paid weekend hire for everything, therefore only had the income from a one day event to cover a weekend of costs. We're a small club and wouldn't like to comment yet if we could afford to put another regional on.
Splitting the North East Region - Many thought these comments would be made by those to the South of the region this year as there was more Northern clubs chosen to hold regionals, those from North of the region have for many years travelled at great cost to events in the South of the region without complaint, many travelling 120 miles plus each way every time to York, Batley and Bury several times a year. Until THIS YEAR when there has been more Northern regionals, there hasn't been a problem with people complaining about travelling, so suppose that shows where this issue has come from. Northern folks even travel down to the likes of Bury and Batley doing several hundred miles in one day just for club days to support these clubs, shame it never happens other way round.
There is not currently a track in the North of the region which could compare to the likes of Batley and Bury, which unfortunately means lack of support. This year there was opportunity for members from the North of the region to just attend local regionals to gain points needed (Durham, Jarrow and Teeside) but everyone travelled down to York which hopefully shows them as more than willing to take part, wherever it might be at whatever cost it may involve.
We may not have the best tracks in the North of the region, nowhere near the facilities elsewhere but I for one am very proud of what is achieved by much smaller clubs and appreciate fully what effort it requires to host a regional event.
A National 'Up North' would be great, can't see it ever happening, but a nice thought.
(mrs) turbo_brick
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