Speed skating race - Thornton YMCA, 17th Feb 2008

[Natasha]

Wyre Skate Night would like to inform you of their intention to hold an indoor race meeting at Thornton YMCA, Victoria Rd East, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 3SX on Sunday 17th February (subject to permit from FISS). The venue is an extremely large and open hall, which should mean some fast and exciting racing for all categories!

All entries with accompanying correct fees are to be sent to FISS Head Office at 23 Seaton Road, Thorpe Astley, Leicester, LE3 3SU.  The fee will be £10 for all races. (cheques payable to FISS).  If paying by cheque please ensure there is enough time for it to clear before the race.

Alternatively they can be paid online at www.inlinespeed.co.uk.  Entries received on the day of the event will be accepted but at a £12 entry fee (£2 extra).

The races start at 12 noon with registration between 11.00am and 11.30am.  The expected race programme is as follows:

Cat 1 - 15 laps and 12 laps
Cat 2 - 15 laps and 12 laps
Cat 3 - 12 laps and 10 laps
Cat 4 - 10 laps and 8 laps
Cat 5 - 8 laps and 6 laps
Cat 6 - 6 laps and 4 laps
Cat 7 - 6 laps and 4 laps

Trophies will be given to the overall winner in each category and medals for runners up.


Prize Races

We will look into the possiblity of arranging some prizes to be awarded. Confirmation of this will follow.

There will also be Rat races for non-members. We are expecting a large amount of Rat Racers for this event.

Car parking is available at the YMCA and is free to users of the facilities.

If you require any further information on any of the above please do not hesitate to contact Matthew Glynn.

Kind regards.
Matthew Glynn, Club Coaching Assistant
Thornton YMCA
thorntonymca@fyldecoastymca.org
tel: 01253 824108
Website here. 

[Duracell]

[Natasha]

Thanks David. Have you been to the venue? I like the sound of 'very large sports hall' it sounds like the Excel centre!

[Duracell]

[peterc]

About 10KM north of Blackpool.

Flights anyone?

[Rick]

Aparently it is quite a large venue. Though not as big as the new venue for the British Indoor Championships (no not Spalding, but Sheffield)

[cheriep]

I wrote to Matt the other day to ask what the surface of this was. His answer was "wood. Smooth and polished." Any recommendations as to the best sorts of wheels for this sort of surface? (My guess would be grippy....??)

[Rick]

Brand new, unscrubbed (still shiney) is usually about right for wood. If that leaves you with a choice then soft wheels could be quite good but I don't know what that means any more as most wheels seem to be about 83A or more these days so the "bounce test" might be a good idea.

Take two wheels and drop them from the same height and see which bounces the highest.

Wheel profile could be quite a choice too with rounded wheels giving a better contact patch over parabolic wheels.

Best advice I can give is get there early and skate with different sets of wheels and see which are the the most suitable for Alex.

[cheriep]

You mean you didn't know that I was racing then.....  rolf!!

[Rick]

What a great venue. Shame about the location, could be done as an excursion the Blackpool weekend, seeing as that is where it is.

Only 26 skaters so we combined a few categories to make it look like there were some skaters out there. 18 RAT racers though.

No LSST, no SWFRSC, no Wisbech Belotti, no ERRSA not surprising given the distance. It's just past Preston and it took me 4 hours to drive there and 4½ to get home. Could have easily taken a few of you though.

If we can get a few more skaters and officials in the area and venues then regional racing might become more practical. Not amazingly far for Ashbourne, or even Cado Motus Birmingham at a pinch. ROK YMCA and Matt's new Wyre club are practically there already.

[cheriep]

I was impressed by the standard of the RATS as well - most of them would have fitted happily into CAT racing. Tons of potential. Now if Sheffield could be developed as well....