Horsing Around!
Photo Credit : Clive & Neil
Clive Sharman (CS) and Neil Raitt (NR) are next up in our interviews with SCX organisers. These guys are responsible for taking the Scottish CX Series onto an Equestrian Course! We got together with them to find out what got them from riding CX races to organising them, and how they see the scene developing in the next few years.
Scottish Cyclocross (SCX): So, you two guys ride for different clubs, right? Is that how you got to know each other? Who first suggested you put on a race together?
CS: Fate! We first met at Westmoreland and recognised each other from the jerseys. We got talking and quickly realised we were both prepared to travel a bit to race CX and wanted to be putting on races too.
NR: After COVID there didn’t seem to be the same number of races out there and I felt I should put on a race to help out the scene. I spoke to Keith Stocker about putting on a race.
CS: I had spoken with Keith about putting on a race and Keith gave me the heads up I should speak to Neil!
SCX: So, it was Keith’s fault!
CS: Yeah, he played matchmaker! So the pain you all experience at Brechin, its all his fault!
Photo: From Clive and Neil
SCX: So, you are both keen on putting on a race, how did you settle on Brechin?
CS: I had been looking for several years. I had looked at a lot of places and ended up scratching them as none were right. Then one day someone I was working with asked if I had considered the Equestrian Centre. I had been to the Angus Show loads of times, but this colleague told me that there was a whole equestrian course hidden away around the showground. So the next day I rode down there and checked it out. ..
SCX: What did you think when you saw it then?
CS : Shock and Awe!
SCX: Haha! So Neil, how long after Clive’s visit did it take for you to see it?
NR: Almost immediately!
SCX: And what did you think?
NR: I thought we had a great course. I also thought that it would take a lot of work to get it ready. I was sold when I saw the terraces.
CS: That’s a good point. It’s unrecognisable today to when we first saw it. It hadn’t been used as an equestrian course for about 12 years. It needed a lot of ground work and clearing.
SCX: It’s such an honest course. There’s no point where you can rest up and coast.
NR: It was harder than we originally thought it was going to be. In our first year we felt we had to introduce a carousel to up the difficulty!
SCX: Yip - It was hard enough without that! The sunken lane, the trench…
CS: I originally thought “The Trench” was there to allow us to approach the Woodland Climb, but it’s become a feature on its own…a real slow burner that one! And the Sunken Lane is a beautiful approach to the Terraces and lower course.
CS: The other big factor in choosing the Equestrian Centre was the reaction from James Helyer of Auchlishie Eventing, he’s been incredibly supportive from the beginning and is a great partner to work with.
SCX: And did you think it was going to be a Series Course from the beginning?
CS: We had originally thought we were running a smaller taster race, but we had a great reaction from the community and when we started to look at financing it, it became apparent that it would need to be a series race if we were going to put it on, in order to make it work.
Photo: From Clive and Neil
SCX: Last year you guys had to postpone the race when Storm Babet caused the Esk to burst its banks. What was that like and did you ever doubt that you’d put a race on that season?
CS / NR: Terrible! We lost bits of the course! And it led to a pretty emotional decision to postpone. But an easy one logically. We had no course and people couldn’t travel to us, so ..no question.
SCX: But then you were able to reschedule!
CS: Yes, but even that was not without its challenges. We worked pretty hard to get the course ready ... .the real story last year actually wasn’t Babet, but the final two subsequent yellow storms during set up.
NR: The clothes we worked in that weekend still haven’t recovered!
CS: (Laughs) Yes, so after set up we ended up with this beautiful Belgian course and conditions but nowhere to park… The showground always drains water really well (right now you could drive a truck on it), but it was just completely saturated by race day.
SCX: So, when did you make the decision to go ahead!
NR: When we decided to blow the contingency budget and bring in a tractor and driver! At that point we knew we could put the race on.
SCX: But parking was still impossible?
CS : Yes, later on Saturday night, after set up we made the decision to have racers park in the industrial estate walk / cycle along the road to the course – our “emergency parking plan”.
Photo: From Clive and Neil
SCX: Downtime. Do you get it? And if so, how do you like to spend it?
NR: I’m semi-retired. So, I get to train a lot! Outside of CX I compete in Ski-Mountaineering so that keeps me fit and allows me to visit interesting places. I’m off to Norway next spring to compete there.
CS: (laughs) I still work for a living! My job has me travelling a fair bit. I don’t get a lot of downtime, but when I do I tend to spend it with the kids and family and on my bike. I love pretty much anything outdoors..
Photo: From Clive and Neil
SCX: Is there any CX race, domestic or internationally, that you’ve looked at and thought, “We need to have that!” What are the races that you admire the most?
CS: Rouken Glen. The “Coliseum of Cross”! It’s just a fun, beautiful course, lots of cambers and features. It’s got everything.
NR: The Old Irvine Course. The Links Course of Cyclocross! (laughs). You can use the wind as a tool during the race. And it’s where I got my first podium, so it’s special from that point of view as well
Photo: From Clive and Neil
SCX: What’s the hardest thing about being an SCX Race Organiser? What’s the best thing? And if you could change one thing about the SCX scene, what would it be?
NR: Let me start my answer by turning the question around. The Scottish CX scene is very supportive. When we announced we were postponing our race there wasn’t one complaint. The support we had for what was a very difficult decision was so encouraging.
CS: Yes, everyone was super supportive. I’d say that we are very lucky to be supported by volunteers from 5 or so local clubs. Without that the race wouldn’t go ahead.
NR: Volunteers need to be appreciated. It’s generally the same people that give up their time. We need more people to hang around and help. We can’t keep leaving it to the same people.
CS: One thing I’d change: I’ve raced a lot in the U.S. and racers hang around more and help. It would be great if more people helped with set up or tear down their local events. It would really take some of the load ..and it helps build and develop future organisers too!
Photo: From Clive and Neil
SCX: Quick fire round!
SCX: Fem van Empel or Puck Pieterse?
NR: Puck Pieterse. Love those videos!
CS: Puck.
SCX: Her videos are great. Cammy Mason used the “Hello Kijkers!” in his last video too! Haha!
SCX: Tablet or Shortbread?
CS: Shortbread!
NR: Tablet!
SCX: Campy or Shimano?
CS: (sighs) Shimano… reluctantly
NR: Shimano!
SCX: Irn-Bru or American Cream Soda?
NR: Neither! Espresso and a cake for me
CS: Neither! I’d rather drink….. MUTE/ BEEP!
SCX: Zonhoven or Namur?
CS: Aaah! Which child do you love more? So hard to choose… (pause) Zonhoven. There’s nothing else like it. The atmosphere, the racing.
SCX: The MVdP save!
CS: MVdP riding the zig-zags clean. Amazing!
NR: Zonhoven. Easy.
SCX: Can’t be that easy… Namur must give you pause?
NR: No, Zonhoven for me. If I could organise only one race, that would be it. The sand dunes, the drama.
CS: (laughs) Confessions of a CX Race Organiser!
Photo: Proshots
SCX: Thanks guys! Great to hear how BECX became a race and to get your take on the scene. Here’s to a successful day of racing on the 20th of October!
Riders: If you enjoyed this article about Clive, Neil and BECX and haven’t signed up for the race then you still can! Use the link below. Entries close at Midnight on the 15th of October 2024
