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The cancellation of any of our sporting fixtures is a disturbing experience for all concerned. – paricularly if it is a last minute decision.For the riders, psyched up and ready to go, then suddenly deprived of their weekend blast, it is very frustrating. For the organisers however, it is perhaps nearer to heartbreak The work of probably months in preparing for the meeting, is lost. Even if the meeting can be rescheduled later, much of that preparatory work will have to be repeated. When the decision has to be made to “pull the plug” over the contrary nature of the weather there is always the nagging question: “could we have run – if…?”

   Over the last two weekends we have had successive cancellations – both due to weather; bringing snow and frozen conditions - which, had the Almighty been just a little more indulgent to us,would have certainly taken place. One was arguably the most important Centre trial of the year – the “Phil King” National. Those of us who were contacted to observe as long ago as last Christmas, had been looking anxiously at the weather forecast for some days before the meeting. Up to this point, we had enjoyed a comparitively soft, mild winter. Nonetheless the forecasters gave us the prospect of significant snowfall on the exact date. Like most others,I suspect,my attitude was:”They often get it wrong “ and therefore I made my own preparations and was up early on the fateful day – only to find heavy snow, as forecast, deposited overnight!*

   I soon received by telephone call,the seemingly inevitable news that the event had to be cancelled. My thoughts went out to the organisers having to ring round both riders and helpers. Might I add here that I suggest a “protocol” should be instituted ,whereby all concerned should resort to their computers to check on the “on or off?” status of any meeting where, similar harsh weather conditions are likely to prevail. I have not the slightest doubt that most of us do this already but there are of course, those who do not use computers and they would have to be contacted by direct means.Nonetheless, the “on-liners” are an increasing number and in effect, a single notification from the organising club would then suffice. It would also save some expenditure at a time when cancelling a meeting has already accrued some considerable financial penalties.

   Yet thinking along these same lines, I cannot but close with a clause from the regulations set for a trial run by the Norwich Viking club back in 1927 and kindly sent to me by Andrew Hay. Incidentally, the event was intriugingly named the “Ringland Sc-Rumble” and ran in November of that year.     It states: “Weather – The trial WILL be held whatever the weather conditions: therefore it is essential for competitors to arrange accordingly”    Were they hardier in those days?   Perhaps.   More willing to take risks?   It seems they were…