I am not very good at this writing stuff but I would like to start with our best wishes to Ray for a speedy recover from all the NECCL officials / committee and race organisers. Our hearts also go out to Joanne and Ray’s family. I am sure between them, the NHS and close friends they will offer Ray every type of support he will need in the recovery process.
I know Mal has thanked everyone for all their help and support during the incident and after for clearing the course in etc. I know there was 4 or 5 individuals that administered first aid from marshals, other race organisers and riders. As a collective they worked as team to perform Cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Ray before the paramedic and ambulance arrived.
We are a small bunch of cyclists up here in the north east of england who come out ever September to take on the challenge of competing in the Neccl league over the three to four months. We have a very mixed bag of ages from the toddlers right up-to the oldie’s. We also have a very mixed bag of abilities from the complete novice to the elite who whizz around without breaking a sweat but we all race together at each round like a big family. Yes we have a few niggles now and again but we always make up. You all have your own separate challenges whether its just trying to finish that individual event, to finishing the series, trying to beat the rider in front or having a goal to move up a league the following season.
In all my near 30 years of attending, competing, organising cx events across the north east i think we have only ever had to call for medical help once before and pleased to say its a very rare thing.
The Neccl is a small organisation made up of myself, Geoff T and Jon B, the committee and the team of race organisers. We all have our own jobs and slot in all the organising, paperwork and duties around this. We are all volunteers who put in a lot of hours over the season to produce the league series as a whole. When we very first started it was all about providing cyclists with the most economic form of racing and easy access into the sport. I can honestly say i think we have achieved this and every year riders who complete the league are presented with money to hopefully cover their cost of competing within the league over the season.
You are probably bored of reading this by now, as riders are sick on me shouting the race briefing at most start lines, this is the last part. As may or may not know i was at South Shields yesterday from 9am doing some banking for the Neccl then popped into Colemans for early / quick dinner before heading over to the event. I walked / checked over the course and tweaked here and there and after an hour and half of continuous rain i started the race. You probably seen us Browns taking the photo’s, directing riders, sorting tape etc. Around 2.15pm my lads were freezing so decided to go home. I normally stay to the end but unfortunately not yesterday. We just got back through the door and received a call about Ray. I could not believe what i was hearing. After all the texts, calls and emails last night i am not sure i could have done anything more that many other people did. I have known Ray for many years and only lives four miles away from me, he has always supported my races from the old summer series’s, one off’s like the One peak of Hetton etc. It has shocked me and Jane deeply and even brought me to tears several times.
On that note we have to look forward now and Neccl will be having discussions regarding several matters before the last round and after that looking into the 2019 series.
Regards Scot Brown (Neccl Treasurer)
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