Reading Track League back in jeopardy due to lack of volunteers
Shortage of volunteers at Reading's Palmer Park Track means the track league will struggle to operate beyond this year

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
The future of the Reading Track League is back in doubt after a volunteer shortage means the track may have to close in 2017.
Following a report by Cycling Weekly last October that the league may have to end, it was thought its immediate future was safe when one of the current volunteers, Richard Poole, received offers of help from willing enthusiasts.
However hopes have since been dampened following news that the incoming organiser who offered his services has decided to withdraw the offer of help, leaving the league back at square one.
“We might be able to struggle on this year [without more volunteers] but it will be very, very difficult,” former organiser Poole told Cycling Weekly.
>>> Racing returns to Reading's Palmer Park track
Last year's organiser has agreed to continue in the role for the time being but will not be able to commit beyond this season which runs from April 18 - September 26.
An appeal is made to anyone who can ideally help from this season onwards to work alongside this year's organiser to ease the handover process.
New organisers will need to operate the transponder computer system, which categories immediate results, as well as changing lap boards and other general track duties.
“People don’t need to know about track racing to work the transponder because it’s essentially just a computer exercise," added Poole.
“All we need is a bank of people who could commit two or three times a year, a handful who we can call upon and work within a rota.
“We have had three transponders but when two are away, we’re in trouble. We can run the league without the transponder but it has been such a success, having results immediately and being able to mix categories in races and still get results.”
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer organiser for the track league should contact Richard Poole on 01189 867144 or via email on r.poole@btinternet.com
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
-
Best bike fenders - or mudguards - for fall and winter riding 2023
They're hardly bling, but a good set of bike fenders / mudguards will help you to ride through winter in comfort. We've rounded up the best
By Simon Smythe Published
-
All the pro peloton transfers for 2024: Matt Walls heads to Groupama-FDJ
Keep up to date with all the latest transfers with Cycling Weekly
By Adam Becket Published