Oct 11 2009
Weston-super-Mare Beach Race Cancelled
Weston-super-Mare Beach Race Cancelled
Today’s race was stopped with red flagged after just a few minutes after a number of incidents leaving riders injured, we offer our best wishes to those riders and their families and hope for a speedy recovery.
Whilst safety must always remain the first concern, how today’s race was then dealt with does leave many questions, and leaving many fans returning home less than happy.
Fans will be asking many questions, and one at the forefront will be regarding refunds, will they be receiving one ?
The admission policy does seem a little odd, as your entrance ticket was removed from you after a couple of paces and your hand then stamped with ink, so leaving you with no proof of admission, this will make an interesting situation when trying to claim any refund that may be offered, and one that was being implied by all staff.
The alledged lack of safety cover does also seem odd, as the new start almost seemed to happen some 2 hours after the first, how far did these safety vehicles need to travel ?
I am sure it must have been clear much earlier if this was the case, so were fans kept on the beach for this extended time just to please the traders ?
Regarding the the first start, who was it that planned the start for 12.30 perhaps a set of tide tables may be a good idea for next year and a closer inspection, not just times but also heights, perhaps just ask a local.
Please leave your thoughts here, and how you have got on trying to gain a refund
The lack of medical personel does seem odd, however there were 17 people for the hospital to deal with coming in at the same time, some fairly severley injured, so this would have held paramedic up.
As for refunds, the was an announcement over the loudspeaker that the race will be re-run sunday the 18th and admission will be free.
has been confirmed by RHL that the race will be run next sunday
Bang on the mark with all your comments,organisers payed total dis-regard to rider/spectator safety and satisfaction with poor old St Johns picking up the pieces,instead of fully trained paramedics,injured left on the sand for well over an hour!!.Access to the beach was a joke total congestion on a small bridge,where a two bridge system(pedestrians on and off)could have been easily implemented,oh so dissapointed to the tune of £260,but more importantly for the injured riders,you should boycott this event till the organisers guarantee your safety or at the very least ensure there are ample precautions and trained medics in the event of further accidents.Get well soon.
Obviously my concerns are with the injured but a big “BUT” as spectators and having paid in advance for an event that was cancelled - and I would have expected that the organisers would have been insured for such circumstances - we are entitled to a refund of money paid. The announcement is “there will be no refund to spectators” and I am afraid I am not willing to accept this. RHL activities will not respond to my emails. But I am pursuing this by post. Please advise if anyone else thinks the same. We should make a stand in numbers. Please lets support each other.