The new accredited race marshal scheme introduced for road racing in Northern Ireland may also be rolled out in the Republic, it has emerged.
Stickybottle understands Cycling Ireland is exploring the idea, which would give promoting clubs the power, under law, to stop and otherwise manage traffic during road races, thus negating the need to involve the Garda in events.
Cycling Ireland is set to meet with Garda officers later this month to discuss a number of issues around the running of races and to discuss the potential extension of the accredited marshal scheme to the Republic.
The proposal comes as a number of race organisers have run into problems with gardai or local authorities in their areas in the build up to running open races. In some cases, numerous pre-conditions haven been introduced so close to planned events that promoting clubs have had no option but to postpone or cancel their races.
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In a small number of cases the opposition to holding the events has been much more significant, with some gardai and council officials seeking to block races taking place in their areas.
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However, while the Kieran & Noel Hammond TT was apparently halted after issues arose, the race is going ahead after all, on the new date of Saturday, August 27th.
The event, initially planned for this month, is back on again after constructive talks with the relevant authorities in Wicklow. Those talks were led by race organiser Aidan Hammond of Pinergy Orwell Wheelers, and also involved Cycling Ireland.
In the North the accredited marshal scheme has been introduced, underpinned by legislation and against the backdrop of the PSNI being more reluctant to provide police support for races.
The new marshal accreditation scheme, and training courses, in the North are being supported by the PSNI and Department of Infrastructure for Northern Ireland. The training is accredited through LANTRA; a training and compliance group which is accredited by the British Standards Institute.
While the road race marshals who secure accreditation have the legal right to stop traffic at an event, they are also be better trained to manage events to make them safer. The first courses were run February and March.
