Origins of the Lancaster Grand Prix
Sometimes in life ideas come into one’s head, one idea was the Lancaster GP.
Travelling to my daughter’s house in East Keswick (nr Harrogate) on many occasions and once past Skipton I got sick of seeing yellow painted bikes at the side of the road. I thought to myself surely we in Lancashire can do something better than the Tykes.
But how to go about it was the problem, then one evening in 2018 Brian Cookson turned up at Salt Ayre having just finished his time as UCI president, and I thought now here is someone who can open doors. As Brian was signing on I said how do you fancy helping me organise an Elite race, Brian hesitated for a few seconds and then said “OK but don’t tell my wife!”
Things started slowly but with meetings at British Cycling HQ, County Hall in Preston and with contact with the then CEO of Lancaster City Council and counterparts in a number of other local councils, there seemed to be general enthusiasm for the GP and the benefit it would bring to the area. Quite quickly, both the county and Lancaster confirmed their support.
As in all things funding was the issue but with a promise from both County and Lancaster City Council and BC to help fund the event we could begin the process for holding a race the following year, although it was made very clear that the event was to be run by a voluntary group and not by a commercial organisation.
By the Autumn we had had high level meetings with the Police at Lancashire Constabulary HQ at Hutton and again there was the same enthusiasm (perhaps it helped that the then chief constable was a cyclist) and a readiness to support the race.
We now had a basis with which to work; but needed more key people to make sure such a big event would run smoothly. Experienced local cycling experts were brought into an Organising Committee, including Phil Leigh as Race Director, Henry Iddon as Head of Media, and Roy Holmes as Course Director. Brian became Event Chairman and I became Event President.
Plans quickly solidified for the venue and course. The city council agreed to Williamson Park as the start and finish for the now named Lancaster Grand Prix, we looked at various course options but settled on the Dolphinholme circuit (mainly because of it having been risk assessed and being a race circuit with history going back decades) with its challenging terrain and then the Condor Bottoms climb close to the finish in the Park.
In March 2019 we launched the GP to the press and local TV networks (ITV Granada and BBC North West) and received coverage on television that night, top local pro rider Ian Bibby was invited for the launch along with Brother neutral service vehicles, and that added to the impact. How appropriate that Ian won the first edition.
The city provided all we could have asked for and more besides, the county resurfaced some sections on the circuit much to the annoyance of some locals who had put up with potholes for years. At least they now have a legacy. The police provided an excellent escort to deliver a rolling closure, the race was a huge success and proved to both County and City what could achieved with a dedicated team and limited funds.
For the following year we decided that we needed a new circuit that brought the race to the people rather than the people to the race. The new circuit we settled on is the one we have used up to this year, and British Cycling spent two days risk assessing the new circuit at no cost to the Grand Prix. On the organisational side, Roy Holmes took on the role of Event Director, Brian Rigby coming in as Course Director, and we brought in Janet Reed as Administrator.
Unfortunately in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns intervened and we temporarily lost the event in its later stages of setting up, but in 2021 the event returned, bigger and better than before. Then in 2022 we introduced an elite women’s race for the first time.
For the 2023 edition funding became a major issue as both Lancaster City and British Cycling were under serious financial constraint and every last item had to accounted for. A lifeline was offered by the City Council pointing us in the direction of the UK government levelling-up fund, and after hard work putting the application together we were successful in our bidding so the 2023 edition was saved, with the funding also in place for the 2024 GP the GPs future is assured for the near future.
It is all very well having an idea but you need a great team to make it happen and that is what we have with the Lancaster Grand Prix Organising Committee, and not forgetting all those who give their time for free to support our great sport. Along the way, Porsche South Lakes came in as a key partner, Booths Supermarkets came in as main commercial partner, Moda sponsored the Climbers’ competitions and Brucciani’s took on the Combativity award.
Looking forward, improvements for the future are planned to include a change in the course to take the races through Williamson Park each lap, which will require some limited work to the park roads, but will ensure the event presents an even greater spectacle to the public. The Lancaster Grand Prix seems set for a great future.