North East Crit League - NECL

17/06/2026

Good morning NECL'ers,

I have just submitted the Official results to BC so your hard earned points should be added in the next 24 hours.

Some of you will be waiting for the last few points for a category upgrade so it's a nervous and exciting time. Let me know in the comments if you get a licence upgrade so I can give you a shout out.

Here are a few things you can do while you are waiting:

1. Enter the NE/NW Regional Circuit Champs at Carlisle on Sunday 5th July - https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/336297/Combined-North-West-and-North-East-Circuit-Championships

2. Enter Round 2 of the North East Road Race Series at Whalton on Saturday 11th July - https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/334823/North-East-Road-Race-Series-Round-2

3. Enter Round 3 of the NECL Summer Series at Middlesbrough Cycle Circuit on Sunday 2nd August - https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/335514/North-East-Crit-League-Summer-Series---Round-3

4. Find a local event and volunteer to marshal. Your local park run, a midweek crit race, find something and support your local organisers who put in serious amounts of prep behind the scenes.

Thanks, Graham.

16/06/2026

I keep forgetting to post these but here are the podium photos from NECL Summer Series R2 @ Hetton.

Well done to everyone who raced, especially those crazy fools who raced twice!!

15/06/2026

Evening all,

I want to take a few moments to thank the people who helped me deliver the race at Hetton Cycle Circuit yesterday. Each one of them played a vital part in the success of the day and each deserve a mention and a huge thank you.

- Joe Baker & Rob Harker (Hetton Hawks CC) for the advice and generously allowing the use of the club's radios, signs, stakes and tape & equipment.

- Peter Reed for the loan of 20 pedestrian barriers.

- John Pooley (Springboard Centre) & Sonia (Sunderland Council) for keeping me on track with the application for the licence to run the event, Risk Assessments, Event Management Plan, etc.

- Rachel and the staff in the cafe for accommodating the late request for the £5 vouchers to keep the volunteers fed & watered.

- Mick Wilson, Ben Dobson & Bill Steele (BCNE Commisaires) for their advice and guidance preparing for the event and on the day.

- Gordon Waring (NEG moto marshall) for riding around in circles for 3 hours straight......

- Graeme Rundle (GCS Medical) for supporting the NECL racing on his day off and coming to the aid of a young lad who'd fallen off his bike.

- Ed Collins & Adam Tuff for the 8am start to get the trees padded, circuit taped, barriers and warning signs.

- Josh, Isla & Heather - Sign on & results runner.

- Lewis & Mark Bailie, Anne Stobbs, Christine & Caitlin Seymour, Alice Box, Keith Nelson, Steve Walton, Zack Stobbs, Oliver Glen, George Court & Daniel Waring for pulling on a hi-viz and standing out on circuit guiding the good folk of Hetton safely in the right direction.

- Tina Stobbs (Purple Pedal Photography ) for getting all over the park to get the super action photos.

There were a few issues to deal with on the day, but everything was handled calmly and with great professionalism.

Huge thanks to everyone who stayed to help pack up.

Thanks to all the riders who took the time to thank the marshals on the cool down lap, or sending a message to say thanks. It really does mean a lot.

Phew, I think that's everyone.......

Oh wait, BIG thanks to all the riders who have put your faith in me as an event organiser and entered any of the races.

The provisional results are now posted to the event on BC. If there are no queries, the official results will be posted Wednesday evening / Thursday morning.

The next event is not until 2nd August because I have to take Zack Stobbs - Cyclist to 2xJunior National RRs, 1xJunior National RR Champs, 1xJunior RR in Holland plus Otley & Ilkley City Centre Crits.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/335514/North-East-Crit-League-Summer-Series---Round-3

Thanks, Graham.

PS - podium photos tomorrow....

British Cycling

15/06/2026

Morning All,

Just a short note to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who supported the race at Hetton yesterday - marshalls, commissaires & riders.

I'll do a proper 'Thank you' post + results & podium photos tonight.

Until then you can relive the joy and pain of yesterday's races at Purple Pedal Photography. Tina was there to capture all the action so please credit the photographer.

Thanks, Graham.

12/06/2026

Jeez, I'm good to you lot!!

• 3 of the best commissaires in the NE ✅️
• NEG moto marshall ✅️
• Course swept especially for the race ✅️
• Onsite cafe, toilets & changing rooms ✅️
• Best closed cycle circuit in the region ✅️
• Fresh series branding ✅️

Looking forward to a great day of racing on Sunday!!

12/06/2026

DoDo, DoDo, Dodododo Boom (said in the Countdown tune).....

Entry for NECL Summer Series Round 2 is now closed.

9 entries in the last 2 hours but the LastMinute.com winner is Christopher Gibbon Muckle CC with 11:22pm.

Nice to see quite a few fresh names on the entry lists and there are decent entry numbers in all 3 races:

- Race 1 - Open 3/4 = 26 riders
- Race 2 & 3 - Female E1234 = 10 riders
- Race 4 - Open E123 = 12 riders

The race manual will be sent out later this morning, but a couple of things which are relevant to Hetton Cycle Circuit.

- Competitor parking is in the equestrian field and will be signposted. There is no competitor parking in the main car park. This is reserved for public parking for park and cafe users.

- Please do not cycle in front of the cafe / HQ building. There have been accidents between bikes and pedestrians before and we want to be able to return in the future.

- Please enter and exit the circuit using the access points. Please do not cross over the tape. There will be sections of the circuit taped off, with dedicated crossing points, to try and prevent the public from wandering onto the circuit during racing.

- If you do encounter any public on the course during the practice or race, please POLITELY remind them there is a race on. Shouting at them to "GET OFF THE COURSE YOU F*CKING IDIOT" won't do our chances of coming back any good.

Huge thanks to those that have already volunteered, but I am still a little short on marshals so if you can pull on a hi-viz and help the event run smoothly, then please comment or PM.

If you can help with course set up from 8am then please PM. There are 13 pads to place, approx 20 pedestrian barriers, approx 1km of taping and the finish line gazebo to erect......

See you all on Sunday!!

Thanks, Graham.

11/06/2026

Less than 90 minutes to go.....

Last call for NECL Summer Series Round 2 at Hetton Country Park.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/335516/North-East-Crit-League-Summer-Series---Round-2

Still need a few marshals too.... If I don't get volunteers, I'll just grab people on Sunday!!

Thanks. Graham.

British Cycling

11/06/2026

The countdown is ON !!!

Today is the last day to enter NECL Summer Series Round 2 at the fast & fabulous Hetton Cycle Circuit.

**ONLINE ENTRY ONLY - NO ENTRY ON THE DAY**

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/335516/North-East-Crit-League-Summer-Series---Round-2

Everything is ready - circuit is booked, commissaires are booked, medical support is booked, NEG motorbike marshal is booked.

Just need a more Women & Open E123 riders and still need a few volunteers to pull on a hi-viz...... If you can help, please comment or PM. Thanks.

Hetton Cycle Circuit is in the middle of a public park so there is quite a bit to do on Sunday morning to get the circuit ready for racing:
- Approx 1km of taping off to keep the public and riders separate.
- 20 pedestrian barriers to place in the woods.
- 7 trees and a metal fence to protect with pads.
- Finish line gazebo to put up.
- Lots of warning signs to place in the park.

I really need 3 or 4 volunteers to get there early and help set up. If you can get to Hetton about 8am, please let me know, either by commenting below, PM or email to [email protected].

Thanks. Graham.

10/06/2026

Well done to everyone who pinned on a number at Croft Cycle Racing Round 4 hosted by TS Racing last night. A decent wind and a bit of drizzle to content with but another win from a breakaway.

If racing on a great circuit is your thing, then you have just 2 days left to enter NECL Summer Series Round 2 at Hetton Cycle Circuit - https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/335516/North-East-Crit-League-Summer-Series---Round-2

The Open 3/4 is filling up nicely with 15 riders but the Women's race and the Open E123 are still coming up short.

All 3 races will definitely go ahead unless The Orange One finds mineral reserves in Hetton Country Park and decides to invade.

Huge thanks to the people who volunteered to help yesterday. I'll add you names to the roster and get a draft Marshal Plan started this evening. As the saying goes "Many hands, make light work" so if you can spare 1 hour of your time on Sunday to hold a flag and cheer on the riders in a race, please do let me know. Comment below or PM.

It was a bit shaky last Friday but I now have 3 commissaires + 1 NEG moto marshal to keep things running sweet.

Thanks, Graham.

PS - still looking for event sponsors to help with running costs. Please get in touch if you can help.

British Cycling
British Cycling North East

09/06/2026

Morning All,

Huge THANK YOU to those who got in touch about marshalling, helping with set-up and take down. Still need need more helpers, so if you can come along and spare 1 hour, maybe you're bringing a parent or a partner who could marshal before, during or after your race?..... Maybe you're racing in Open Cat 3/4 and can arrive a bit early to help with barriers, taping off or padding trees?..... Please comment or PM below if you can help.

Huge thanks to the handful of riders who entered yesterday swelling the numbers to 20 across the 3 races. I expect another 20 or so over the next 3 days which gets me to approx 40 riders.....

That won't cover the cost of putting on the event but I have a small surplus from the Spring Classics to fall back on.

So, to ensure the future of this NE Crit League, I'm looking for some event sponsors.

£50 per race gets you on the Roll of Honour with regular mentions on Social media + a profile write up in the Race Manual.

£100 per race gets you Title Sponsorship so your company appears on the event name, on the race numbers, regular social media posts + profile write up in the Race Manual.

Please PM if you can offer any support.

There may also be opportunities for corporate hospitality at the Darlington City Centre Crit, which will be the NECL Summer Series Finale.

But first, let's see if we can get 60 riders, racing at Hetton.....

Thanks, Graham.

British Cycling
British Cycling North East
Shibden Apex RT
Cleveland Wheelers
Doltcini Pro Team
British Cycling North East
Gosforth Road Club (cycling)
Hetton Hawks CC
Velo Schils Interbike Racing Team
Muckle CC
Manilla Cycling
NSP Cycling
Otley Race Team
Protech Velo
Paralloy RT
Stockton Wheelers Cycling Club
Wansbeck Wheelers Cycling Club
Beacon Wheelers
Wolf Cycles