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Wiggle sportive in Dorset cancelled due to Remembrance Day clash

Police, council and locals object to event held on day wartime dead commemorated

November’s Wiggle Bitter Beast sportive in Dorset has been cancelled – because it falls on Remembrance Sunday, and therefore clashes with villages commemorating their wartime dead.

The event, on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, is the autumnal counterpart to the Wiggle Jurassic Beast, the next edition of which takes place on 17 May 2017.

Both are organised by UK Cycling Events, which organises some 50 sportives and mountain bike events in Great Britain, the vast majority in the south of England, most of them carrying Wiggle branding.

According to a report in The Daily Express, the Wiggle Bitter Beast was cancelled after local residents as well as Dorset Police and the Purbeck District Council raised objections because of the planned date.

Retired Merchant Navy member Malcolm Shakesby said: "If the riders taking part in this event try and steam through these villages while Remembrance services are taking place there's going to be a riot.”

Councillor Peter Wharfe of Purbeck District Council apologised for “the inconvenience this may cause" cyclists who have registered for the event.

But he said, “It would have been entirely wrong for the event to go ahead on Remembrance Sunday.”

He added: "I'm so pleased that the event organisers have decided to cancel it. I think they realised it would not have been a very popular decision had they chosen to go ahead with the ride.”

A Wiggle spokesman, quoted in the Express, commented: "It has come to our attention that many of the small villages within the Purbeck region are holding formal and informal Remembrance Sunday parades and services, which could affect our event.

"We have an obligation to respect the activities of the local communities we operate in and as such have made the decision to cancel this event following recommendations from the police and local authorities, despite our best efforts to find a solution.”

Bought last year by publishers Time, Inc, events organised by UK Cycling Events – and in particular, ones that carry the Wiggle branding – do tend to come under close scrutiny in Dorset and Hampshire, with some locals in the New Forest trying to sabotage them by moving signs or spreading tacks.

UK Cycling Events has published its 2017 calendar – but while the Wiggle Jurassic Beast appears there, the Wiggle Bitter Beast does not, and no events are planned for Remembrance Sunday, which next year falls on 12 November.

For this year, a search on the events page of the British Cycling website returns only one sportive scheduled to take place on Remembrance Sunday – the The "Keep It Growing" Movember Ride based in Ellerker, East Yorkshire.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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1750nick | 7 years ago
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Knowing most cyclists, were a bunch of respectable people and I think most would have stopped to repay their respects at 11:00 which would have been a fitting tribute. The church in my parents village in Devon is next to playing fields/football fields. At 11:00 on remembrance sunday - the football continues with all the ususal shouting and foul language. The council have requested on many occasions that they stop at 11:00 but they state they hold a 2 minute silence when it is convinient for them. Says it all really!!!!

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dottigirl | 7 years ago
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A considerable number of our club make stopping at one village's memorial service a part of the Club Run.  Our president has laid a wreath on behalf of the club. I've gone with those who've lost friends in conflict, and it's very moving.

So, why not stop and pay your respects? Take a spare layer or two to keep warm, and join in. I'm not religious, so I won't pray to a deity, but I'll join in the singing with gusto.

(Btw, all traffic does stop for any of the services around here - London/Surrey. The sheer number of people means everything halts. And it's not uncommon to see drivers stopped by the side of the road.)

Cancelling the sportive was the right decision. Organising it in the first place for such a day seems remarkably callous. Some riders may have stopped, but how many wouldn't, or would have lost track of time?

 

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Stumps | 7 years ago
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oldstrath - i've done quite a few sportives over the years and the noise you get from a constant stream of cyclists coming through is quite loud.

To some of us Remembrance Day is very important, to some it isn't so if your one of the people who it isnt why not cycle elsewhere so we all get what we want or is that not what your father fought for ???

For me, your father deserves our respect and i would gladly "doff me cap" for him.

 

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wycombewheeler replied to Stumps | 7 years ago
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Stumps wrote:

oldstrath - i've done quite a few sportives over the years and the noise you get from a constant stream of cyclists coming through is quite loud.

To some of us Remembrance Day is very important, to some it isn't so if your one of the people who it isnt why not cycle elsewhere so we all get what we want or is that not what your father fought for ???

For me, your father deserves our respect and i would gladly "doff me cap" for him.

 

louder than motor traffic? which will not stop. Because there is nothing in the world more important thean the ability of people in cars to drive them about. It's like the new foret complaints where in one sentance cyclists are accused of disturbing the peace, and in the next spooking horses by approaching silently.

However I do feel the timing is wrong, there are many other days, and they could easily have run the event on the saturday instead. Or simply ensured the route did not pass any memorial. While the event starts at 08:30 it is not a mass start and there will be people starting throughout the morning. You can be certain some riders would have barreled past some memorials during the service.

 

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
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You're shitting me, so the ride wasn't even going to directly clash with any parade? And they were going to dismount and pay respects? Which would have been a really nice bit of symbolism come to think of it.

 

Why am I not surprised that a Kipper is at the root of it all. 

 

I suggest a sacrifice of this hate-stirring, nationalistic Kipper to the dead. He does represent in large what they gave their lives for, does he not.

 

Wiggle was smart to cancel though. No matter the reality behind it, the press will make it out to be a bunch is disrespectful lycra louts terrorising Rembrance mourners. 

 

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Stumps | 7 years ago
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oldstrath - the respect i mentioned was for the fallen.

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oldstrath replied to Stumps | 7 years ago
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Stumps wrote:

oldstrath - the respect i mentioned was for the fallen.

And why exactly is cycling through these villages 'disrespectful' of the dead ? I know that my father, who unlike us actually fought in WW2, never went to what he termed 'this po faced idiocy' (some words omitted) and would much rather have gone for a walk or a ride. 

Surely if we owe anything to "the fallen" it is to use the freedom they allegedly fought for, rather than allowing our behaviour to be dictated by the unco guid, of any creed?

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FluffyKittenofT... | 7 years ago
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Whenever I cycle past a memorial it strikes me that given the modal figures at the time of the two world wars, it seems likely that many, maybe even most, of those being commemorated would have been (utility) cyclists.

They probably didn't wear lycra, though (an invention that came out of WW2 shortages).

Still, seems like it was an oversight to schedule the event for that particular day in those particular places. But Mark By's post also makes me wonder if its just generally a mistake to ever venture into UKIPland beyond the major cities.

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Mark By | 7 years ago
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It seems that this event was cancelled only after the local rag, the Boremouth Echo (BE), decided to print comments from a UKIP councillor that appeared to be inciting violence.  The BE didn’t add Wiggle’s comment regarding their respect for Remembrance Day to their online article, despite doing that for the corresponding article in their sister paper, the Dorset Echo (DE).

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14809289.There_s_going_to_be_a_rio...

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/14810481.UPDATE__There_s_going_to_be_a_...

I understand that the former serviceman part isn’t exactly correct. Perhaps a bit of journalistic licence to spice up the story?

Amongst the posts in the BE thread were several implicit threats of disorder and one explicit threat of violence (see attached picture)

There was no evidence presented to suggest that any cyclists would be interfering with any of the events.

To quote Wiggle:

“Event 'will not clash with road closures' - and cyclists encouraged to observe Two Minute Silence

A spokesman for the organisers said: “Out of respect for Remembrance Sunday parades and other associated activities, Wiggle, working with UK Cycling Events (UKCE), have ensured the route of this event does not and will not clash with any Remembrance Day road closures. They will also be emailing all participating riders in the run up to the event, reminding them about Remembrance Day and requesting that all riders show due respect when passing through villages on the route, especially around 11am, the time of the Two Minute Silence. Wiggle have also encouraged riders that wish to, to dismount at the appropriate time, to observe the Two Minute Silence.

“In addition, Wiggle and UKCE have organised a special Poppy Appeal collection with the Royal British Legion, which will take place at registration for the event and Wiggle will also be making a donation to the Poppy Appeal. Riders will be encouraged to wear their poppies with pride as they participate and all Wiggle and UKCE members of staff and event organisers will also be wearing poppies on the day.”

So it is probable that Wiggle only cancelled the event because of concerns over public disorder, specifically danger to cyclists participating in this event, fermented by xenophobic nationalists and advertised by the local paper.   So the message is; if you want to prevent a legal local event happening, just sing “I predict a riot” or perhaps there’ll be “Anarchy in the UK”.  And get an appropriate quote from your local UKIP councillor.

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dafyddp | 7 years ago
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I've accidentally found myself passing through a village on Remembrance Day just as people are observing the minute silence.  The right thing to do obviously, is to stop and respect the occasion as do any cars passing through. Even though there were just four of us standing their in our lycra, it felt inappropriate  and a bit like we were impossing ourselves on a village's private grief. Organising a sportive, where people at the front are essentially racing and therefore likely to be pretty impatient seems really clumsy. 

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Stumps replied to dafyddp | 7 years ago
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dafyddp wrote:

I've accidentally found myself passing through a village on Remembrance Day just as people are observing the minute silence.  The right thing to do obviously, is to stop and respect the occasion as do any cars passing through. Even though there were just four of us standing their in our lycra, it felt inappropriate  and a bit like we were impossing ourselves on a village's private grief. Organising a sportive, where people at the front are essentially racing and therefore likely to be pretty impatient seems really clumsy. 

Very well said, why they cant organise it for the weekend either side is beyond me. It's the country's one day when we pay our respects to those who lost their lives whilst defending our country and our rights.

Give them the respect they deserve.

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oldstrath replied to Stumps | 7 years ago
2 likes

Stumps wrote:

dafyddp wrote:

I've accidentally found myself passing through a village on Remembrance Day just as people are observing the minute silence.  The right thing to do obviously, is to stop and respect the occasion as do any cars passing through. Even though there were just four of us standing their in our lycra, it felt inappropriate  and a bit like we were impossing ourselves on a village's private grief. Organising a sportive, where people at the front are essentially racing and therefore likely to be pretty impatient seems really clumsy. 

Very well said, why they cant organise it for the weekend either side is beyond me. It's the country's one day when we pay our respects to those who lost their lives whilst defending our country and our rights.

Give them the respect they deserve.

How much respect is really due to people prepared to threaten a "riot" in order to stop other people doing something entirely legitimate? 

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nowasps | 7 years ago
2 likes

At least it's saved us from the "Cyclists Disrespect Our War Heroes" headlines...

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Mungecrundle | 7 years ago
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Bit like the Top Gear stunting near to the Cenotaph. Disrespectful by any definition but deep down I cannot help but think that so many of the young men and women who lost their lives in service to their country would be cheering such foolery.

I used to Hash House Harrier (drinking club with a running problem for those who don't know). Once when visiting an overseas Hash I was somewhat horrified to find us running through a cemetery. It seemed very inappropriate until a stop at the grave of an ex Hasher where a short silence was observed and a can of lager poured over the ground and the "DownDown" ritual performed. It was very moving.

Personally I always pay a nod as we pass a war memorial on our rides and on Remembrance Sunday I always stop by at the Memorial in town to pay my respects at the end of the club ride.

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tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
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Think by riot they mean stumbling and incontinence issues 

 

Rename the ride to Remembrance Ride. Appease the village people? Their stuff can't be going on all day. I was in some sort of parade in the Army Cadets and it only last a couple of hours. 1 hour for the street part, rest in church. 

 

Don't ask why I joined in the Army Cadets, some guy in school said it'd be fun. Da fuck.

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Woldsman | 7 years ago
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Simon wrote:

For this year, a search on the events page of the British Cycling website returns only one sportive scheduled to take place on Remembrance Sunday – the The "Keep It Growing" Movember Ride based in Elleker, East Yorkshire.

It's 'Ellerker', but it's not uncommon to see it spelt wrong:

https://twitter.com/eyctc/status/788095132516089858

Let's hope the Movember event doesn't clash with the locals' demolition derby.

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HalfWheeler | 7 years ago
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Words, even rude ones, fail me.

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brooksby | 7 years ago
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I think that Remembrance Sunday is kind of a regular event...?

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brooksby replied to brooksby | 7 years ago
2 likes

brooksby wrote:

I think that Remembrance Sunday is kind of a regular event...?

That said, I also think that "a riot" is a bit of an overreaction to the cyclists riding by; I bet they won't be closing the roads around the war memorials to motor traffic "to show some respect ".

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Butty replied to brooksby | 7 years ago
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brooksby wrote:

brooksby wrote:

I think that Remembrance Sunday is kind of a regular event...?

That said, I also think that "a riot" is a bit of an overreaction to the cyclists riding by; I bet they won't be closing the roads around the war memorials to motor traffic "to show some respect ".

 

All services I've ben to have shut the road to let the cadets/ vets and serving forces members to march to the memorial safely.

The waiting cars are let through between marching to and from the service and the same would apply to cyclists.

A minor inconvenience to the cyclists, but not a reason to stop the sportive.

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