Active Fakenham organisers ‘bitterly disappointed’ as annual cycling race is cancelled

Organisers have been left “bitterly disappointed” after a popular cycling race was cancelled.

Fakenham’s Easter Sunday Criterium cycle races have been called off - although the running races will still go ahead.

Although Active Fakenham, which organises the event, had attained a satisfactory risk assessment with British Cycling for ten years, members say the national group introduced new requirements they were “unable to satisfy in the short timeframe”.

Richard Crook, of Active Fakenham, said: “We are bitterly disappointed that we have had to cancel these exciting and popular races.

“The event has been taking place annually since 2016 and is very popular with locals and visitors - it’s a high-profile event for Fakenham.

“We have run these very successful Easter Sunday races with no serious issues or accidents for ten years.

“They are complex and expensive events for a small group of volunteers but we have been very proud of how we were able to bring top class cycle racing to Fakenham.

“Safety has been a top priority and we have risk-assessed the course in partnership with British Cycling, local riders and Active Fakenham officials.

“We worked with the local authorities, the police, ambulance services and first aiders, bus services and many local traders to offer a high-quality event.

“We have around 70 volunteers on the day who are invaluable to making it a success.”

Mr Crook has been left particularly frustrated because of the financial outlay that had already gone towards the cycling race.

He added: “Over the years we have managed to fundraise to acquire enough equipment to bring down ongoing costs.

“This year we have already laid out quite a lot of money, printed publicity and spent a lot of time and energy on this event. We were a bit shocked when British Cycling sent a risk assessor from their head office to assess the course only a few weeks before the 2025 races were due to take place.

“We had worked on the assumption that our previously acceptable risk assessments undertaken in partnership with British Cycling would be rolled on for this year with some updates as has happened in previous years.

“As it turned out the head office risk assessor demanded huge changes. These included mending the roads, more than doubling the number of crowd control barriers, doubling the number of volunteers, covering lamp posts and other possible obstacles adjacent to the course, and closing off both sides of the roads round the entire course.

“As well as the logistical challenges we estimate the additional cost would be around £4,000. We have tried hard to see if we can still run the event but it seems impossible for this year.

“We plan to review the situation later in the year to see what is possible for next year.”

The Easter Festival of Running will still be taking place in Fakenham on Easter Sunday (April 20) from 9.30am until 1.30pm.

There will be races, stalls and food. The event is run in the town centre and there is free parking. Booking is now open online through the Active Fakenham website.

The running event will feature a 5k race for all abilities, a 1k fun run for all ages where children will each receive a drawstring bag, Easter goodies and a medal, and a ‘Toddle n Trike’ for under-five-year-olds.