Not being able to race when you've pre-entered

How many people have had their money back when they've been unable to race at an event that they've entered by post?
CAPTAIN BUCKFAST'S CYCLING TIPS - GUARANTEED TO WORK! 1 OUT OF 10 RACING CYCLISTS AGREE!
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it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
+1
Speaking as someone who organised their first two race meetings this year: Once the deadline has passed the organiser needs to be able to work with what they've got to a) ensure their event is financially viable and b) reduce the amount of faffing about entries so that they can get on with all the other tasks they need to do to get the event to run. If there is a reserve list it is courteous to let the organiser know, even if it is after the deadline, but don't expect them to go to the bother of refunding you - they've got enough on their plate as it is!
If it's a sportive - forget it! And if you are that bothered then ask yourself why you are paying £30 to ride one anyway - and try a £4 Audax or Reliability Trial instead!
t' blog: http://meandthemountain.wordpress.com/
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
"competitor must not enter, nor accept an invitation to compete, in more than one event
(whether under the Regulations of the Federation or Cycling Time Trials) on the same
day except when his entry or acceptance for one event has been withdrawn before the closing date for that event, or it is possible and reasonable for him to start and finish in both events, or with the consent of both event organisers." (7.2.1)
Which infers that riders have the right to withdraw an entry for an event before the closing date has been reached (in order to ride another event - but by definition the rule says you can't enter the 'other' event until you've withdrawn from the first one, so the rider couldn't logically be required to provide proof of another entry to you at the point of withdrawing...).
Of course - you can cash their cheques as soon as you receive them - but you then run the risk of having to refund them if they pull out before the closing date - so it reduces the risk if you work on the basis that, once the entry deadline has passed, the entry is binding...
That was my interpretation anyway...
t' blog: http://meandthemountain.wordpress.com/
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
That is a damn good point!
t' blog: http://meandthemountain.wordpress.com/
Personally, if I wrote to a race organiser before the entry closing date had passed with a valid reason for withdrawing then I would expect to see my entry cheque torn up. Equally, once the closing date had passed I would not expect to get a refund.