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My cyclocross race, I have to provide 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes for under 8's, under 10's and under 12's. I'll do a certificate for each, but what to do for prizes? In the past I've done big cookies made to look like medals, but would like a change this year.
Bloke at work suggested that for the younger ages a tacky plastic trophy for the bedroom shelf is well received, and I thought about a printed coffee mug with our club colors and race name and rider name for the under 12's. Any better ideas? Preferably something fairly simple to organise as I've plenty else to do.
Vbucks.
My kids like small tacky trophies, rosettes (like Big Dog), medals (most usual), easter eggs (southern xc one year!), so anything really. Never had a mug, but it's a good idea as there's lots of adult race mugs, but no kids ones so could be good.
So easy option is a small medal, but I like the idea of a mug.
Pint Glass and a 6 Pack of beer, that one was only clocked when they got to the under 18's and below - though the Dad's agreed it was a good prize in exchange for driving them there and supporting 🙂
Bidons always go down well
Crappy plastic trophies popular with my son at bmx, as are medals.
We use crappy medals or small trophies at mini rugby festivals and they work a treat. Little kids love them. My eldest (U8s) always want to take them to show and tell at school.
Cheap, cheerfull, I've still got a shelf full of them at my parents house, whats not to like.
Any little medal is great IMO. The one thing I'd add to that is that if you have any contacts with a local-ish pro (or near enough) cyclist that could be cajoled into coming down for a couple of hours to hand out the medals then do so. 20+ years later I still remember how chuffed I was as a school kid to be given a medal by Steve Geall at one of the old X-lite mtb races when he was one of the coolest men in UK mtb (admittedly this might be because that result is also the the crowning glory of my competitive cycling life 🙂 ).
Best prizes I've seen (although often reserved for a series prize, rather than a one-off race due to the faff and cost of getting them made) are engraved steerer spacers in bling colours, so the kids get to ride with their "trophy" every time they go out. Always liked this idea.
Otherwise, never underestimate the value of a shit, plastic trophy to a kid who has just ridden their heart out in a race. Oh, and sweets. Always have sweets. If you can, sweets for all competitors - after all, it's the taking part that counts 🙂
Thanks all, that's dead handy.
Daern, obviously sweets! And for all the kids. Generally enough for the ones not riding to grab a few too.
What are the adults getting?
What age do you call kids?
My kids got fed up of podium in a field bigger than adults and having some condescending adult handed them sweets and a cheap bottle, while adults got new helmet, pump, tyres or jackets etc.
My eldest would have been second overall (adults and kids) at Comrie. He was still given a (broken) bottle while second adult got nice helmet....
We did a cx event at school and kids got a buff. They loved it.
Agree with trophy too
Adults and juniors get cash, kids under 12 some kind of prize, league rules say no cash.
Adult fields are large, think about 400 last season, kids races separate over short courses.
Oh aye, and kids get their prizes on the day adults get pay-pal when I get round to it.
We made medals for our kids’club enduro out of cassette cogs- donated from all the parents parts bins, cleaned up and sprayed gold/bronze (silver just left plain) and ribbon attached. Largest cogs = gold. Went down well, and we had enough donated to spray the rest blue and hand them out as ‘finishers’ medals so everyone got something. Costs = nearly nothing.