I spent a few years racing (4 i think) I was pretty pants but I got a little better. My best position was something like 6th on the first lap, but finishing 13th out of 100ish in a gorrick at crowthorne. Unfortunately I got a bit ill after that and never seem to have got back.
In the gorrick u get a medal if in top 10% @(expect for fun) so pretty close to that but still millions and millions of miles off competing for the number 1 spot.
The problem was that in pretty much all categories the top riders were lapping in the same time.
Really in my mind there should be no ages categories. Just ability.
Ie Fun, Then something C**p, Average , Open , Expert Elite.
That way u’d have a chance of actually moving up the categories and getting near the front positions even if your not going to be that good a rider in the end.