Inter-Club Fell Championship

[Adair]

Phil Gillard recently spoke to Julian at Spectrum about an inter-club fell championship. A really good idea I think.

What are people's thoughts. I've been thinking about it and propose something along these lines.

Draft Document for Inter-Club Fell Trophy

Helsby, Spectrum (possibly Tattenhall?) I’ve included Tattenhall as they seem to do similar fell races to ourselves our local, generally of similar ‘abilities’ and will only add to the competition

3 races a year proposed between May and September starting 2012

Trophy held by winning club for one year and engraved by winning club

Trophy presentation after the final race (will need access to database for working out winning club and points)

Subsequent years Races chosen by winning club (but should incorporate races that all members of club could willing participate in and not pre-entry races)

All races to be within 50 Miles of spectrum, Helsby or Tattenhall
Points system

Points need to be decided so it is not purely determined on how many runners a club have turning up (say a club manages 15 runners and another club only 10) so there needs to be a cut-off point that validates this. If we say 20, then that averages out at 7 counting runners per club in the men’s championship.

Men first 20 positions from all clubs counting down from 20 points for 1st runner home from any pf the three clubs to 1 counting point for the 20th runner home

(eg if Spectrum male in first then scores 20 points, if 2nd runner in is Helsby 19 points etc until 20 positions have been filled)

Women first 10 positions counting down from 20 to 10

However, if a club can field 10 men then they receive 10 extra points (this means other runners help out too)

If a club can field 5 women they receive 10 extra points

Thoughts anyone?

[Phil Gillard]

Hi Adair,

Looks like you have some good thoughts there, the only thing I wanted to add come after a discussion on the subject with some people at the Kinder Trog race today; they have done a similar kind of thing but have an additional rule which says that the number of counting runners for each team is the minimum number from any team which turns up on the day, I guess this would have to have a minimum limit e.g 3

[cheenis]

What a cracking idea! Lets set it up. As you say, we meet the same people at all the races so why not spice it up a bit.

The numbers are a problem, so I'd agree with Phil, although any team fielding less than the minimum should take penality points/ just be given the points for the last places; i.e., if the minimum is 3 and a club only fields 2 runners then they should take the points for 9th place, or just no points for their missing 3rd runner.

CBH

[Adair]

Mentioned to Simon Ellis from Tattenhall about this and he seemed pretty keen on the idea too

[Adair]

Had a reply back from Simon

"Adair,
Committee met and agreed, Yes, it seems like a great idea!

I presume that you will need a contribution at some stage to buy a trophy and also to set the races for the initial season. We will then try to incorporate them into our club champs to ensure a reasonable turnout!"

[Adair]

some ideas for races please

[rtphil]

Given that our club counters (quite rightly) tend to be the less extreme races to encourage greater participation, my steer would be to focus on some longer stuff maybe out in the Peak District or Lakes - Kinder Trog, Ani Waltz, Kentmere etc

[Adair]

hmmm I'm not too sure we'd attract enough runners if we steered that route for the inter-club championship. Wednesday night showed 19 Helsby runners and 12 from Tattenhall. I just couldn't see us having that many runners if we ventured much further than Northwest, Northwales area. Having a mid sized (5 or 6 miles) fell race will attract all types and abilities of runners from our clubs and think if would be better suited to get the championship off the ground if we are more inclusive. There are longer races around though that both clubs usually enter such as Moel-y-Gamelin, Clywydian Hills, Cloud Nine, so we do need a longer race in the championship for sure (10 miles plus+) but overall I do think the greater the distance to travel the less people we will get to participate. Using the club counter races will also ensure participants so can kill two birds with one stone so to speak.

[Adair]

Had a phone call from Julian about this, looks like the clubs are still up for it. Preliminary decided it will be three races, within 50 miles or so of Helsby/Tattenhall/Spectrum with each club choosing one of the races and with races that should be inclusive for now.

More details to follow

[Adair]

looking for a couple of races to put on the table, out of the two one will be counted as Helsby's choice. Preferably weekend races that are held after the xc season and Border league races and before winter, ideas anyone?? (only criteria is fairly local and ones that are inclusive to as many Helsby fell runners as possible.

[stever]

Crazy idea - what about a Sandstone Trail end to end in relay form? Team of three, split where you like changeovers to be at checkpoints from the Challenge Event. Each runner can run as many 'legs' as they like, minimum of one leg.

www.helsbyrunningclub.org.uk/sandstone-details.htm

Delamere Spartans would definitely be up for this I reckon.

Could either be standalone or piggy back on the Challenge Event.

[Adair]

Tattenhall would be too I reckon

[Adair]

Hi all

Still need to put two races forward, preferably at a weekend so everyone can make it. From those two races, Spectrum and Tattenhall will chose one which will be added as one race of three from the championship

Ideas anyone, race that anyone can run, is within driving distance of Helsby, Tattenhall and Spectrum.

My ideas would be Bank Holiday Cilcain show race and the Lletty or King Johns Castle (although the Lletty is quite tough!)