This year is very much a trial run of the idea and so we have
tried to keep it basic and as simple as possible. In a nutshell, there are 6
categories and runners need to complete 6 races across a minimum of 4 different
categories in order to complete their championship portfolio. The categories
are as follows:
1: Track races of 3k and under
2: 5k races (can include parkruns, accurately measured road
5ks and track 5000ms)
3: 10ks (can be on or off road but must measure at least 10k;
10’000m track also ok)
4: half-marathons
5: marathons
6: wild-card (any other accurately measured distance but not
track. E.g. 5 miles ,
7 miles , 10 miles , 20 miles , 50k)
If this year proves to be a success – and it’s already
shaping up to be – then we can expand it next year to incorporate multi-terrain
races and work out difficulty ratings to make this fair.
There are 3 separate championships: a men’s, a women’s and a
beginners’, this latter for runners who have been running for less than a year
and who score less than 60% on age-graded. So far there are no entrants into
this category but if any of our new runners or members of our beginners’ course
are reading this and are interested, just let us know and we can tell you more
about it. Beginners only need to complete 3 races across 3 different
categories.
At the end of October the time for registering performances
ends and we assess the final standings. There will be an overall male and
female (and beginners, if there is demand) champion, and there will be a
champion for each section. Only 1 person can win one section. If the same
person comes out on top across multiple sections, they will be awarded the
prize for their highest age-graded score and then in subsequent sections the 2nd
highest score will get the prize. This means that 6 different men and 6 different women will win something.
And so, to the action! Well, it’s suddenly gotten very
exciting following a busy couple of months on the racing scene with
half-marathons in March and marathons in April.
In the MEN’s championship, 8 men are currently battling it
out for supremacy. A late arrival to the contest, who has stormed in and stamped
his authority on it, is our resident triple world record holder,
Dave-Sparrow-legs-Stone. With 4 races recorded across 4 different categories,
Dave only needs two more performances from any 2 distances of his choosing to
complete his championship, with 6 months left to do it. His average WAVA
percentage of 81:40% gives him a narrow lead over Mike Musgrove, who is
currently lying in second place with an average of 81%; however, so far Mike
has only completed 2 of the required 6 races, and this percentage only refers to 1 race as we wait for confirmation of his London time, so he will have to get busy
between now and October and fill in the other 4.
Whilst Adam Miller might be the man-of-the-moment in terms
of raw times, Dave and Mike’s handful of extra years just give them that
advantage over him in terms of age-graded scoring. Adam is not far behind them
though, with a current average of 78.83% and having already completed 5 races
across 4 different sections. If he can improve his Yeovilton 5k time later in
the year, he will be able to delete his current 5k clocking and replace it with
one that will give him a few extra percent.
Not far behind Adam is super-vet, Ray Elston, on an average
of 77.5%; however, Ray has thus far only completed 2 races and they are both in
the same section (section 6, wild card). He will now need to think about doing
some 10ks, 5ks and possibly a track race or a half marathon if he is to
complete the championship.
Next we have the ever-improving Richard Hawes who, let’s not
forget, has only been running for just over a year, so is doing very well to be
on an average of 75.56%: this being boosted by his recent track 5000m
performance. Rich has completed 4 races across 3 different sections and is well
on his way to building up a full portfolio.
Also boosting his average from the weekend’s track 3000m is
Dave Eveleigh, who is currently on an average of 74.76%. Dave will be looking to
replace an earlier March 3000m performance (72.92%) that is currently dragging
his other percentages down later in the year. He has so far completed 4 races
across 2 different sections. Some 5ks and maybe a 5 or 7 mile race later on will give him all
the performances he needs to complete.
Jon Garrity is on 72.88% with just the 2 races completed in 2
sections. He’ll be looking to improve upon his 5k time though throughout the
Yeovilton series and erase his current clocking.
Lee Russell has also declared his intention to complete the
championship, but with just the 1 race (a 5k parkrun) recorded so far, he is on
69.2% - tantalisingly close to joining the 70+% club.
Hugh Marsden will likely come in and break this little lot
up when he returns from the southern hemisphere and starts his summer season of
racing.
So already, it’s a close affair with all the men within 12%
of each other. It will be exciting to see the developments that take place now
that we are moving out of marathon season and into the track season and the
summer 5k and 10k road race calendar is getting underway.
If there are any other men in the club that have raced /
plan to race and would like to be included, please let me know.
On the WOMEN's side, things are equally as competitive amongst the 7 participants. Unsurprisingly,
the stand-out leader in terms of age-graded percentage, is our super-vet 50
star, Cathy Newman. However, Cathy has only completed one race so far out of
the 6 needed (the Bideford Half), but is nevertheless sat pretty on an
astonishing and, surely, uncatchable, 89.31%.
A whopping 11% behind her is myself, Ellie Sutcliffe. Luckily
I had managed to record some half-decent performances before my injury forced
me to rest for 2 months. Including a parkrun performance, which I am looking to replace with a faster 5k time later in the year, I have managed to
complete 5 races across the required 4 categories, with an average of 78.50%.
Current female athlete of the year, Hannah Bown, is
currently occupying the 3rd spot, following a strong performance in
the First Chance 10k that gave her 76.48%. The Tavy 13 race, however, was a
hilly one and so she may well look to replace that with a faster performance in
a flatter half-marathon, such as Torbay , or an autumn
half. She is presently on an average of 72.60% with 3 races across 3 categories
completed.
With excellent times in the Bideford Half and when winning
the Stanley Marathon, ladies captain, Dawn Teed, is on 70.75%. Having just had
a special birthday in April that has tipped her into the FV50 category, her
percentages can only benefit from this… even if she isn’t that keen on it in
other respects! Dawn now needs to consider some 10ks, possibly a 5k, or some 5,
7 or 10 mile
races to fill the other 2 sections.
Lisa Hatchard and Joan Mason are having a battle royale,
with both being within 0.20 of a percent of each other! Lisa currently has the
edge, with an average of 66.27%, with 3 races completed across 3 categories.
Joan is on 66.10%, following a superb performance of 69.39% at the
Bideford Half. She has done 2 races in 2 different categories and will now need
to think about some 10ks and other distances to complete her portfolio.
Carly Miller has both Lisa and Joan in her sights, her being
on an average of 64.25% with 4 races completed across 3 categories. Now that
Carly is back into training, following a hectic spring that included the small
matter of a wedding to organise, she will be looking to chip away at her 5k
times and erase the 2 present clockings to boost her percentages and catch Lisa
and Joan.
Again, if there are any other female Harriers who wish to be
included in this light-hearted but mildly competitive fun, please let me know.
If you are unsure on how this works or have any questions,
again, please let me know. All the percentages are calculated using the runner’s
current age (exact age, not just category bracket) and using the same
calculator for parity.
Well done to everyone who has given this a go: it’s starting
to get interesting!!
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