OK, who wants to join in this year's fantasy fellrunning competition?

The rules are much the same as last year:

You're in the Shoulder of Mutton surrounded by fellow runners. You've just remembered that you've got to put together a team of four runners for the 2009 championship races. At least one of the four runners has to be a man and at least one has to be a woman.

You turn out your pockets and you've got enough cash for several pints of Black Sheep, with which to bribe your way to a team. Some runners take several pints before they can be persuaded to join your team, others are yours for a single swift pint.

The difference this year is that we are going to have 3 leagues, each sponsored (virtually!) by purveyors of ale:

Top of the tree will be the "Timothy Sheep Daleside league" which will comprise teams from those managers who finished in the top third last year: Nearlyhopeless, Samt, Maloni, Weetabix Power, PaulJonesforEngland, Peter M, Roger Rabbit, Another Team, Lost in the Clouds, Mapper, TheBearRunner, Minicarboy, Leeds Rhino, Multiterrainer and Crow Hill.

The TSD teams will each have 15 pints with which to select a team for this year.

Then the "Boddington-Smith league" will comprise teams from managers who finished in the middle third last year: SteveS, Harrymoon, Stagger, Feet in the Cowclaps, Morning Glory, Dominion, Sideburns on the Summits, Dux de Lux, Pike, BillJ, Joliver Jim/Bo Peep, GeoffB, Also Ran, Boghobbit and Erno.

The BS teams will each have 14 pints with which to select a team for this year.

Finally the "Kaliber league" will comprise the final third of teams from last year: Fellrunner, Bisto, The Noor, Mr 1470, Clash City Rocker, Oxo Cube, The Master, Merrylegs, Crumblydown, Ady in Accy, Saints Lad, Derby Tup, Lisbon Lion, Tomcee - plus anyone new who joins in the game this year.

The K teams will each have 13 pints with which to select a team for this year.

At the end of the year there will be promotion and demotion between the leagues.


From the date that you select them, your runners score points at every race in the English or British championships:
1 point just for finishing the race;
20 points for the 1st man, down to 1 point for the 20th man;
20 points for the 1st lady, down to 1 point for the 20th lady;
8 points for the 1st male vet, down to 1 point for the 8th male vet;
8 points for the 1st lady vet, down to 1 point for the 8th lady vet;
Points are cumulative.

In addition, your runners will score points at the Lakeland Classics and also (since this year the Midsummer Madness races clash with a national championship race) at Ben Nevis, Snowdon International and Slieve Donard (not Scafell Pike since there are already enough lakeland counters!)

These additional races don't score as many points as the national championships, though:
1 point just for finishing the race;
10 points for the 1st man, down to 1 point for the 10th man;
10 points for the 1st lady, down to 1 point for the 10th lady;
4 points for the 1st male vet, down to 1 point for the 4th male vet;
4 points for the 1st lady vet, down to 1 point for the 4th lady vet;

During the year you can make 2 substitutions - either swap 2 of your runners for another pair who cost the same total number of pints, or twice swap one of your runners for another one of the same pintage.


There will also be a cup-style knockout competition during the year for all teams - more details to follow.

So post your team of four to this thread, with a team name.

My next post will list the runners in the pub and how many pints they'll cost you.