ahh a nasty reply - got you I win.
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If you really are arguing with yourself Anti, I'd certainly recommend seeing a psychiatrist. Dear oh dear.
I am young and completely new to fell racing and these forums so apologies if I am a bit abrupt but this issue has affected me. (I don't want to make any enemies already!) Although I now know the rules I don't necessarily agree that someone should be named a cheat without the kit. You've got to look at the situation. If a runner knowingly ignores the rules then I agree they should be punished but I turned up to my first fell race this September without kit and without knowledge of the rules. I was told of the rules and told I may not be allowed to race. After a weather forecast I was eventually allowed to race. There was no mention of a kit check on both the fra site and the ro site. There needs to be more awareness of the rules. btw I had a heavy waterproof jacket with me which I was told it was ok to run in so I don't think I gained an unfair advantage. I have now purchased a bum bag and will carry the full kit with me for my next race.
I think that's fair enough..
But you still cheated.. people get too hinged on that term.. if you break the rules of the race you cheat... we've all done it... I've taken short cuts that weren't allowed... I've cut corners.. I've even doped (though those 2 times were accidental..ish..).. I think most of us push the boundaries of what is allowable..you do in any sport.. football.. especially rugby.. so people are too sensitive about the term..
I don't think it's cheating if you don't know the rules, cheating is the intent to decieve for your own gain or obtain unfair advantage by trickery...either way it needs to be deliberate.
(the defence of ignorance only stands once mind)
But if a race is advertised as being ran under fra rules the isnt it the competitors responsibility to establish what they are and adhere to them? It like someone playing football and handling the ball then pleading ignorant that they didn't know the rules.
wjb said it was his first fell race, and turned up without kit or knowledge of the rules, so was ignorant. The RO obviously was generous in this instance and applied a bit of common sense. If the RO was satisfied I don't see the problem.
True to some extent, but if you've previously raced in other types of running events (trail, cross-country, road) it's easy to assume it's all the same thing and not realise there may be some more specific rules that apply to fell racing. Rather different than taking up a completely new sport when you know there are rules to be learnt.