This is getting tedius.
Sale do not affiliate to the fells, nor should they if they do not enter
teams in this discipline. I went through all this about 3-4 years ago with the then chairman of the club.
UKA rules for competition state that:
Athletics is organised within the following disciplines:-
(a) Track and Field
(b) Race Walking
(c) Road Running
(d) Cross Country including Trail Running
(e) Fell and Hill Running
(f) Trail Running
Clubs are deemed to cater for those disciplines for which they have declared to the appropriate Association the intention to compete in team competitions in that particular activity. Members of a Club may only compete in Championships or other Open Team competitions if their Club is specifically affiliated for that discipline.
Not since the early 80s had Sale actively competed in Open Team competitions on the fells. My argument was that that they were no longer actively "catering" for this discipline I had an interest in, by not entering teams. I requested they stop affiliating so that I could legitimately compete in team events on the fells for Horwich - first claim. Unlike the Alty/Pudsey case this was not a request for a personal exception.
My request was granted, and there is no evidence to suggest they have since re-affiliated to the fells.
Compare the memership application forms of
Sale and
Horwich. Both assess which disciplines you may be interested in. Sale do not cater for fell running. This does not prevent a Sale athlete from representing their club on the fells as an individual, but members are free to join another club first claim for the fells.