Re: Pennine Bridleway Relay
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TheGrump
IMVHO absolutely spot on. This was not an "isolated breach of a requirement", but judging by the wording of PBR Rule 19 has been a cause of concern in previous years for UU and presumably for the tenant farmers they represent.
It is worth reminding those who have criticised UU and other bodies e.g. NT in the past, that this is a public forum, which may well be browsed by those organisations from time to time. Although we know the forum is unrepresentative of the majority of fell runners views, the ill informed attempts at justification simply put more races at risk. Chris K has a hard enough task as it is without undermining his efforts on our behalf. We do not have a right to go wherever we want, whenever we want, regardless of the consequences. Leave it to the RO, he's the one who has had the detailed discussions with UU, and other interested parties along the route.
I await the next salvo of conspiracy theories, justification, slagging off etc.
The bottom line is that we lost the PBR ourselves, no-one else.
19 Every single gate must be closed. Teams observed not closing gates will be instantly disqualified. Do not assume that the team behind will close the gate. Even if it means closing a gate on an approaching team......close it !
We have had complaints from farmers and United Utilities rangers in the past so please ensure you follow this rule.
Seems clear to me but it's obviously not clear enough to those who can spend endless time bleating on here but cannot spare a second or two to shut a gate.
Re: Pennine Bridleway Relay
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Woo hoo
19 Every single gate must be closed. Teams observed not closing gates will be instantly disqualified. Do not assume that the team behind will close the gate. Even if it means closing a gate on an approaching team......close it !
We have had complaints from farmers and United Utilities rangers in the past so please ensure you follow this rule.
Seems clear to me but it's obviously not clear enough to those who can spend endless time bleating on here but cannot spare a second or two to shut a gate.
So how many teams were as the rule says instantly disqualified?
Re: Pennine Bridleway Relay
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stagger
So how many teams were as the rule says instantly disqualified?
Looks like all of them for 2012.
Re: Pennine Bridleway Relay
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Graeme78
Yes but livestock can also get lost on the hill if they wander off, it will take hours if not days for the farmer to find lost livestock, or for him to assume it's dead and spend an equal amount of time filling the claims form in. The upshot is a number of runners haven't abided the rules and there is no more race. Consider this: was it UU who made the initial complaint, or the tenant farmers who complained to UU about runners leaving gates open?
The tenant farmers
Re: Pennine Bridleway Relay
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TheGrump
IMVHO absolutely spot on. This was not an "isolated breach of a requirement", but judging by the wording of PBR Rule 19 has been a cause of concern in previous years for UU and presumably for the tenant farmers they represent.
It is worth reminding those who have criticised UU and other bodies e.g. NT in the past, that this is a public forum, which may well be browsed by those organisations from time to time. Although we know the forum is unrepresentative of the majority of fell runners views, the ill informed attempts at justification simply put more races at risk. Chris K has a hard enough task as it is without undermining his efforts on our behalf. We do not have a right to go wherever we want, whenever we want, regardless of the consequences. Leave it to the RO, he's the one who has had the detailed discussions with UU, and other interested parties along the route.
I await the next salvo of conspiracy theories, justification, slagging off etc.
The bottom line is that we lost the PBR ourselves, no-one else.
Yes Grump UU do represent tenant farmers and land users whom pay rent, but they should also consider the general public, that's me and you who pay their wages through water bills. ironmanuk backs up my opinion in as much as UU are against events on "their" land,I think they must have smiled through gritted teeth when the Commonweath Games was held at Rivington and only the shame of answering to the Nation compelled them to opening the area for a week.
While I'm on me soap box, I've got to say I'm getting more than a bit pissed off at fellrunners moaning about fellow fellrunners. I can see the first new thread after the Three Peaks is gona be from some bod whose found a empty gell wrapper somewhere in Yorkshire or blaming fellow runners for starting the third world war.
You forum lot need to get a grip, bad things do happen, but they aren't always our fault!!
P.S. my views on United Utilities dipsticks are my own,not of Rossendale harriers.
Re: Pennine Bridleway Relay
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lefty
The tenant farmers
Thought it might be. I have nothing else to say about this issue. Thanks for confirming what I thought.
Re: Pennine Bridleway Relay
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Graeme78
Thought it might be. I have nothing else to say about. Thanks for confirming what I though.
Confirmed what Graeme78? Theres a farmer a mile from me house who'd blame me for a Tsunami in Peru if I ran through his field............
Re: Pennine Bridleway Relay
As the organiser of this event I will attempt to answer some of the points raised. Each year as part of the event organisation I have to seek permission from several landowners to cross their land as well as advising several other people and organisations of the date and nature of the event. United Utilities reqiure me to send, proof of insurance, a map of the route which crosses their land, a risk assessment and a Permission for access document provided by them. My initial request was turned down as I included the word 'race' in the event description.
The section which UU are responsible for is leg 2 from the start to Gorple gate which includes only 3 gates. UU recieved complants from tennant farmers that gates had been left open causing sheep to stray. I was supplied with several photographs (downloaded from a link on our own event website) which clearly show wide open gates behind runners with not a runner anwhere in sight behind. A request for everyone to close gates is printed onto the front of each runners number, there was a large flourecent sign 10m from the start of leg 2 asking runners to close all gates and as everyone has noted it is in the rules which I worded to try to get everyone to understand the gravity of the request. There are two many gates for us to marshall and I was relying on the runners to police themselves.
As a runner myself I can fully understand the discussion around the closing of gates in the heat of competition but surely a bit of common sense is all thats needed and there can be no excuse for the situation seen in the photographs sent to me.
Our marshalls at the first changeover also had to deal with an irate farmer after a gate was left open on the final clinb on leg 1.....again there was a large flourecent sign at the start of the leg and I made a personal plea over the magaphone at the start of the leg for gates to be closed.
On no account do I place any blame on the local countryside ranger who has done she can to help us in the past.
This years event apart from this incident, which has somewhat spoilt it for me, was a success and our club received many emails of thanks. We have also received much support and regret from clubs and individuals over this incident and I would like to thank them for that.
Re: Pennine Bridleway Relay
Quote:
Originally Posted by
john doe
Yes Grump UU do represent tenant farmers and land users whom pay rent, but they should also consider the general public, that's me and you who pay their wages through water bills. ironmanuk backs up my opinion in as much as UU are against events on "their" land,I think they must have smiled through gritted teeth when the Commonweath Games was held at Rivington and only the shame of answering to the Nation compelled them to opening the area for a week.
UU set a reasonable requirement; one or more PBR competitors did not fulfill it despite Lefty's intense efforts (see above).
Own goal I think.
Re: Pennine Bridleway Relay
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TheGrump
UU set a reasonable requirement; one or more PBR competitors did not fulfill it despite Lefty's intense efforts (see above).
Own goal I think.
So that is a closed door on any distance event over land managed on our behalf by United Utilities where an unmanded gate is? sweet!
Pay attention you Calderdale Hikers.......
