Full details here http://www.horwichrmiharriers.co.uk/.../JPike2014.pdf
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Full details here http://www.horwichrmiharriers.co.uk/.../JPike2014.pdf
Thanks to Horwich for putting the races on today. Have to say though the U8 and U10 races would be much better if they started higher up the tarmac road, at the bottom of the first field? For me, both events are not 'Fell Races' in as much as theres no off-road element.
Simply running up and down a tarmac road isn't a test of fell race ability. Sorry.
We could only get 7 Eden Runners to travel down to today's races, but all 7 enjoyed themselves enormously. Many thanks to the organising team.
Completely agree. All the races could easily start at a point up the hill from where all runners achieve the satisfaction of rounding the pike
I'll pass on the suggestion to the organiser. One thing to think about though is the logistics of having different start points. Maybe could get away with two start points : one near the farm for the U8/U10/U12 with the U12 turning round at the Pike, U10 at Georges Lane, subject to not exceeding distance and the U8 at somewhere suitable on the route - but it is adding further complications and I am sure you must realise the popularity of the event already increases the number of issues to deal with.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vynikob
I think trying to achieve a solution where all runners achieve the satisfaction of rounding the pike is not easily achieved. Are there any other junior races which have five different start points and run smoothly, especially with the numbers involved? If yes, I'm sure we'd be interested in them sharing best practice recommendations.
A few photos whilst marshalling (not all taken by me as passed camera to a clubmate so I could concentrate on marshalling). Sorry none of U14/U16 as battery had depleted before they arrived - I had wanted to run it down to charge up for holiday. Photos here and loads more (professionally done) on Steve Bateson's site
The only minor "grumble" I have is that Graham Fecitt is there for the Senior race and the results are up online when I get home. So why not use him for the junior results?
I've been going to the junior races at Rivington for about 10 years and it's only when the FRA Juniors comes to town that anyone complains. When I first started going, Blu Haywood and her family were regular visitors, all the way up from Lincoln.
There's no need to change anything.
It's a hill race.
The terrain that these juniors will encounter as the get older will vary extensively, so they should get used to it.
Some get hung up about this - perhaps due to the use of the word fell in FRA. But It's a classic race, very popular, well organised and it's proven to work over the years.
If you don't like it, go elsewhere.
But it's a " Fell race " Richard and there's no fell !Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
StacksteadsQuote:
Originally Posted by Lefty
I think when the FRA juniors 'comes to town',yes they expect a fell race. move start/finish up the lane. Simples.Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
So it was a surprise was it?
Moving 60-70 U10s and 80-100 U12s up the lane isn't quite as straight forward as that when the other races have to be started further down.
The start straight where it is allows fields to disperse.
I've done it. I was joint RO with Dashers twice at Darwen for FRA Junior races and moved them up and designed new routes. It's a bigger job that you might imagine when you have so many little ones, who all want to get on the front of a start line that's 3 metres wide.
If you're not careful, you end up with carnage - a bit like Cowpe a few years ago.
I'm not keen on criticising any race organiser especially when it comes to Junior races as they be more difficult to organise than senior races and there it's more than one race. From what I saw everything went well and the organisation was good. If I'm trying to encourage juniors to race and to get parents involved and a parent asks me what a fell race is would I be telling them that it's out and back on Tarmac.
I think if anyone has a beef about the underfoot conditions and think they were not up to what one would expect of a Champs race they should take it up with the FRA.
It was the FRA who asked Rivington to host a Champs race after all.
They've done exactly what has worked well for them in previous years - why change an event formula if it works well?
Wasn't it supposed to be at AW?
Also, the Champs age groups are U12 and upwards and the U12s got off the tarmac for the majority of their race.
I'm not sure of there is any compulsion to host U8 and U10 non-Champs races, and I certainly wouldn't expect any pressure to change the race spec for these NON CHAMPIONSHIP age groups.
Although with the sight of screaming, rabid parents running alongside their 8 & 9 year old kids, I wonder whether they are such a good thing anyway.
Race itself I thought was good. What let it down was parents on the course. When the leaders of various races went past coming down, they were followed by adults walking. Many of whom walked on the tarmac section, inconveniencing quite a few. One ambleside lad was cursing when someone strolled in front of him. Some of the athletes near the back of the field definitely did not get as clear a run as the leaders. Not the organisers fault but some parents!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
- AW was replaced due to FRA politics & the rules fiasco
- Rivington has been used before and I personally (see below) don't have a problem with one race being partly on steep tarmac; in fact even Anni Wa! has been criticized in the past for some of the junior races including too much road.
- Champs ROs are expected to have U8 & U10 non-champs races
- I have stepped back from helping organise the juniors champs after doing it 2009-2013
- But at present that effectively means no-one is helping Duncan plan & arrange it
- So anyone who is prepared to seriously help & advise & bring ideas of their own will I am sure be welcome
- This would be especially good if such a person is involved with juniors and familiar with the juniors champs.
- But people who just complain at all the decisions aren't being particularly helpful.
LJ - I actually think it will work better with just a junior co-ordinator, whether that's Duncan or someone else.
That's not to denigrate your efforts and input, or that of anyone else as I know a few of us have been involved over the years.
I just think at times too many cooks...
What might be a good idea is that a small group of people involved with junior fell get together and draw up a technical template for the season.
When should it start?
When should it end by?
Should male and female run together?
Can any of the races serve a dual purpose eg as a trial, as part of the Inters?
Should there be a minimum time gap between champs races?
Surface specification and any limitations.
Facilities for athletes and spectators.
How many races?
Should uphill be included?
I could go on. But if there was such a template, that was agreed at FRA Committee level, it would probably make the task of any junior co-ordinator that much easier. It would also avoid major changes in the format as co-ordinators come and go.
It is probably time for a real review as the series is now so big.
Back in 2008 Race 1 had 88 x U12s and U14s Total taking part.
In 2014 it was 145 in total.
That's a 65% increase.
I agree pretty much completely WP, and certainly don't mind the position I have filled being superceded.
- I did prepare a template / policy document, but it's been kept private rather than publicized
- This may have been due to the question of appropriate race distances, but which could be amended by the Coordinator or committee away from my original specs.
- I was all for combining with trials/intercounties races, but the International team have never made this easy.
- Age-groups don't help here, and I would perhaps have considered a wholesale revamp of the age categories eg U15/U17/U20 (this is possible without changing the distance limits)
- But if the FRA has to rely on someone living in Wales who has limited direct contact with any fell-running juniors, it's a pretty sorry state of affairs ;)
Anyone know when the results will be available ?
Well I was asked to host the Inters a year ago. So I could have easily managed to add races for the age groups not covered.Quote:
Originally Posted by LissaJous
It would have been a great days racing.
The International side can then take it or leave it as a trial, but as the race is there, the best juniors around are there, it would make sense to use it.
A lot is made of the "race profile" when fixing a trial, but I'm not so sure it matters as much as is often made out.
The results at Pendle were not a great deal different to those at Rivington.
WP, the job needs some new input ~ if anyone has grand ideas (or even some simple, solid ideas) and is prepared to put in some hours then they should make themselves known. Otherwise you're back to the familiar routine of trying to influence the committee or the (always over-run) Junior's Coordinator on here, which I can tell you will not be very productive.
When the Intercounties first had U16/U18 it was quite a surprise to us I seem to recall, and we possibly weren't sure that the course would be hard enough for the U18s; in retrospect I do not see any reason why this year's could not have been included, if we knew that you were willing. There *may* have been some resistance from the International team about combining it, or maybe that's a false impression I picked up the year before.
I processed these this morning - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9A...it?usp=sharing
Not sure if they are final
Thanks to all those involved in putting on the Junior Pike Races yesterday. My daughter enjoyed her first ever race up to the summit in the U14/16 category and the weather stayed kind too.
If and when the Junior results get published, if someone could post a link to them here, that would be great.
Sorry for the delay http://www.horwichrmiharriers.co.uk/...ikeresults.pdf
Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Ricepudding