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Thread: Intercounties Fell

  1. #1
    Senior Member jtinnion's Avatar
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    Intercounties Fell

    Anyone know where / when this is yet?

    Pete Matthews (Warwickshire) and I (Shropshire) are trying to get a proper selection race (which will be an existing fixture) organised so we have better West Midlands representation in 2016. We might also make this a new County Championship race for the respective counties.

    Anyone know who selects for Staffordshire or Worcestershire?

    Cheers
    Jim
    Jim Tinnion
    (Mercia Fell Runners)

    http://midlands-fell.blogspot.com/

  2. #2
    Master ba-ba's Avatar
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    Speak to Gareth Briggs (Dark Peak/Wolves&Bilston) (Gaz B on here?) about Staffordshire, not sure if he selects the team but he'd know.
    Nic Barber. Downhill Dandy

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    Haven't heard where the 2016 race is. WP is the Lancs manager and may know. I was the Staffs manager for the last 4 years but have recently stood down, although I will continue to be involved in some capacity no doubt. No-one has so far taken it on. Yorkshire have a trial/selection race I know. As do Cheshire (it was Mow Cop this year). Their manager was Tony Hulme. There never seemed a need for a trial race for Staffs as the mens team mainly picked itself subject to availability and willingness. The problem with the women and juniors at the IC was just getting enough to run, which a trial race wouldn't have solved. However, with competition for places, a trial would be great.

  4. #4
    Master Witton Park's Avatar
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    I don't know where it is yet - I'm a little out of the loop at the moment

    I re-started with a Senior County Champs for Lancashire when I took on the Fell Secretary job about 5 years ago.
    I picked Pendle as it was perfect timing for the Inter Counties - usually about 6 weeks prior, after end of cross country and also had junior races which meant I could use it for selection.

    If you want to have a County Fell Champs (which I think would be a great idea) I would just find an event between mid March and Mid April then it can be used as a trial.
    It doesn't have to be within your county - Merseyside have used Rivington in recent years.

    The chief benefit is that it lifts the profile of fell in the area. What it also does is give runners a chance to earn the vest.
    For seniors I've opted to give 2 guaranteed places. That means I then have 2 more (+1 U23) and you will need some flexibility as often British/English Champs, Easter Hols etc mean that key athletes can't attend.

    This year I have a slight problem though. Pendle clashes with the 12 & 6 Stage so I haven't fixed yet while I consider what other options I have. It might seem odd, but we have a club element and I'm pretty sure that Rossendale, Barlick, Clayton, Blackburn, Preston, Lancs & Morecambe, Horwich and maybe more will be at the road relays and trying to get their strongest squads out, which often involved the fell runners.

    This is partly why I also try to wait until cross country has finished, as some of the top Lancs Fell runners could be in the Inters XC, same for many other counties.

    In general the only slight negative of being at Pendle is that it is quite a high profile, popular race and an Open race, sometimes a National Champs race, so the Lancs element of the event can feel like a bit-part at times. I know from my colleague the road secretary that this can also be the case where we piggy-back existing road races for our County 5 mile and 10 mile road Champs.

    If anyone wants to discuss as they are considering doing something in their county, feel free to get in touch. I'm sure Dave Wooodhead would say the same as he looks after the noisy neighbours
    Richard Taylor
    "William Tell could take an apple off your head. Taylor could take out a processed pea."
    Sid Waddell

  5. #5
    Master Witton Park's Avatar
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    Just one further related point about who selects.

    I was asked to go on Lancs AA as Fell Secretary by the previous sec who was from CLEM. I do enjoy it, but it would be good to see more involvement in the County AA from clubs with a greater involvement on the fells.

    Most counties don't have any fell representation on the AA Committee, so a senior athlete or ex athlete may take it on, as Andi Jones used to do for GM.

    So consider getting involved in your County AA Committee. They usually will only have 6 - 8 meetings a year lasting 1-2 hours each.
    I typically attend 3-4 which are the ones when I have something to report or there is something on the agenda that I want to be involved with.

    But even if I can't attend, I'm still involved in the process as we can and often do agree matters by email. It would ensure fell runners have a proper point of contact rather than someone drafted in to select each year.

    It doesn't take much time, you don't have to be on your club committee, you won't get drafted in to anything else against your will.
    Just contact your County AA and I'm sure they would welcome you.
    Richard Taylor
    "William Tell could take an apple off your head. Taylor could take out a processed pea."
    Sid Waddell

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    Oops forgot to say, Notts have used Wolfs Pit and Derbyshire have Lads Leap as selection races recently. Like WP says, they don't have to be in your county. Plus, having junior races at the same event is ideal.

  7. #7
    Senior Member jtinnion's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gazb View Post
    Oops forgot to say, Notts have used Wolfs Pit and Derbyshire have Lads Leap as selection races recently. Like WP says, they don't have to be in your county. Plus, having junior races at the same event is ideal.
    Thanks guys, that's a good start.

    The Shropshire County AA Chair is a good friend of the Shropshire fell scene so that should be ok. We're planning on using one of our existing March races as a Shropshire and Warwickshire Champs and selection race for both county teams, and could widen that out to Worcestershire and Staffs if they're interested.

    More to follow...

    Jim
    Jim Tinnion
    (Mercia Fell Runners)

    http://midlands-fell.blogspot.com/

  8. #8
    Master Travs's Avatar
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    Being a Warwickshire native, id love to race in this if possible... Hopefully it will be publicised on here once the race is confirmed...?

  9. #9
    Senior Member jtinnion's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Travs View Post
    Being a Warwickshire native, id love to race in this if possible... Hopefully it will be publicised on here once the race is confirmed...?
    I've just heard back from Paul Sanderson and I'm happy to confirm that the selection race (at least for Warwickshire and Shropshire) will be the Wrekin Fell Race on Sunday 20th March. It's a great race with a very long tradition which is also fairly close in style to recent intercounties events.

    Are you on the Shropshire Fell Running facebook group? More announcements should be made through that.

    Jim
    Jim Tinnion
    (Mercia Fell Runners)

    http://midlands-fell.blogspot.com/

  10. #10
    Master ba-ba's Avatar
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    Lad's Leap is used as the Derbyshire champs; Dez usually picks the team on 'current form' or whoever he has the phone-number of!

    In Lancs/Yorks/Cumbria/Derbys I'd say it's easier to pick runners without a specific trial, as the fell scenes here are more concentrated than other areas and people 'specialise' more in fell. Of course with the embarrassment of riches Yorks/Lancs can have trials are then required. (Cumbria, well the men at least, seldom travel south of Burton-In-Kendal services)
    Of course if you're Avon & Somerset/Middlesex etc. you pick your top XC runners who do a pretty handy job anyway!
    Last edited by ba-ba; 11-11-2015 at 03:35 PM.
    Nic Barber. Downhill Dandy

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