Could the mandatory kit requirements rules be better drafted?
For category A long and medium races runners must have windproof body cover, other body cover appropriate for the conditions, map, compass and whistle. For long races emergency food is needed also.
For any other category it's up to the race organisor to impose any conditions, but only if there is fine and settled weather and it is confirmed by a local weather report.
This means that if you have been to a fell race, and it has not been fine and settled weather and you have not had to carry all the above mentioned kit, then the race organisor has breached the rules. There are loads of fell races where this happens. Did we have any fine and settled weather this summer?
Wouldn't it be better if race organisor's had the freedom to impose kit requirements when they though it appropriate for non cat A races, so that they are not restricted because that particular July day is hot and humid but with a bit of drizzle. Do we need the fine weather condition? Could it not be left to the organisor.
Secondly, some races go over high exposed ground but are not category A. If I organised a cat A long or medium race that went up and down several times but never higher than 500ft grassy slopes I would have to ensure runners had all the kit. If I organised a second race that included 3000ft plus sections, provided the total ascent per mile was below the cat A level kit would not be mandatory. That can't be right can it?
There must be a better way of drafting the rules. If they are being breached because race organisors are using their common sense, it can't be fair that in the event of a problem they would be liable and insurance may be invalidated can it?