English Champs - Rule 5

[Alan]

At last Sunday's FRA Committee meeting, we agreed to remove Rule 5 from the Eligibility Rules for the English Championship (see page 93 of the FRA Handbook).

This means that any runner who would be eligible to compete in the English Champs may now also compete in any other national championship without compromising his chances in the English.

Hopefully this will promote better competition, and give more opportunities.

[dominion]

Is this a reciprocal agreement - ie, athletes who qualify for both English and Welsh champs can qualify in both championship?

[Alan]

Is this a reciprocal agreement - ie, athletes who qualify for both English and Welsh champs can qualify in both championship?

It's not reciprocal because I don't believe there were any such restrictions applied in Wales - but, yes, athletes eligible for both championships should now be able to compete in both.

[IainR]

Then why have the British Champs? If all of the British nations can compete in the English then the British events are surplus to requirements?

[Alan]

Then why have the British Champs? If all of the British nations can compete in the English then the British events are surplus to requirements?

Not true - to compete in the English, you have (among other things) to either be English or live in England. It's not open to everybody.

But there are folk who are eligible to run the English and some of the other home country championships. Removing this rule will allow that to be a possibility.

[IainR]

I see, so as long as you have a valid claim you can run for any country which you have a valid claim for?

I took it more that people could run in champs without eligibility..

Fair enough. I still think that's the point of the Brits, but it'll affect such a small number of runners that I doubt it will have that big an impact.

.

[Malky]

There is already a similar freedom up here in Scotland - ie anyone can do the SHR (6 race) or Scottish Athletics (1 race) championships even if they are running in another of the home countries' championships. To be eligible for an award runners need to have Scottish eligibility - ie Scottish by birth or residence, or via a 1st claim Scottish club - in the case of the SHR champs; and need to be a member of Scottish Athletics to get a medal in the SA championship race.

So far as I know, this change means that Eng, Scot, Wales & NI all now have similar rules for their country's championship.

The British championship is obviously a fundamentally different championship - it only involves 4 races, with one in each country. The eligibility rules are different and so is the scoring system. Long may all these different competitions continue (though ideally not the separate SHR and SA champs, but that's an issue for Scotland to work on.......)

Malcolm (SHR Secretary).

[IainR]

though ideally not the separate SHR and SA champs, but that's an issue for Scotland to work on.......)

Malcolm (SHR Secretary).

Same in Wales. We have 6 WFRA races and 3 WMRA races a year to make up the 2 Welsh Championships.

[Wheeze]

One Ring To Rule Them All
One Ring To Divide Them.

So Sayeth Lord Sauron of Devolution!

[XRunner]

If all of the British nations can compete in the English then the British events are surplus to requirements?

Not true!. The English championships would then be surplus to requirements.