photos from this race (and the OCT) currently uploading to my website.
www.athletesinaction.co.uk
photos from this race (and the OCT) currently uploading to my website.
www.athletesinaction.co.uk
Event Photography
www.athletesinaction.co.uk
Recording the numbers on Fairfield was easier than for the Loughrigg race as the runners were more spread out because of the length of the race and the numbers were more visible because the summit area is flatter. The only problems were a few runners with numbers not fully visible and three unregistered runners. There was a guy in the first twenty (see http://www.athletesinaction.co.uk/fairfield-10#photo) and a couple later on (http://www.athletesinaction.co.uk/fairfield-251#photo & http://www.athletesinaction.co.uk/fairfield-252#photo).
Of course, anyone can go anywhere on access land like Fairfield, but why do unregistered runners insist on running through the checkpoints? This causes confusion for the marshals as they try to sort out the runner's status (they could be registered and have put on or taken off clothing so that their number is no longer visible) and the time spent doing this risks the marshal missing or misrecording another runner's number.
And why do they do it? Can't afford the £7 / Haven't got the obligatory kit / Turned up late for registration? Baffling.
And why do they do it? Can't afford the £7 / Haven't got the obligatory kit / Turned up late for registration? Baffling.[/QUOTE]
Another reason, maybe they are selfish arrogant tossers? (Or is that three reasons?)
If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.
George Orwell
Results and report here: http://amblesideac.org.uk/Fairfield_2014_results.htm
Stunningly beautiful day for it!
Yes, the gormless looking young lad near the sharp end (also http://www.athletesinaction.co.uk/fairfield-339#photo) was totally on his own when he came through CP1. We gave him an ear-wigging for upsetting our count but he did not comprehend what we were about. He had not got the foggiest idea where he was going; told him to "just keep following the wall down the other side", which he almost did but as he crossed the ridge path, he looked up to the right and spotted those in front. The RO was notified and caught him in the finish funnel and took down his details - to be reported to the FRA.Originally Posted by Don't fear the sweeper
In addition to the couple ( man & woman ) in the mid-pack, there was another unregistered runner amongst the back markers, wearing an ILKLEY club vest (http://www.athletesinaction.co.uk/fairfield-502#photo). Maybe he heeded our warning to stay clear of the CPs. At least none of this trio attempted to go through the finish funnel.
If you aren't registered in the race, don't go through the CPs and certainly don't go posing for the camera.
Last edited by wheezing donkey; 19-05-2014 at 12:46 AM.
I was a bit of an oddball until I was abducted by aliens; but I'm perfectly OK now!
Send GB round to sort him out!
Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run
It was an example of this selfish, unthinking stupidity that caused a problem at the 2012 "Brian Belfield" Sailbeck Race at CP3 Causey Pike.
Two runners approached and ran near CP3 but did not actually go up to the CP so the marshals could not see if they had vest numbers or speak with them. They were not in the race. Conditions were grim that day and the marshals decided to "tick them off". In fact 3 registered runners had dropped out by CP2 and never reached CP3 so there was a cause for confusion as to how many runners were still in the race with 2 more CPs before the finish.
This is an example of the sort of thing that caused the Coroner to express his matters of concerns to the FRA at the Belfield inquest and has led to the more stringent runner race recording requirements for 2014.
Last edited by Graham Breeze; 19-05-2014 at 11:01 AM.
"...as dry as the Atacama desert".
I think there's a world of differnce between a couple of guys who may be out for a run coming close to a CP, albeit I accept this did create some problems in Sailbeck race but I would not want to see "keep away from a particular hill because there's a race on", to people deliberatly joining a race as they seem to have done in this instance.
Last edited by XRunner; 19-05-2014 at 12:44 PM.
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The good weather, the fact that (almost all) runners wore their number square on their chest and the fact that by Great Rigg Man the field had spread out, helped us to count numbers through correctly at checkpoint two.
John's effort to have plenty of marshalls at each checkpoint meant that one of us could go off and check politely with the runners without numbers, who (maybe after a telling off at checkpoint one?) gave the checkpoint a wide berth, as to whether they were in the race, while the others continued recording.
We also had already been alerted to the fact that some runners who were not registered were taking part by checkpoint one marshalls.
The 'participant' at the front 'explained' he hadn't arrived in time to register as he ran pastI think i commented on the naivety of youth who assume they have a right to take part, no matter what!
As the early part of the Fairfield race goes over private land, only open to the race, all the runners without numbers, mixing with the pack, were in the wrong.
Further along the ridge, the paths are open to all, so best would be that registered runners, at the front and the back of the field, make sure that their numbers are clearly visible and that they make an effort to come close to the checkpoint! Maybe we really do need single-file funnels....???
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