Quote Originally Posted by FellShoeShuffler View Post
Seems a touch sensitive - "B" doesn't mean second best, does it?

AL/BL etc doesn't indicate quality and it was never intended to, surely?

If AL/BL etc is considered to be a measure of quality then we are back to the 'proper fell race' argument again.

The status (or "quality"), classic or otherwise is determined by any number of factor, as YT notes, but the grade is intended to give an indication, an indication only, of the severity or something similar.
An interesting point - I would agree B does not mean second best - look at the Trog and Noonstones both B's they do not go up Mountains but I would suggest they can be just as tough and have more challenging terrain - bog etc than some A's.

However to some race organisers does category = status, look at Ilkley Moor fell race - the route is quite contrived (going up and down the same hillside when the potential area for the race is huge) and consequently a cat A - if the route was more natural to the lay of the land I would suggest it would be a B .

If newer race organisers (and I have no idea of the age of Ilkley Moor) follow the categories as the FRA guide could we end up with some very challeging but ultimately contrived routes for the sake of it - up and down Pendle hill several times for example with lots of taped areas (fell/mountain cross country anyone) Or do we have that already at some races ? (Thats a question - I don't know the answer)