I think it is pretty common nowadays Jan.Originally Posted by jodg
That's a MASSIVE no show on race day!
I think it is pretty common nowadays Jan.That's a MASSIVE no show on race day!
Aye, you're probably right Colin. But I'm surprised - by my rough reckoning that's going on for 1/3 of the entrants didn't show up. It's a bloomin' BIG %age!
Makes a bit of a mockery of everyone scrabbling about to get their entries in months ago before it fills up ....
Last edited by jodg; 25-03-2010 at 07:44 PM. Reason: Typo. Hate 'em!
Perhaps, but I do wonder whether we should be passing this type of thing off so lightly. I can perfectly understand that there will be natural wastage in any event, with injury and last minute bugs or change of plans. I also understand that the organisers who do an excellent job with the skyline, allow for a wastage in the entries (this is something I will allow for with Shelf Moor this year) but when the drop out rate is over 25% of the entry something is not right. Following on from this, for example with Mrs Second to Last (and I am sure many others) this year, what was disappointment at missing out on entry, tends towards anger when they see how people didn't bother to turn up.Aye, you're probably right Colin. But I'm surprised - by my rough reckoning that's going on for 1/3 of the entrants didn't show up. It's a bloomin' BIG %age!
Makes a bit of a mockery of everyone scrabbling about to get their entries in months ago before it fills up ....
Sorry to vent anger on this thread, and nothing is directed at the organisers or volunteers for the skyline, who do an excellent job, not only on the good days like the last couple of years but also in the bad weather such as 2007.
Results are now available here.
Congrats to all who bothered to turn out!!!!!!!!!
All frustrating stuff.
Maybe clubs could consider adding a surcharge to the entry fee, say £3, which is handed back at registration with the runner's number. (Pays for the first post race pint). I know it's more admin and a pain, but fell races are so cheap (God bless you all) that many people seem willing to enter on the understanding they might not bother turning up. Those who can't turn up for bona fide reasons would lose out, but for a keen runner that's probably only once or twice a year and they'd have a better chance of securing a place if the scheme deterred those who are simply booking an option on a place.
I wait to be shot down in flames.
many thanks to organiser and marshalls,helpers etc a great day and a great race.
No - why not throw ideas out here for discussion - in someways isn't that the point of a forum - maybe it should be a separate thread, to carry on the discussion
Further thoughts:
It needn't be a cash refund, it could be a voucher for hot food or a beer or for a running shop or for next year's race. Just to represent a returnable premium on the entry fee so long as you turn up on the day, even if injury prevents you running and you have to watch or help as a marshall.
I'm sure there are will be plenty of runners out there who missed out who would be a bit mad/upset they were not able to run due to 97 people taking an entry slot and then not showing. maybe those who didn't show should be listed and not be given priority at next years event. Ie their entries be put on a reserve list rather than take an entry place up to begin with. I know that then we start getting all political but there needs to be a deterrent not to do this. I know in the past when i've realised i can't do an event (for what ever reason) i've notified the organisers so that my place can go to someone else. It's only fair. just my 2 cents.
This is not a new topic and has been discussed both here and at FRA committee level on numerous occasions.
Opening entries in September for an event the following March will always cause such a high drop out situation.
You may have noticed that none of the pre-entry championship races this year are permitting entries until at the most 3 months before the event. A concept which has been successfully employed at the Borrowdale race for some years now.
This gives runners less time to get injured, decide they aren't fit, realise they have holiday plans etc etc
We would all love to go back to the days of EOD but with the potential for greater numbers showing up on the day than landowners or car parking permit then having pre-entry at the more popular races is necessary to give some control to the race organiser.
So let's have sensible opening dates for entries and wherever possible, flexible arrangements for substitutions.
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