I also tend to agree with Alf and I hope that Lefty hasn't given up hope to host again.
Run it as a trail race and permit it through UKA - no issue with insurance then.
There is a wider problem here though for fell running full stop. If UU can throw off the PBR for an isolated breach of a requirement then this can be done anywhere for a variety of reasons, such as the regularly debated gel wrappers, maybe a lost runner going where they shouldn't - there must be countless reasons.
Gate closure is desirable and yes it should be done, however, even if walking up through Witton's woods with the dog, if I have someone coming towards me or following on close behind I leave the gate, unless there is a clear reason not too, such as livestock in close proximity.
I would call that common courtesy and common sense.
On leg 2, at the point in question, there must have been a team coming through on average every 20 secs - with such a gap I would close the gate. But some of those gaps would be much less, sometimes perhaps 4 or 5 teams in that same timespan.
Would anyone really shut a gate they had opened on somebody just a few metres behind whether in the PBR or any other race?
What about gates that were open before any runners got there?
It's a can of worms.







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