Despite some of the rubbish written earlier in this thread, UU now and NWW before, are supportive towards recreational events, so long as they follow basic rules. Lefty has been let down by our fellow runners. Own goal, arrogance, basic lack of common sense etc., are all comments quite rightly aimed at some competitors some of the time. I'm having another meeting with UU in a few minutes, lets see how I get on.
Ooops! - there goes another race over UU land.Originally Posted by john doe
Stop wriggling; we failed to comply with a UU requirement. Very straightforward.
Out of interest what could the NT actually do? They presumably can not stop anyone just turning up and doing the BG same as they can't stop someone going for a walk? Or am I mistaken
As a marshal on this event every year, I am only too aware of competitors' unfamiliarity with the event rules. I suggest that in this instance if every entrant had read the rule, heeded the on course notices and announcements, and understood the implications of the requirement, then no team would have been offended by the sight of another team closing the gate in front of them. Hopefully, it would have been seen as a shared responsibility for the future of the event. A more important factor than rivalry on the day, as is now apparent.
Last edited by FellJunior; 17-02-2011 at 12:51 PM.
That really is not the point!
Just because you are supporting a BGR or Three Peaks or any other "important" or "good" cause doesn't mean you can do what you want, especially if it involves abusing local facilities or other people wishing to use them. Just because the NT may not actually have any effective sanctions - although they could close the car park, presumably, - isn't a reason to misuse the facilities they provide.
Guess we'll have to man-up and except trial by fota then.Just as an aside during the 2009 I was watching leg one at the road crossing at 4ml,Clough Bottom res,I opened both gates at the road crossing before the first team came and closed them after the last team went through,guess I was lucky no-one toke a picture.Incidentally no teams tried to shut the gate so i suppose everyone from 2009 is DSQed.
I think there is room for a relay at this time of year but maybe the format may have to change?Lets say 5-6 teams of two but with start n finish at the same venue and teams running the same 8-10ml loop.That way the whole event is more manageable and compact and could be marshaled through-out.
As far as landowners are concerned I wouldn't object to them receiving at cut in entries fees ,they own the land to generate an income after all.
I'd also like to thank Lefty and all the marshalls/helpers involved in this race and express my regret that it may not happen again.
I am somewhat puzzled by the fact that the entire event has been knocked on the head largely because of problems with only 3 gates and one landowner. I wonder how much UU had forewarned Lefty that they might take this action. It would have been a relatively simple matter to marshall those three gates (a plea for help from local clubs would not have gone unanswered I'm sure) for the duration of Leg 2. I suspect that UU were less than honest about their intentions, otherwise Lefty I'm sure would have taken precautions. Curiously the OS map shows only the Cant Clough Dam as not being Access Land (hence only two gates).
The comments by ironmanuk strike a chord; i remember the excellent Rivington Triathlon being shoved aside by UU, when IMUK rolled into Bolton (presumably IMUK had deeper pockets than BMTC do). UU came up with some laughable excuses at the time but it was clear to most exactly what was going on.
I hope that this hasn't left a sour taste and put Lefty off the whole business, that'd be an even greater shame. I'm sure there must be a workaround that avoids UU land. Ok, so it might miss small bits of the Bridleway but who cares?
On a lighter note; this all reminds me of the bit in 'Life of Brian' when all the different freedom fighters (Peoples Front of Judea, Judean People's Front, Campaign for free Galilee etc) collide under Pilate's chambers, all on their way to kidnap his wife. They immediately start fighting each other, everybody is killed except Brian, who is captured by the Roman soldiers, come to see what all the noise is!
UU are clearly the Romans, who are you?!
Just as an aside. If UU are so bothered about gates being left open why do they not invest in spring mechanisms that close the gates.
As the photographer who was at the gate in question let me give some facts. (I have comunicated my record of events with the RO).
I was there perhaps 30 mins before the first runners came through.
I spoke with the farmers wife about keeping gates closed and sheep escaping. I reassured her that no sheep would escape as I would monitor it. ( no sheep went through the gate)
She told me the countryside warden (Mrs. Linda Williams) would be on the gate at 10.00, she did'nt show.
Mrs Williams was the person who lifted the pics, too use as evidence, off our site (without permission) via a link on Ross. Harriers site.
Before the runners started coming through two walkers passed and left the gate open as two others were coming, some comment was made to me about leaving gates open and I reassured them also that I was keeping an eye on it.
After 6-8 runners had gone through, closing and latching the gate because they were spread out and no-one was close behind, a girl came walking down the track through the gate, left it wide open, and carried on her way.
As runners came along they found the gate mostly pulled too (ajar) but not latched and thats how it was for the entire race.
I left my place with approx 8-10 runners still too come through.
Never at any stage did I see any sheep escape, I was a matter of yards from the gate, neither did I see any countryside warden at this gate.
A chap came along in his tractor but then vanished I no not where.
I later spoke with Mrs Williams who told me in no uncertain terms that this would be the last time runners would race here, and that she had turned a blind eye in the past but would do so no longer.
There we go then.
A true and honest account by a neutral witness.
I conclude Mrs Williams to be a 1st class BITCH:angry:
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote