Negative Wheeze? I don't think suggesting forward planning is negative. Perhaps it is in Wales … I don't know, you tell me.

Nor is it either pro- or anti-UKA.

All I'm saying is that, whatever we do, we have to carry on encouraging kids to run in the mountains, and (more to the point) carry on supporting those who, bless them, provide races, training weekends and all the other infrastructure for those kids.

And I don't just mean money - I mean support in its broadest sense too.

Some of the words that have been written on this thread suggest that the most important thing affecting the future of this great sport of ours is whether we stick with UKA or not.

Well it isn't. It's juniors, and how we attract them, encourage them and look after them within our sport.

You've got to remember that 30+ years ago there weren't as many other attractions for youngsters as there are now. Nowadays, these kids are spoilt for choice.

But, while we've got a sport which is really exciting for young people, sadly it's getting populated more and more by old people.

It's one of the reasons why we have a structure which we call the FRA - so that there is some planned support for junior development.

It's no bloody good saying "it'll be OK, somebody will do, they always do". Whether we break away or not, the FRA (supported by us old fell runners) need to plan to cater for our juniors.

Otherwise we leave our future to chance.