Calderdale Way Relay

[Trig]

Feels like someone just cancelled Christmas! For last 6-7 years 30 of us have made the CWR a full day of running followed by our Xmas party- turkey and mince pies in May??? Can't see it catching on.....

[Epocian]

If you or your club are not happy about them moving the date - let 'em know
if enough of us make our views known it MAY make them change their minds!
email
[email protected]

with your views

[Chaddy the Owl]

Let’s provide a balance to this argument. I personally feel this is a greatmove by Halifax Harriers to change the date.

Why:

- Reduces the risk of having the event postponed due to the cold weather;

- Improves safety, particularly at the start of leg 1 where people actuallyarrive in the light;

- A more conducive environment for running/recceing- this makes it more appealingfor encouraging newbies into fell running;

- The weather will also encourage more people to hang around and supportfellow team members;

Evidently people don’t like change, and I do feel sorry for current raceorganisers with established races on that date. However, a bit of imaginationand creativity can alleviate this.

Come on- be positive and support this great race!

[Trig]

Will definitely get behind the CWR in May - but its good for organisers to get feedback - the comments reflect how much we all loved the original format/date - mud, ice, snow, fog, darkness and all - summer running is great but we already have that in abundance.
I would happily run either - but I know which I prefer. That said RO is tough job without people complaining; they deserve praise for this great event whenever its run.

[compo]

Definitely a mistake in my view. Waiting at Blackshaw Head or Wainstalls in horizontal sleet or starting Leg 1 in semi-darkness stumbling through mud and tree roots were what this event was all about. The pre-Christmas slot was ideal with no other major events on that weekend.

Look at the quality of the teams this time round in May. With the exception of Calder Valley (and possibly Salford) the Mens' teams were far weaker. I suspect the same is true of many of the Womens' teams too.

Far too many other events in May - possibly the most congested time of year for quality races, championship races etc. etc.

[Weetabix Power]

It's agreat event and I'm happy to run in May or December but given the choice I would go for December.

[GreenFlash]

Definitely a mistake in my view. Waiting at Blackshaw Head or Wainstalls in horizontal sleet or starting Leg 1 in semi-darkness stumbling through mud and tree roots were what this event was all about. The pre-Christmas slot was ideal with no other major events on that weekend.

Look at the quality of the teams this time round in May. With the exception of Calder Valley (and possibly Salford) the Mens' teams were far weaker. I suspect the same is true of many of the Womens' teams too.

Far too many other events in May - possibly the most congested time of year for quality races, championship races etc. etc.

Agree entirely. Dark Peak have traditionally put out four teams for this event - A & B teams, Vets & Women. This year only the women (with some considerable difficulty) managed to raise a team. Despite having had the three male teams for the postponed December event oversubscribed with runners, we couldn't raise even one male team in May ... and that's a club with over 300 male members.

Perhaps the Pennine Bridleway relay will be one beneficiary, though?

[john doe]

Agree entirely. Dark Peak have traditionally put out four teams for this event - A & B teams, Vets & Women. This year only the women (with some considerable difficulty) managed to raise a team. Despite having had the three male teams for the postponed December event oversubscribed with runners, we couldn't raise even one male team in May ... and that's a club with over 300 male members.

Perhaps the Pennine Bridleway relay will be one beneficiary, though?

Pennine Bridleway is oversubscribed these days as it is..........I did like the Calderdale in Dec meself, and along with the Two Crosses date moved to later in the year as well will make winter seem a bit longer.

[Pike]

Dark Peak have traditionally put out four teams for this event - A & B teams, Vets & Women. This year only the women (with some considerable difficulty) managed to raise a team. Despite having had the three male teams for the postponed December event oversubscribed with runners, we couldn't raise even one male team in May ... and that's a club with over 300 male members.

Dark Peak are one of the event's bigger supporters in the 9 years of available online results, in which 916 teams from 87 different clubs have taken part. Over three quarters of these teams were from the following 29 clubs, who have all entered 10 or more teams in the event since 2002:

69 Clayton
44 Keighley & Craven
41 Bingley
41 Rossendale
41 Stainland Lions
37 Calder Valley
31 Halifax Harriers
30 Dark Peak
28 Todmorden Harriers
27 Holmfirth
25 Ilkley Harriers
24 Horwich RMI
21 Denby Dale
20 Abbey Runners
20 Wharfedale
19 Preston
18 Pudsey & Bramley
17 Baildon
17 Bowland
17 Valley Striders
15 Saddleworth
15 Skipton AC
14 Middleton
14 Salford AC
13 Settle
13 St Bedes AC
12 Pudsey Pacers
10 Dewsbury
10 Elvet Striders

It would have been interesting to see the spread of votes from these clubs, the relay's staunchest supporters, if they had been polled over the date change from December to May.

[Leeds Rhino]

My club ( Abbey Runners ) will probably struggle to get teams together in May but,hopefully will still be supporting it. Rather have it in December though