Metric categories

[FRAFixtures]

As RO for Ilkley Moor I must admit to being a little surprised that my submission of the race as AS was changed to BS without consulting me.
I had noticed the implications of the metrification changes, requiring just a little more climb/length, but I thought "the race has always been AS, of course it still is, and there'll be some flexibility".
The Rules say "should" and not "must" or "shall" wrt the climb requirement, and the RO's submission should be considered.

In the letter I sent to all race organisers with Permit application forms I tried to explain the consequences of metrication as follows:-

"Metrication. Metric units will be used for the 2012 Calendar.

• It would be helpful if organisers used metrication as an opportunity to check lengths and climbs for their races. This is particularly important for Short races and those near the Short/Medium interface so that the age rules can be correctly applied for juniors entering senior events.
  
• Conversion factors from imperial units are as follows:
  1 mile ≡ 1.609 kilometres 1 foot ≡ 0.305 metres
  Both metric and imperial values for 2011 races can be viewed in the website Calendar http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/races.php
  
• Specifications for the new metric distance/climb Categories and the maximum age related distances for juniors can be found in the updated FRA Rules for Competition which will be available on http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/organisers.php (copies of the updated Rules for Competition were also sent to each organiser)
  
  As a result of the new boundaries a few races will change Category."

Margaret