Quote Originally Posted by bigfella View Post
Here's a thought.

Have an opening date and a closing date for entries with no limit on the number of entries received, then pick the 500, or whatever the race limit is, at random from those that have entered. If you insist you could pre-select champions, wanabe champions, etc...
Why not have a system for all Championship races which is a bit like they have at the 3 Peaks race, where the first so many finishers in last year's race (across all categories) have automatic entry. For example the overall top 10 or top 20 Senior Men from last year's English are automatically entered for ALL of the following years' English Champs races. I don't mean they don't have to pay the entry fee, just save them the hassle of having to worry about getting their entry in, that there are places in the races for them if they want them. Too elitist? I don't think so, I think it would be something you earn. I wouldn't want to see Championship races become like the WMRT trial races (hell no, have them as full as the local landowners will let us!) but surely by defintion they should contain a higher calibre of athlete than a non-championship race, shouldn't they?