Calderdale Way Relay

[Witton Park]

Of course for many athletes both the Calderdale and the now sadly gone PBR were great winter events, fitting in perfect on the Winter dates as the long Sunday run, often after a XC Saturday.
But with the demands on ROs these days, I also have great sympathy for the ROs who could well be faced with a cancellation 1 in 4 or 5 years and they cannot afford to take the hit, both financially and emotionally.
The year we lost the RV10K, my friend who leads the efforts to put the race together was just wiped out emotionally and we shouldn't under-estimate this effect on the organising team.

[manothemoors]

That is a very large part of it. We also rely upon our own runners to help with the marshalling of the event...which is difficult enough, logistically, as it is. Add snowy roads and traffic delays into the mix and it would be impossible. Then, if you are running Leg 6, do you really want to prepare by standing up at Blackshaw head in the teeth of a Northerly in freezing rain/hail/snow etc for two hours?
It's also an event which is a "first fell race" for many competitors. In benign conditions, that isn't a problem. However, we had runners get detached and lost in benign conditions last week...the risks of that happening to an inexperienced runner on the moor tops in a white out are just not acceptable. We'd never get anyone to take on the RO position.
As for the emotional investment...to give you an idea, the process of putting next year's race together starts this Tuesday night.
We all understand why it was great having it in December. These are just a few of the many reasons why, especially with greater demands upon the RO these days, we had to move it. We hope runners and other clubs understand. It is still a great event, as the competitors last week will tell you. Once we sort the fixture date clash out it will be even better....and we might be in danger of paying out a few more bonus prizes.

[Stagger]

Bring Linda Crabtree back, appears to have struggled since she stopped organising it.

[AndyA]

That is a very large part of it. We also rely upon our own runners to help with the marshalling of the event...which is difficult enough, logistically, as it is. Add snowy roads and traffic delays into the mix and it would be impossible. Then, if you are running Leg 6, do you really want to prepare by standing up at Blackshaw head in the teeth of a Northerly in freezing rain/hail/snow etc for two hours?

Agreed; I remember waiting at the Leg 2 start for the PBR a couple of years ago absolutely freezing my nads off in horizontal snow/hail - not an experience I care to repeat. The Calderdale was cancelled at its last winter incarnation because of snow and ice in the days leading up to race day and plenty of club runners can tell tales of near hypothermic experiences waiting for changeovers/lifts back etc. Mass entry relay races like this just aren't suited to winter. Perhaps one of the 'oh so important' fell races could be moved to winter instead - then we'll see just how important they are to the grumblers!

[manothemoors]

Bring Linda Crabtree back, appears to have struggled since she stopped organising it.

Linda will tell you exactly the same as I just have. I know this because it was Linda who explained much of it to me. The race hasn't struggled at all. Most runners who take part couldn't give a monkeys about elite runners from Bingley or CVFR, they are there for their own enjoyment. Standing in the sunshine at Heath Rugby club amongst smiling faces, quaffing pints of ale and noshing hungrily on their mushy peas, the race Director could reflect on a successful event.

[Witton Park]

I do think relays have a part to play in Winter, they are a great day out. But not relays on the scale of PBR and Calderdale.

[Ogden Nomad]

I do think relays have a part to play in Winter, they are a great day out. But not relays on the scale of PBR and Calderdale.

exactly I also loved the event in december but with the stricter rules and the difficulty in getting sufficient marshals at least a spring fixture guarantees the future of the relay whether the elite numbers are down or not

[Stagger]

Some of the thrill is running a leg with the elite.
You need the top runners to buy into the event other wise why not just label it as a beginners and average runners relay.

Everyone wants to see records broke ar pushed close to and Holmsey and Jebby stood on Blackshaw head with the rest.

Like WP said there is room for a good relay BUT NOT in the middle of the season.

Come on guy's have a re think, yes earlier spring or later autum but not the middle of the season.

[Witton Park]

Trouble is Stagger finding a date - you can in effect rule out anyone pitching for Dec, Jan, Feb due to weather risk.
If you go for March, it's still risky and you are up against big cross countries and the start of the marathon prep with big HMs etc and the road relays.
Go in October and we have similar clashes with Road Relays, Ian Hodgson, National Fell Relays.
As already mentioned as well, course knowledge is vital and so these races are popular amongst local non-elites as they have the time and inclination to recce.

I think if you want a relay that may draw in the elites, you would have to host something where the legs are from one base, out and back with perhaps fell that isn't quite as exposed and reliant of mid-pennine minor roads being open.

eg. Somewhere like Darwen with routes from 3 miles - 6 miles per leg, just off M65, or Rivington where you have the Pike and Winter Hill and could do out and backs from the school grounds, or even Pendle perhaps.
There is scope for a winter event, but I wouldn't want to be the RO that tried to get a PBR type event of the ground.

[manothemoors]

I'm very confident that we can sort the fixture issue out and attract the faster runners back in the future. And Stagger, don't be trolling now.