From an organisers point of view the finish funnel is all important. It should be wide enough at the entry point to capture everyone finishing. The actual finish line should be at a point where the funnel finally narrows enough for no more overtaking.the funnel should continue far enough to accommodate a line of runners ( stopped/finish/walking ) should this be necessary. At least 3 people should be in administering the funnel. One to keep the finishers in line, to slow them down enough for the number to be recorded and to ensure that their number can be identified by the number takers. The second person should be shouting the numbers out to the number taker. It's impossible for one person to write down numbers if they are constantly lifting their head from the recording sheet. The number takers should be positioned at the end of the finish funnel at its narrowest point ( Wide enough for only I person )
The finish sheet should be clear and easily readable and a weatherwriter board should be used in wet weather as should a pencil rather than a pen. Two more people may be needed for taking times or one if a printer stopwatch is used.
It's surprising just how some runners don't care that its difficult sometimes for the finish officials to read their numbers given that they have probably just run their tripe out to get a good finish position.
Whilst I'm not totally in agreement that all race numbers should always begin at number one I can see the need for consecutive numbers. It's important that the finish officials know exactly how many runners have set off and this can easily be done by a count of the registration slips ( not taking into account the runners who register but don't set off or the person who registers a friend who doesn't even come to the race as happened to us at our Whinberry Naze Dash race )
At the Clougha Pike race a couple of years ago I witnessed a great method by the host club ( Bowland Fell Runners ? where before the start everyone had to pass through a start box , be counted and check that their numbers were easily readable, in my nearly 50 years of fell racing this is the first time I have seen this system used, it is possibly something which the Fra and other RO should consider as a great safety measure.
